Tours around Samaipata
1 day tours:
  • El Fuerte & museum, half day; you will visit the impressive archaeological site of El Fuerte. Here lived in ancient times successively Mojocoyas and Chanés, Guaraníes, Incas and later the Spaniards. From those cultures you can see remnants at El Fuerte. You will need about two hours to visit the site and see everything well. Afterwards you will visit the archaeological museum in Samaipata. Here you will see ceramic that has been found at El Fuerte and in the surroundings of Samaipata.

  • El Fuerte, museum & Cuevas; you will visit El Fuerte and the archaeological museum in Samaipata as described above. Also you will visit the three waterfalls of Las Cuevas where you can have a refreshing dip and do a short walk in between the waterfalls. These are situated in a beautiful setting where you possibly can see parrots, hummingbirds and other species of birds.

  • El Fuerte & hike; by car you will be brought to the trailhead. Via a beautiful route you will hike over barely overgrown mountain slopes in about five to six hours to the archaeological site of El Fuerte. The views during the hike are wonderful. With a bit of luck you can even spot a condor. At El Fuerte you will need some two hours to walk around and see everything well. Then you will return by car to Samaipata. If there´s enough time left you can visit the archaeological museum in Samaipata.
El Fuerte El Fuerte El Fuerte
  • National Park Amboró; the options for a visit to the National Park Amboró vary from an easy hike of approximately two hours to a considerable hike of about six hours. In consultation we´ll decide which hike is most suitable for you.
    By car you will be brought to the trailhead in about 45 minutes.
    In the fairy-like National Park Amboró you will see various species of vegetation, as giant fern trees that become as high as 13 meters.
    During the hike you will come to a view point from where you will have splendid views over the surrounding area.
    The park is home to many species of animals as the nose bear, armadillo, puma, jaguar, spectacled bear, agouti, snakes and many bird species. There´s not so much chance to see them because the animals are very shy. Frequently we find traces of animals. With some luck you can see a group of monkeys. A special bird we see regularly is the trogon.
N.P. Amboró N.P. Amboró, rattlesnake
  • Bella Vista; to get to Bella Vista takes well over an hour by car. You will make a hike of six to seven hours on which a local guide from the community will accompany you as well. This hike is one of the best one day hikes in the area because of the variety of landscapes; subtropical forest, waterfalls and fantastic views.
    The hike starts from a dirt road where the path goes steep down until you come to a valley. Here you will follow a small stream until you reach the second waterfall. At a turnoff you have to decide if you want to hike to the third waterfall.
    A campsite that you will pass is a good place to have lunch.
    After a rest there is a rather strenuous climb of about 45 minutes waiting for you. From the start of this climb you will leave the subtropical forest behind and once you´re on top you will have fabulous panoramic views. During another hour you will keep going up slightly before finally the descent starts to the place where the car is waiting for you to take you back to Samaipata.
Bella Vista Bella Vista
  • Condor Hike; this is quite a tough hike of around six hours. You will leave from Samaipata by car early to go to the trailhead of the hike; this takes about one hour 45 minutes. Along unpaved roads you will already enjoy the beautiful landscape.
    The first part of the hike is the hardest. You will hike up in about three hours, over open mountain slopes, to the place from where you can watch the condors. Once you´re up there, you can have your lunch while you wait for the condors to come gliding into the area from various valleys. They come to this place to have a rest on the cliffs and to drink from a pool on a spot that other creatures (like us) can´t reach. You will see the condors circle close above you. The time that you will spend up here is more or less two hours. Then you will hike down again.
    By car you will go back to Samaipata at the end of the day.
Adult Andean condor Young condor
  • La Pajcha waterfall; this tour is very suitable for those who want to explore the region and have an easy day.
    You have two options to choose from:
    1. In the morning you will go by car in about two hours to La Pajcha where you can have a refreshing plunge in the water of the most beautiful waterfall in the surroundings. The waterfall is situated in a picturesque location where you can see parrots among other birds. The scenery along the road alone is most rewarding. There hardly live any people in the area and the views are brilliant. This is the area where the condor often turns up. You can have lunch at the waterfall. On the way back to Samaipata in the afternoon you will pay a visit to a local family in the countryside. Here you can see how people live here. As a gift of exchange we ask you to bring the family some groceries from Samaipata.
    2. You will go to La Pajcha and instead of a visit to the local family you will make a short hike in the surroundings of the waterfall.
La Pajcha waterfall Visit a local family
  • Mataral, ancient rock paintings & cactus desert; at a driving distance of one hour over asphalted road from Samaipata lays Mataral.
    Here you will do a hike of three hours in total through the cactus desert. During the hike you can see various species of birds between the huge cacti as for instance parrots and woodpeckers.
    The hike brings you to a cave with ancient rock paintings. In the ceiling of the cave live vampire bats that you can see by the light of a torch.
    Via the same path you will hike back to the car and return to Samaipata.
Ancient rock paintings of Mataral
Quebrada del Churo
2 days tours:
  • National Park Amboró, El Refugio Los Volcanes:
    pure silence and nature, a unique tour for nature lovers and birdwatchers and an ideal place to relax after a long journey.
    This tour brings you to a hidden jewel in National Park Amboró! A truly overwhelming nature in a tucked away valley. Over 200 species of birds, 100 species of orchids and bromeliads are identified. The puma, other wild cats and the tapir live in this area. The agouti, the armadillo, the coati, the skunk, monkeys and other mammals live here in abundance! The area in which the beautiful colonial style lodge is situated is truly unique. The lodge has six rooms with private bathroom and hammocks outside from where you can see the steep red coloured sandstone mountains of Volcanes. There are many trails you can choose from like: to waterfalls, viewpoints, a special orchids trail and more.
    The hiking time varies from one to seven hours. In consultation with your guide you will make your choice where to go.
    After a hike you can refresh yourself in the waterfall next to the lodge or enjoy the area from a reclining chair or a hammock. In the lodge there are some books available about the flora and fauna of the area. Click here for the 3 days tour El Refugio Los Volcanes.
Landscape El Refugio Los Volcanes Lodge of El Refugio Los Volcanes
  • La Pajcha waterfall & Condor Hike; you will travel by car via unpaved roads over mountains and through valleys to go and pay a visit to a local family in the countryside. Here you can see how people live here. As a gift of exchange we ask you to bring the family some groceries from Samaipata. Then you will go to La Pajcha, the highest and most beautiful waterfall in the area. This is an excellent place to have a refreshing plunge in the water, to swim and to relax. You will put up the tent and if you wish you can do a hike of more or less two hours. In the evening a camp fire will be made to prepare your diner. On the second day after breakfast you will take down your tent and by car you will set out for the trailhead of the condor hike.
    This is quite a tough hike of appr. six hours.
    The first part of the hike is the hardest. You will hike up in about three hours, over open mountain slopes, to the place from where you can watch the condors. Once you´re up there, you can have your lunch while you wait for the condors to come gliding into the area from various valleys. They come to this place to have a rest on the cliffs and to drink from a pool on a spot that other creatures (like us) can´t reach. You will see the condors circle close above you. The time that you will spend up here is more or less two hours. Then you will hike down again.
    By car you will go back to Samaipata at the end of the day.
Visit to a local family Young condor
Tombstone
3 days tours:
  • National Park Amboró, El Refugio Los Volcanes:
    pure silence and nature, an unique tour for nature lovers and birdwatchers and an ideal place to relax after a long journey.
    This tour brings you to a hidden jewel in National Park Amboró! A truly overwhelming nature in a tucked away valley. Over 200 species of birds, 100 species of orchids and bromeliads are identified. The puma, other wild cats and the tapir live in this area. The agouti, the armadillo, the coati, the skunk, monkeys and other mammals live here in abundance! The area in which the beautiful colonial style lodge is situated is truly unique. The lodge has six rooms with private bathroom and hammocks outside from where you can see the steep red coloured sandstone mountains of Volcanes. There are many trails you can choose from like: to waterfalls, viewpoints, a special orchids trail and more.
    The hiking time varies from one to seven hours. In consultation with your guide you will make your choice where to go.
    After a hike you can refresh yourself in the waterfall next to the lodge or enjoy the area from a reclyning chair or a hammock. In the lodge there are some books available about the flora and fauna of the area.
    Your itinerary could look like this:

    • 1st day:
      arrival at around 10.00 at the pristine Refuge and the opportunity to do a short hike or have a refreshing plunge in the water of the waterfall that is located directly next to the lodge. After lunch a hike in the area of the colonial lodge.
    • 2nd day:
      a day hike of seven hours to a waterfall of 100 m. high or two half day hikes at your choice through the unique area with the guide.
      Relaxing is possible as well of course!
    • 3rd day:
      in the morning a hike and after lunch you will return to Samaipata.
El Refugio Los Volcanes Orchid, El Refugio Los Volcanes Frog, El Refugio Los Volcanes
Statue placed in 2007




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