Blue-Throated Macaw · Barba Azul Reserve · Chuchini Amazon Wildlife · San Carlos Jaguar Conservation · Pink River Dolphins
Overview
Trinidad is the capital of Bolivia’s Beni Department, situated in the heart of the Llanos de Mojos — one of the largest tropical savannah and wetland systems in South America. Despite its relative obscurity on the international tourism circuit, the Beni region surrounding Trinidad harbours extraordinary wildlife, including the world’s rarest Macaw, thriving populations of Pink River Dolphins, Black Caimans, Giant Anteaters, and one of Bolivia’s most active Jaguar conservation projects.
The region’s defining wildlife feature is the Blue-throated Macaw (Ara glaucogularis), a critically endangered species endemic to the Bolivian Beni with an estimated 300–350 individuals remaining in the wild. Nick’s Adventures Bolivia operates guided visits to the Gran Mojos protected area and to the Barba Azul Reserve — an 11,530-acre private reserve covering grasslands, tropical hammock forests, cerrado savanna and wetlands — which hosts the largest known concentrations of this species on Earth. Barba Azul’s bird list exceeds 300 species, with additional highlights including Giant Anteater, Maned Wolf, Ocelot, and Marsh Deer.
Beyond the macaw programmes, Trinidad serves as the base for the Chuchini Wildlife Reserve, a low-key private reserve just 15 km from the city offering boat safaris, jungle treks, caiman spotlighting, and Pink Dolphin encounters on the Mamoré River — all without the crowds that have come to define more popular Bolivian wildlife routes. For travellers seeking the most remote and off-the-beaten-track experience, the San Carlos Wildlife Reserve sits on a pristine river system deep in the Beni and is one of the premier destinations in Bolivia to encounter wild Jaguars while directly contributing to their conservation alongside local ranching communities.
Conservation note: Several Trinidad-area tours operate under direct conservation mandates. Profits from the Blue-throated Macaw Day Tour fund Barba Azul conservation efforts and incentive payments to ranchers who protect Motacú Palm forest. The San Carlos reserve model provides ranchers with tourism income as an alternative to big cat persecution.
Destination Type
How to Get There
Best Time to Visit
Wildlife Highlights
Our team replies within a few hours. We also speak Spanish and English.
tour plan
Nick’s Adventures Bolivia operates four carefully selected programmes in the Trinidad and Beni region, each focused on a specific reserve or wildlife encounter. All tours depart from Trinidad and run with expert bilingual guides. Multiple tours can be combined into a single multi-day Beni wildlife expedition.
01
Birdwatching · Conservation · Photography
A full-day conservation excursion to a secluded private ranch inside the Gran Mojos protected area — home to the world’s rarest Macaw. Rising before dawn, the tour targets the Blue-throated Macaw (Ara glaucogularis) at its Motacú Palm feeding grounds, followed by a visit to the Blue-Throated Macaw Conservation Centre. A remarkable one-day encounter with a critically endangered species.
02
wildlife – river safari – amazon trekking
Located just 15 km from Trinidad, the Chuchini private reserve offers an intimate and crowd-free alternative to Bolivia’s more heavily visited Amazon circuits. A 3-day programme exploring pristine pampas and Amazonian forest by boat and on foot, with Pink River Dolphin encounters on the Mamoré River, night caiman spotlighting, Piranha fishing, and a visit to the Laguna Ozuni. Comfortable basic lodge accommodation included.
03
Birdwatching · mammal watching – photography
The definitive multi-day programme for serious birders and mammal watchers seeking the Blue-throated Macaw in its protected reserve habitat. The Barba Azul Reserve covers 11,530 acres of grasslands, tropical hammock forests, cerrado savanna, and wetlands in the heart of the Beni — the site of the world’s largest known congregations of this critically endangered species, with over 300 bird species recorded. Also one of Bolivia’s best sites for Giant Anteater and Maned Wolf.
04
Wildlife · Jaguar Conservation · Off the Beaten Track
The most remote and adventurous programme in the Trinidad region — a 4-day expedition to a pristine river system deep in the Beni, operating as an active Jaguar conservation project. This reserve is one of Bolivia’s premier destinations to observe Jaguars, Pink Dolphins, Black Caimans, and Giant Anteaters in genuinely wild conditions. Accessed by 4WD and boat depending on the season, the journey itself is part of the experience.
The Trinidad area tours can be combined into a multi-day Beni expedition — pair the Blue-throated Macaw Day Tour with Chuchini or San Carlos for a complete wildlife itinerary across multiple ecosystems and reserves. Nick’s team handles all logistics and transfers from Trinidad.
The most practical route is a direct domestic flight from Santa Cruz (El Trompillo or Viru Viru airport) to Trinidad's Jorge Henrich Arauz Airport — the flight takes approximately 45 minutes. Connections from La Paz are available via Santa Cruz. Nick's Adventures Bolivia assists all clients with domestic flight bookings and arranges transfers in both cities. An overland route exists but is not recommended due to road conditions and travel time.
Our team replies within a few hours. We also speak Spanish and English.