3 Days / 2 Nights · Departs Santa Cruz · Jungle Lodge · Cloud Forest · Pre-Incan Ruins · Waterfalls
Overview
This 3-day package tour is the definitive introduction to the natural and cultural wonders of the Santa Cruz department — combining the raw wilderness of Refugio Los Volcanes in Amboro National Park with the world-class attractions of the Samaipata valley. No other tour in Bolivia packs this concentration of extraordinary experiences into three days.
The journey begins at Refugio Los Volcanes — one of Bolivia’s most jaw-dropping jungle lodges, ringed by massive sandstone cliffs and set within Amboro National Park, one of the most biodiverse protected areas on earth. Guests trek into pristine cloud forest, swim beneath waterfalls and walk at night searching for nocturnal wildlife. The lodge has documented sightings of Jaguar, Puma, Spectacled Bear and Andean Condor in the surrounding area.
From the lodge the tour moves to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed El Fuerte Pre-Incan Ruins before an overnight in the charming bohemian town of Samaipata. There is free time to wander the town’s main plaza and local market, one of the most relaxed and atmospheric corners of the Santa Cruz department.
The final day is yours to shape. Guests choose one of three signature Samaipata-valley excursions: the extraordinary Ancient Giant Fern Forests of Amboro — a primordial landscape found in very few places on the planet, with fern trees reaching over 13 metres in height — the panoramic ridges of the Codo de los Andes, or a guided visit and tasting at the high-altitude Vineyard 1750. Whichever you pick, the day closes with lunch in Samaipata and the drive back to Santa Cruz.
Roads to the Refugio Los Volcanes lodge are more accessible. Trekking conditions are excellent. Wildlife is easier to spot in the lower vegetation. The most popular time for this package.
The cloud forest is at its most vibrant and green. Waterfalls are at maximum flow — spectacular for swimming. Birdlife is exceptional. The lodge and all three Day 3 options are accessible year round.
Roads to the Refugio Los Volcanes lodge are more accessible. Trekking conditions are excellent. Wildlife is easier to spot in the lower vegetation. The most popular time for this package.
The cloud forest is at its most vibrant and green. Waterfalls are at maximum flow — spectacular for swimming. Birdlife is exceptional. The lodge and Giant Fern Forests are accessible year round.
highlights
price includes
activities
price excludes
Hotel pick-up in Santa Cruz and the drive west to Refugio Los Volcanes — one of the most spectacular wilderness lodges in Bolivia. The approach alone is memorable: the road climbs into the Andean foothills before descending into the cloud forest, arriving at a lodge that sits beneath enormous vertical sandstone cliffs with waterfalls threading down the rock faces.
Morning trekking in the jungle environs of the lodge: the guide leads a series of wildlife treks through pristine cloud forest, identifying birds, plants and animal signs while explaining the extraordinary biodiversity of the Amboro ecosystem. Swimming in the lodge’s natural waterfalls provides an unforgettable experience in a setting of genuine wilderness. Freshly prepared lunch at the lodge, followed by afternoon treks into the surrounding forest.
Dinner at the lodge as the light fades over the cliffs. After dinner, a night wildlife walk: the guide leads the group along the forest tracks in darkness, using spotlights and knowledge of the area to search for nocturnal species. Andean Condors, Pumas and the endangered Spectacled Bear have been encountered in this area. Return to the lodge to sleep to the sound of the forest.
Breakfast and a final morning of hiking in and around Refugio Los Volcanes before departing after lunch. The afternoon is devoted to one of South America’s most remarkable archaeological sites: the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ruins of El Fuerte. The guide leads a full tour of this Pre-Incan ceremonial complex — a sandstone ridge carved with an extraordinary array of channels, basins, seats and zoomorphic figures whose purpose and origin continue to fascinate archaeologists. The site commands panoramic views of the Samaipata valley and is frequently used by Andean Condors as a thermal lift point.
Check in and overnight stay in the charming colonial town of Samaipata — a relaxed, bohemian town with excellent independent restaurants and a creative international community. Free evening to explore the town at leisure.
Breakfast at the hotel, with time to walk Samaipata’s main plaza and local market — a small, genuinely local market where valley producers bring fruit, vegetables, cheese and handicrafts.
The rest of the day is yours to choose. Guests select one of the three excursions below, each a half-day experience with private guide and transport included. Afterwards, lunch in Samaipata and the drive back to Santa Cruz in the evening, arriving at your hotel.
All three run year round. Let us know your preference when booking so we can arrange guiding and timing.
One of fewer than a handful of places on earth where the prehistoric giant tree fern (Cyathea and Dicksonia species) still forms intact ancient forest stands — individual plants exceed 13 metres in height, with canopies that block the sky overhead. A guided trek through this living-fossil landscape, watching for birds and wildlife: Spectacled Bears and Pumas use this habitat. Genuinely surreal, and extraordinary for photography.
The «Elbow of the Andes», where the mountain range makes its dramatic turn. A trek along open ridgelines and sandstone formations with sweeping views over the Amboro lowlands on one side and the Andean foothills on the other — the finest panoramic viewpoint in the region, and a reliable place to watch Andean Condors riding the thermals. The most rewarding option for walkers and landscape photographers.
A guided visit to one of Bolivia’s high-altitude boutique vineyards. Walk the terraced vines and the cellar while learning how altitude, intense sun and cool valley nights shape Bolivian high-valley wine, followed by a tasting with views across the hills. The relaxed choice — ideal for guests who prefer culture, flavour and scenery over trekking.
Our team replies within a few hours. We also speak Spanish and English.