Activities are subject to weather conditions and the tourist’s physical condition.

Day 1
8:30 a.m. – Pick-up from your hotel or accommodation in a private vehicle and departure to San Miguelito.
The adventure begins with a short group introduction and signing of the responsibility form.
Don’t forget to bring your valid ID, face mask, and personal gear for your stay (we will send you a recommended packing list with items such as insect repellent, sunscreen, etc. once your trip is confirmed).

On the way to San Miguelito (SM), you will observe the loss of natural habitat, as much of the forest has been turned into farmland for industrial crops by local settlers, Mennonite colonies, and farmers from neighboring countries.
Sustainable cattle ranching combined with nature tourism is one of the few productive land uses that allows the conservation of wildlife and the ecosystem services we enjoy but often take for granted—such as water sources, climate regulation, pollinators, pest control, biodiversity, and recreation.

Travel time by vehicle: 3 to 4 hours, depending on traffic and the route.
We will arrive just in time to enjoy a delicious lunch with a spectacular view.

Upon arrival, there will be a short introduction to the water buffalo ranch operation.
Inside the main house, you’ll find a wildlife photo gallery from the property, a small museum, a beautiful view from the fireplace, and a 7-meter observation tower next to the house.

After lunch, visitors can relax at the lodge or prepare for the first adventure: a trip to a site known as the “bat cliffs,” combining a walk and a 4×4 ride to watch the sunset. With some luck, you may see a pair of Jabiru storks (the largest bird in South America with a wingspan of 1.5 m) with their chicks.

Great horned owls are also commonly spotted at dusk. As night falls, thousands of bats emerge from the cracks in the cliffs, depending on the moon phase.

We will install camera traps along the so-called “Jaguar Route.” We’ll look for tracks and check footage from previous expeditions.

Upon returning, a tasty dinner will be served and we’ll review the camera trap images together.
Wildlife sightings are always a surprise!

Included: Lunch and dinner, natural juices prepared with bottled water.
Alcoholic drinks and souvenirs (handmade by neighboring indigenous communities) are available for an additional cost.

Day 2
5:30 a.m. – Sunrise
We start the day early, enjoying coffee or hot chocolate from the observation platform, accompanied by the sounds of nature.

We may visit the water buffalo stables, where fresh cheese, spicy cheese, mozzarella, or yogurt is produced—depending on the day.

The ranch is located at the intersection of several ecoregions: the alluvial plains of the Chaco and the Precambrian or Chiquitano Shield, divided by the San Julián River. This location results in high biodiversity.

During the early morning walks, we will look for wildlife. These are ideal hours for spotting monkeys, birds, and with luck, large mammals.

We’ll visit an area along the riverbank where jaguars have been previously seen.
On the aluminum boat ride, you might spot big cat tracks.

After breakfast, there is time to rest at the main house and learn about daily life on a working cattle ranch.

We’ll have lunch and then head to another part of the ranch near the river, where camera traps have recorded the presence of large wild cats.

The SM landscape is unique: dry hills with low forests, savannas, and fire-adapted vegetation (such as small palms, bromeliads, and cacti), similar to Brazil’s Cerrado.
We have species lists, descriptions, and field guides for bromeliads, ferns, orchids, and aquatic plants.

Depending on the weather and your physical condition, we may visit sites such as the Jaguar Cave, go on a boat tour, or return to the bat cliffs for sunset viewing.

Included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Optional: Visit to San Antonio de Lomerío (39 km from SM), an indigenous community that still speaks the native Besiro language. It is part of the Jesuit Missions circuit in Bolivia (1 hour from SM, round trip approx. 3 hours).

At night: Night drive or walk / stargazing around the campfire.

Day 3
5:30 a.m. – Optional sunrise from the observation tower
6:00 a.m. – Coffee or tea

Depending on the group’s preference, we can go for an early walk or enjoy the sunrise from the tower.

After breakfast, we’ll explore wildlife along the river.

San Miguelito is home to threatened mammals such as jaguar, tapir, giant armadillo, and river otter (all classified as vulnerable).
Also found here are peccaries, giant anteaters, capybaras, and many types of rodents.

Thanks to camera traps and track monitoring, six species of wild cats, six monkey species, and two deer species have been recorded.
More than 300 species of birds have been documented, including herons, storks, ibises, ducks, and chajás. There are also vultures, raptors, parrots, macaws, owls, and many small birds.
Among the reptiles, yacaré caimans are especially abundant in the lagoons during the dry season.

After the morning tour, we will pack up and get ready to return.

At noon, lunch is served, and then we begin the return journey to Santa Cruz city.

You will be dropped off at your hotel or the airport between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m., depending on traffic.