Amboro National Park
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Amboro National Park
Amboró National Park, located in the heart of Bolivia, is a paradise for ecotourism enthusiasts. Renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity, the park is home to over 800 bird species and a stunning array of flora and fauna, making it a haven for nature lovers and bird watchers. Its unique position at the convergence of the Amazon, Andes, and Chaco ecosystems offers visitors a diverse landscape, from lush rainforests to cloud-covered mountain ranges. Ecotourism in Amboró emphasizes sustainability, with guided tours, camping experiences, and wildlife observation activities designed to minimize environmental impact while fostering appreciation for the region’s natural beauty. The park is a must-visit for anyone seeking an immersive and eco-friendly adventure.
Legal estatus of Amboro protected Area.
The land adjacent to Cerro Amboro were officially declared a protected area on the 23rd December 1973. But it was not until August 1984 that was legally given the status of Amboro National park (ANP) and received some protection from immigrants campesinos, hunters and logging companies.
In October 1991 Amboro National park was triangular area of 400.000 acres was enlarged to 1.500.000 acres by Supreme Decree. In October 1995 Amboro National Park was reduced to 1.000.000 acres when its peripheral third was downgraded to an integrated management zone.
Amboro National Park – Creation
The area adjacent to Cerro Amboró was officially declared a protected area as Amboró National Park on December 23, 1973, but it wasn’t until August 1984 that this declaration was legalized and the park began to receive some protection from hunters, sawmills, and farmers.
In October 1991, the triangular section of Amboró National Park in Bolivia, covering about 98,000 hectares, was expanded to 3,705,000 hectares by Supreme Decree. In October 1995, the park was reduced to 2,470,000 hectares when its peripheral area was downgraded to a Multiple Use Management Zone.
To the east, the park borders the Surutú River. To the west, it is bordered by the Ichilo/San Mateo Rivers.
The northern part stretches into the lowlands near the foothills of the Andes Mountains.
The southern section crosses these mountains along an irregular line, from the Surutú Ravine in the east to Siberia in the west.
The north, east, and south of the park are surrounded by human settlements. On the west, Amboró shares the Ichilo River as a border with Carrasco National Park in Cochabamba.
Amboró and Carrasco National Parks in Bolivia contain nearly all the highland areas that have been occupied by human settlements.
Comparing Amboro National Park - Northern & Southern
Sides.
Brief Comparison of the Northern & Southern Zones of Amboró National Park
Northern Side of Amboró National Park
The northern zone of Amboró National Park lies at an average altitude of 400 meters above sea level, making it a tropical region. Among other habitats, it includes a lush rainforest with numerous rivers and streams, where fish migrate to spawn. For this reason, the northern zone of Amboró is also considered part of the Amazon basin.
The Amazon rainforest in this part of the park typically hosts trees that grow to exceptional sizes thanks to the unique conditions of a primary tropical forest.
These giant trees can hold an immense number of bromeliads, orchids, vines, and countless other plant species on their branches—creating microhabitats that attract insects, birds, and even mammals, depending on the time of year.
Just observing this display of nature on a single tree, in its natural state, is a spectacular show of life worth admiring—assuming the visitor has the mental capacity or environmental education to notice the details of such a performance. This exuberance, offered by just one tree—and multiplied by many others, combined with thousands of other native plant species, fungi, and life forms—creates a habitat known as the Amazon, which provides a benefit that is hard to calculate or even understand for Homo sapiens, the same species that, driven by ignorance, is currently destroying these habitats in the northern zone of Amboró National Park.
Amboró National Park still shelters all the Amazonian mammal species. The chances of spotting certain species depend on where their temporary food sources are located, which varies throughout the year.
The most suitable town for visiting the northern side of Amboró National Park is Buena Vista.
The southern zone of Amboró National
Park also has several access points, although the most frequently used is through the town of Bermejo. This area is more mountainous, featuring sandstone rock formations.
Its average altitude is approximately 900 meters above sea level.
Its vegetation differs from that of the northern zone due to its higher elevation, which affects the climate, vegetation, and consequently leads to some differences in biodiversity.
The types of habitats vary, which affects the presence of certain species of mammals, birds, and others.
However, in general, nature here can still offer the same type of spectacle that one might experience in the northern zone of Amboró. Since this area is more mountainous, it offers spectacular landscapes, especially when visitors reach the viewpoints.
The distance from Santa Cruz city to the tourist entry points is roughly the same as for the northern zone—about 2 hours by vehicle.
The main access point to the southern zone is located about 1.5 hours before reaching the town of Samaipata, so it’s not necessary to pass through Samaipata to reach either the northern or southern zones of Amboró National Park.
The best-known entry point on the southern side is Refugio Los Volcanes, a private property located at the edge of Amboró Park. This site has a comfortable lodge with clean and cozy rooms for overnight stays.
At Refugio Los Volcanes, most of the trails are along mountain slopes, so the hikes are steep most of the time and more demanding than those in the northern zone.
In general, hikes in the southern zone take place within the INMA (Integrated Natural Management Area), which is part of the park where private property is allowed.
Wildlife and bird sightings depend on the same conditions mentioned in the section about the northern zone of Amboró National Park
Comparing Amboro National Park, Madidi National And Park Noel Kempf Mercado National Park
Comparing the most representative parts of the vegetation and topography of the northern part of Amboro National Park with the jungles in Madidi N Park, there is great similarity.
Compering the Amazonian of Noel Kempff National Park to the Amazonian of Amboro Park’s north side, At Amboro NP there are presence of more rivers and streams
What catches the attention of visitors who appreciate these places is the quality of the forest and the diversity typical of this primary forest zone.
Regarding birds, Amboro National Park contains, according to studies, more bird species than the entire country of Costa Rica. Birds in the jungle are easy to hear but difficult to see due to the density of the forest.
In mammals, this part of Amboro is rich because it contains all the species typical of the Amazon, although is hard to see big mammas in Amboro NP or Noel Kempf NP
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