Four National Parks are located in Santa Cruz. These are ‘‘Noel Kempff Mercado’’, ‘‘Amboró’’, ‘‘Nacional Kaa Iya Del Gran Chaco’’ and ‘‘Otuquis ’’National Parks.
These areas are the finest examples of preserved tropical forest havens in the world. They embrace imposing species of plants,
hundreds of wild life and an exceptional variety of wood.
Located among the Manuel Maria Caballero, Ichilo, Florida and Andres Ibáñez provinces, at an altitude of 300 to 3.200 mts. above the sea level and a steady temperature about 12º C to the south and 24º C to the north.
Los Andes, La Amazonia and El Chaco are nestled in this park, giving birth to more than 3.000 species of plants, 818 species of birds, 109 species of fish and 105 varieties of reptiles.
The archaeological ‘‘Ruins of Samaipata’’, “The Samaipata Fort” and ‘‘The Pictograms of Tunal’’ are also some of the attractions located in this park.
It was first called Huachuca National Park; its current name is homage to a prominent Bolivian scientist. It is located to the north-east of Santa Cruz City, among Velasco and Itenez provinces.
It extends on an area of 1.523,446 hectares and is about 600 km. away from Santa Cruz city. The average temperature is about 25º C. The Fawcett, Federico Ahlfeld and Arco Iris waterfalls embrace incredible beauty and magnetism.
Noel Kempff Mercado National Park is a naturalist’s delight due to its biological diversity and has been declared Natural Patrimony of Humanity by the UNESCO.
Kaa Iya is the biggest National Park in Bolivia. In Guaraní, kaa means forest containing everything necessary to live.
The Iyas are the masters of all animals; therefore, Kaa Iya refers to the masters of the forest. This park is located in the heart of El Chaco Boliviano, to the south-east of Santa Cruz City and extends on an area of 3,441,115 hectares. The most important ecosystems such as the dry tropical forest, which embrace an interesting flora, are located in this park.
Also, Kaa Iya lodges an immense variety of animals such the jaguar which is now in danger of extension.
The time in Bolivia:
