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Guide To Samaipata & Amboró National Park Bolivia

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A small town in Eastern Bolivia with temperate climate chilled out vibe. It’s easy to see why a fair few European immigrants have settled here and there’s certainly enough things to do in Samaipata to keep you entertained for a few days.

As we did, most visitors come to Samaipata Bolivia to venture into nearby Amboró National Park. A unique jungle paradise spanning a ginormous 4,425 km squared. 

The collision of three distinct ecosystems: the foothills of the Andes, the northern Chaco, and the Amazon Basin means that Parque Nacional Amboró has a unique environment that isn’t found anywhere else on the planet.

More on what makes it so special and one of the best places to visit in Bolivia in a bit.

How To Get To Samaipata Bolivia

Santa cruz to samaipata.

From Samaipata from Santa Cruz or visa versa, the route is an easy one. Collectivos run all day between the terminal on the corner of Av. Omar Chavez Ortiz/Soliz de Olguin in Santa Cruz and the central plaza in Samaipata Bolivia.

Depending on the season the cost is $30-40B’s per person. The journey will take around 4 hours and the road.  

Sucre to Samaipata

To get from Sucre to Samaipata you’ll need to take a night bus from the main terminal heading for Santa Cruz. Not all buses pass through Samaipata so make sure you double check. And you’ll need to set your alarm as you’ll be arriving at around 3/4am in the morning.

The bus will drop you on the main road, from which it’s a 10 minute walk depending on where you are staying. Hotels and hotels in Samaipata are not open 24/7 so you will need to book in advance and reserve a stay for that night so they know to expect you. 

The night bus we took left Sucre at 5pm, arrived just before 4am and cost XB’s. It goes along the old south road so it was a very bumpy journey and we didn’t get much sleep, so we were grateful to slide right into bed at the other end. 

Just an FYI if you’re not a fan of them, there’s lots of street dogs in Samaipata Bolivia. And whilst they were friendly during the day, it was a different vibe wandering through the streets at 4am.

Luckily it accumulated to no more than barking, but we had a couple of moments during the walk from the main road where we thought, shit, we’re gonna get bit here. 

If you don’t fancy arriving early in the morning, there are day time buses to Santa Cruz from Sucre, so your other option is to take one of those and jump in a collectivo to come back to Samaipata. That way arriving at a more reasonable hour.

The buses going straight from Sucre to Santa Cruz go along the new north road so it’s also a quicker, more comfortable journey.

Where To Stay in Samaipata

Cheap & cheerful: hostal andoriña.

Simply put this place is a dream to stay at. Not only do they make a cracking breakfast with homemade bread, proper coffee and plenty of fruit, the owners are ridiculously helpful. There’s a cute little hideout on the roof. And if you like furry friends, their cat is an absolute cuddle monster.

Hostel Andoriña is where we stayed and absolutely loved it.

Mid-range: Hostel Serena

This hostel has the best ratings out of everywhere to stay in Samaipata Bolivia. It’s a little further out of the town centre (800m) but in return for that you get incredible views. They even have treehouses! The breakfast gets glowing reviews, as does the optional reasonably priced dinner you can opt in for.

People often choose to stay longer than planned at Hostel Serena .

Affordable Luxury: Finca La Vispera

We had lunch at this hotel in Samaipata so can tell you from experience that it’s a gorgeous place to stay. Individual chalets are dotted around the property, each separated by a beautifully landscaped garden.

Finca La Vispera tranquility and relaxation down to a tee.

Where To Eat in Samaipata 

Our favourite restaurant in Samaipata was La Cocina. They do seriously delicious burgers. They also serve them to the bar down the road, La Boheme. It’s got a great vibe, great cocktails and live music many nights.

Somewhere else that does excellent food in Samaipata is La Pizzeria on Calle Arenales near the market. Fully rate this place. 

Caffe Art is a cute little spot for breakfast or lunch. The courtyard is stunning. Again not the cheapest, not much is in Samaipata compared with the rest of Bolivia.

Which is why we ate at menus at quite a few of the local restaurants which you’ll find plenty of just off the main square.

Other places we were recommended but didn’t get chance to try are: Latina Café, Descanso en las alturas, Landhaus, Tierra Libre, La Oveja Negra and Hotel Paola.

Things To Do In Samaipata

So here’s the thing about things to do in Samaipata Bolivia. They’re not all that easy to get to. Well when we say not easy to, we mean cheap to get to.

Because while there are a few things to do in Samaipata town, the only way to get to the big hitters is to take a taxi. Because frustratingly there isn’t any public transport. And while it’s good for pockets of the taxi drivers, it’s not for anyone backpacking on a budget.

Sort it out Bolivia.

Las Cuevas Waterfalls

A series of three waterfalls with small hikes in between, you won’t regret hanging out here for a few hours. You can swim in the water and even jump off some off one of the waterfalls.

You’re not supposed to take food and drinks near the waterfalls (although we saw plenty flaunting the rule) so pack some in your bag if you’re likely to get peckish because there’s nowhere to buy food near here. There are toilets here though.

The entrance fee is 20B’s each ($3USD/£2.25GBP). And you’ll have to get a taxi there, it’s about 40 minuts from town.

If you do happen to have your own transport and are camping there’s a really nice enclosed spot with BBQ areas directly over the road from the entrance to Las Cuevas Samaipata. 

We hired a taxi to first take us to Las Cuevas waterfalls in the morning, pick us up a couple of hours later, then drop us at Samaipata Fort. And then from there we walked back into town which is a pleasant 9km hike that’s mostly downhill. It took us just under 2 hours.

It is also easy to hitch hike back too, we had a few cars and trucks stop to offer us a lift.

For the taxi we paid $150B’s ($22USD/£17GBP).

So if you’re travelling on your own or as a couple, be worth making a few pals so you can split the costs of taxi fare. Again, easier to do in the high season when it’s busier.

El Fuerte de Samaipata

You’ll find plenty of mixed reviews about the Samaipata Fortress UNESCO World Heritage Site. We were fascinated by it, but equally we can see why if you’re not too interested in history you will just see a big rock.

But look beyond that and you’ll find a hugely important pre-Hispanic historic site. Divided into two areas, a religious part and an administrative part, the site of Samaipata Fort is huge.

From walkways you get a panoramic view over the main religious area which is the big rock with pre-Incan carvings. Then a marked path with information boards in Spanish and English takes you around the different Inca ruins in the administrative area.

We think you’d get a lot more from visiting El Fuerte de Samaipata if you hired one of the guides at the entrance. But because on top of having to take a taxi there and the entrance fee being 50B’s ($7.25USD/£5.65GBP)  for foreigners, we opted not to pay another 100B’s for that.

Again would be cheaper to do if there’s a few of you.

There’s a restaurant here that serves traditional 2 course bolivian menus for 15-25B’s each and toilets.

Oh and your entrance ticket covers you for a entry to a museum in town about El Fuerte de Samaipata. Unfortunately it seemed to siesta time each time we stopped by so we can’t tell you if it’s any good or not. Opening times are 8am-12pm and 2-6pm.

Refugio Zoológico

We heard that visiting the animal refuge is a popular thing to do in Samaipata Bolivia. We opted not to however because we already had quite a packed Samaipata itinerary and we couldn’t find enough information about the ethics and specific actions of the place.

Not specifically in Bolivia, but unfortunately we’ve visited plenty of ‘refuges’ in the past that have just turned out to be zoos profiting off animals kept in poor conditions so we now err on the side of caution when it comes to animal tourism.

If you do go, please drop us a comment below to let us know how it was. The entrance fee is 20B’s each ($3USD/£2.25GBP). 

It’s possible to walk there from town and there’s supposed to be a great place to grab an ice cream called La Vaca Loca on the way. 

Samaipata Wine Tasting

We didn’t know about until the day before we were leaving Samaipata otherwise we’d have been all over it. You’ll find the winery on the path up towards Mirador de Samaipata, it’s hard to miss because it’s surrounded by fields of grape vines.

Tours happen at 9am, 10.30am, 2pm and 3:30pm but you’ll need to book in adance. Here’s the numbers for reservations: 69077787 or 76061430.

Again if you do a Samaipata wine tasting tour let us know how it goes in the comments so we can update this information for other fellow travellers.

There is also another place called Bodega Landsuá on the road up to the Samaipata fort.

Mirador de Samaipata

A little confusing to find if you don’t have the right information, this next what to do in Samaipata is actually inside a hotel resort called El Pueblito.

So once you reach that, you’ll need to go through the gates to the reception and pay the 20B’s entrance fee ($3USD/£2.25GBP). It’s pretty steep, the price, for what it is but a nice enough view and walk up is lovely.

Obviously if you happen to be staying here, you get to see this Samaipata viewpoint for free.

You can get lunch here if you fancy it and have the budget.

We opted to eat at another hotel we were recommended, back along the path to town and then off towards the right called Finca La Vispera. The menu is wholly vegetarian and all the produce is organically homegrown.

Prices per dish are 30-50B’s so it’s not the cheapest but worth it for the gorgeous setting.

Amboró National Park

The first helpful thing to know about Amboró National Park Bolivia is that you can’t enter without a certified guide. It’s the law, no wiggle room. Not that you’d want to anyway, there aren’t exactly clear paths in and out.

But obviously there’s a cost that comes attached to hiring a guide. If there’s more of you, which is easier when visiting during high season then prices are lower.

There’s lots of different types of tours that you can do to different parts of Amboró National Park, the most popular being the Bosque de Nubes (Cloud Forest) or Helechos Gigantes (Giant Fern) – it has two names – and the Condor Nest day hikes.

We chose to do the Cloud Forest hike so it’s the Amboró National Park tour that we have the most info about.

Of course we can’t compare it to the others but we’d highly recommend it. It was one of the best things we did in Bolivia and the scenery was out of this world.

Cloud Forest Samaipata

We did originally have 5 in our group. However unfortunately our hike got cancelled on the day we were supposed to do it due to bad weather. And the other 3 people booked on had to be somewhere else the next day so it ended up just the two of us.

We paid $500B’s which worked out at around $38USD / £30GBP each.

But prices v people with the tour company we went with – Tucandera Tours – are as follows:

1 person (450B’s) – 2 people (260B’s each) – 3 people (190B’s each) – 4/5 people (170B’s each) – 6/7 people (150B’s each). So you get the vibe. It’s similar with most tour agencies. 

Of course you can, but you don’t have to get a group together yourself. You’ll see outside the tour agency offices signs like ‘tomorrow 2 pax’ so you’ll know they already have some people booked on a tour and that you’ll get a cheaper price.

The tour agencies also tend to call around the hostels too to let them know when they are looking for a few more to make it cheaper for everyone. So make sure you ask around.

Amboró National Park Tour

However do also just bear in mind that not all the Amboró National Park tour agencies are equal. We heard some guides can be a bit crap. We would recommend Tukandera Tours because the main guide and owner, Elva, is Bolivian and also a biologist.

Not only did she have a wealth of fascinating information but her excitement about everything nature was infectious. We never knew it was possible to get us so excited over plants. It’s also a small family run business.

We also heard good things about Chané Tours and Samaipata Tours too. But as always do check the most up to date reviews for tour companies before booking. 

So as mentioned above this particular National Park in Bolivia is so special and unique because it’s where three diverse ecosystems collide. But more than that, because of the consequent precipitation cycle you get these huge flying air rivers tumbling through the sky with suspended waterfalls.

From afar it just looks likes clouds but close up we’ve never seen anything like it and were absolutely amazed.

Also as one of the most biodiverse national parks in the world, Amboró National Park is stuffed with tonnes of unique flora and fauna. 

In fact, the scientific community has logged near 3,000 different species of plants, 135 reptiles, 173 amphibians, and 177 mammals including tapirs, armadillos, spider monkeys, jaguars, giant anteaters, pumas, ocelots and spectacled bears. 

And then there’s the birds, all 812 different species of them.

Owing to how dense the jungle is you’d have to be very lucky to see any animals, although tracks in the mud are common. Our guide showed us photographs of jaguar footprints she’d seen recently. 

But being as Amboró National Park has more bird species than any other National Park in the world and is home to 60% of the whole country’s bird population, they are however much easier to spot. 

We saw Masked Trogons, Ruddy Quail-Doves, Woodcreepers, Tanagers, Thrushes Vultures, Toucans, Macaws and Hummingbirds. But cock of the rocks, curassows and spectacled owls are also common.

What’s more, as much of Amboró National Park is yet to be botanically surveyed so there’s likely many more species. Our guide was practically jumping around as much as a tiny frog we came across which she’d never seen before.

She excitedly took photographs and measurements in to log in the database in case no one else had either.

Giant Fern Hike Samaipata

The day starts at 9am with a bumpy 40 minute taxi ride (included in the tour price) to the closest entrance of Amboró National Park. It’s a full day and you’ll arrive back in Samaipata for around 5/6pm depending on the conditions and which route your guide takes.

We hiked a total of 12km, right up to the summit of La Mina, the mountain we were on. We’d enjoyed the hike immensely up to that point, learning about the jungle environment and winding our way through giant fern species so old they were once dinosaur food.

But it was standing on top of a Mina, above the clouds that blew us away because this is where the best views of the air rivers are.

It also did quite literally nearly blow us away on a couple of occasions so be sure to take an extra layer with you. It gets seriously windy up there.

It’s also colder in Amboró National Park than in Samaipata town so it’s best to wear long sleeves and leggings if you have them. It’s just because it’s such a constantly wet and damp environment.

You’ll also need a minimum of a litre of water, probably too. Unless you have a water filter bottle like we do, there’s plenty of streams to fll up in as you go. And you’ll need to take your own lunch, it’s not privded by the tour companies.

There’s a market in town where you can pick things up from. Or most hostels in Samaipata will make one for you if you order in advance.

It gets muddy in some parts but not a technically difficult hike so trainers are fine and are what we wore.

A waterproof jacket and dry bags are essential. And although we didn’t see any, mosquito spray. We wore suncream but you are under the canopy the majority of the time out of the sun. 

The other tours you can take into Amboró National Park are as follows:

• Refugio los Volcanes
• Laguna de Volcanes
• Condor Nest
• The Che Trail
• Night time safari

Best Time To Go To Samaipata

The warmest months are during the rainy season October – April. The coldest months are May – September which is said to be the best time to visit Samaipata and Amboró National Park.

We visited in January, the rainiest month and as we said had to delay our cloud forest hike a day due to a huge downpour. But then when it was sunny, it was hot hot.

Where To Next in Bolivia?

• Find our mega guide on what to do in Santa Cruz here.
• Here’s our favourite things to do in the white city of Sucre.

Insurance For Travelling Bolivia

We never go anywhere without travel insurance – and neither should you.

This particularly goes if you’re planning to do any of the more adventurous activities above. World Nomads is our preferred choice for great cover and a no bullshit approach. They also provide cover if you’re already on the road.

Grab yourself a quick no obligation quote below:

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Yorkshire born & bred, Sarah is a professional blogger who loves to travel. Pushing her boundaries with new adventures is her jam, so you likely won’t find her in one place for too long. Also a serious Marmite addict. 

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Hi, we’re James & Sarah

Full time backpackers turned vanlifers.

We’re here to provide you with valuable travel tips, kickass destination guides & serious vanlife inspiration to help you get your travel adventures off the ground!

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Backpacking in Bolivia

Samaipata: what to do in samaipata bolivia.

If Santa Cruz was a busy, traffic filled, pollution swamped city, Samaipata was the perfect antidote. I loved Samaipata, a peaceful town in the middle of the beautiful Bolivian countryside. A 3 hour drive from Santa Cruz, it was definitely worth the journey.

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You could take a bus or even a taxi from Santa Cruz to Samaipata, but it seemed the best option was by trufi. A strange sounding name, it’s actually a kind of shared taxi that leaves Santa Cruz when full, and drops off at the main square in Samaipata, occasionally stopping to drop passengers along the way as needed. The Santa Cruz – Samaipata route seems to be a popular one so I didn’t have to wait long for my trufi to fill up, and off we went.

READ MORE ABOUT BACKPACKING IN BOLIVIA

I already had experience of Bolivian driving from my two days in Santa Cruz, but this was in a city with paved roads, traffic lights and multi-lane traffic. Driving in the countryside apparently involves a similar disregard for rules and regulations, but this time on winding bumpy roads! The road was paved all the way to Samaipata, but in some parts where the road winds around the mountainside landslides are common, so the smooth paved road is covered in rocks, soil and only partly cleared, so the going can get a little rough. But I had been lucky to bag the front seat, had taken my travel sickness pill, was wearing my acupressure wristbands and had a supply of polo mints to occupy me, so my tendency to vomit on journeys such as this luckily didn’t surface.

The scenery was stunning, for the first hour or so the road was straight, and we passed through small towns and settlements along the way. It was interesting to see the contrast between city life, the ‘suburbs’ and countryside as we drove. After that, the scenery began to change, the mountains appeared and the road followed the mountainside, winding left, then right, and back again. The landscape grew greener, the air fresher, and we climbed around 1200 metres to reach the lovely village of Samaipata.

I liked Samaipata instantly. The trufi driver gladly accepted his 30 bolivianos fee (around $4.35) for the journey, and pointed me in the direction of my hostel. I chose Andoriña Hostal for its plant-filled patio, views of the countryside and hammocks, and the great reviews. I wasn’t disappointed. I’d booked a private room with an en-suite bathroom for 90 Bs a night (around $13) which didn’t seem bad! I slept well in the peaceful little town, and awoke to beautiful views.  Unfortunately you can only book through their website .

Find accommodation in Samaipata on Hostelworld or Booking.com

You can also look for other hotels in Samaipata or check the  options on Airbnb . 

Tours in Samaipata Bolivia

I arranged 2 tours during my stay in Samaipata; and used a different agency for each. In the run up to my trip I had been emailing Jaquelin from Samaipata tours , so she was my first stop when I arrived in town. I found her office, painted bright blue, and introduced myself. Jaquelin was super friendly, and I liked her straight away. Unfortunately as I am travelling alone sometimes it can be hard to arrange tours as often they require minimum numbers. I had 2 destinations in mind – the first was a trip to the Amboro national park, and the other to visit el Fuerte, some pre-Inca ruins with a trip to some waterfalls along the way. Sadly there were no tours running the following day, but I could join a tour to El Fuerte and las Cuevas waterfalls on Friday. So I continued my search for a tour the following day, as I didn’t want to ‘waste’ a day in Samaipata. I had walked past another tour office (there are plenty dotted around town) called Chané tours , and I made my way back there. There were already 3 German ladies inside, so I opted for safety in numbers and asked about a tour to the Park tomorrow. I was in luck! The Germans were planning a trip the very next day, and as the costs reduced with a higher number of people they were glad for me to join them. I signed up and went back to Jacquelin to confirm Friday’s trip to el Fuerte as well. Happy as Larry I went back to my hostel room and slept soundly.

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Amboro National Park & Cloud Forest

We met at Chané tours office just before 9am. As it happened 3 more people had signed up for the tour so we were 7 in total, plus the guide. Our guide Carmelo was instantly likeable, with a wide smile and infectious laugh. He put us all at ease straight away, and we were driven to the top of the nearby hill to begin our trek into the park. We started off gently, and Carmelo pointed out plants and insects along the way, explaining their uses to the indigenous people, from teas & infusions with the plants, to using ants’ heads as stitches to seal wounds. He was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about his town and surroundings. The hike got tougher as we entered the forest, and I found some parts very difficult especially at the altitude. But when we started to get to the giant fern forest it became clear why it was worth it! These magnificent plants grow between 1mm and 1cm per year, depending on rainfall, and most were over 4m high – so these plants could be over 2000 years old. (If my maths is correct!!)

We climbed up, sometimes scrambling over fallen trees and branches to reach the fern forest. I felt breathless and my legs were like jelly – mostly due to the altitude, and only partly due to my lack of fitness! Carmelo joked we needed some Bolivian Red Bull, winking that he had a bag of white powder with him if we got too tired! Not sure exactly how to take that, we laughed along until we reached a clearing and he declared a rest break. He pulled out a bag of coca leaves, a small bag of white powder, and a block of dark greeney brown substance he said was hashish – choose what you like he said! We looked nervously at each other. Was he really offering us cocaine and hashish? Was our trusted tour guide, who had led us into the middle of the forest smashed off his tits on coke? That would explain his constant joking and hyperactivity I reasoned….

After giving us enough time to process all this he finally explained – the little baggy of white powder was in fact baking soda, and the solid block was a sweet substance made of honey and sugar – both of which you take in small doses with a big ball of coca leaves to help with the effects of altitude. Visibly relieved, we all took our coca leaves as instructed – a big handful of leaves lightly chewed and pushed into a ball in one cheek, then mixed with half a leaf-full of baking soda and a smidgen of the sweet stuff to take away the bitter taste. Don’t chew too much he advised, it has to release slowly. And it will probably make your face go numb. And numb it went! I’m not sure if it helped me scale the mountain before us, but chewing coca leaves in the forest was certainly an experience I won’t forget soon!

The rest of the trek was still difficult, and by the end I was exhausted. But the views were magnificent and the fern forest spectacular.

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Waterfalls and El Fuerte in Samaipata

The following day I made my way to Jacquelin’s office for 9am, to find that the other people who had reserved the tour had cancelled! However, Samaipata Tours stood by their offer to take me on the tour, so I had a private guide all to myself! We started with Las Cuevas waterfalls, and my guide here was a young guy named Dario. A first I was a little nervous being alone with him and with no clue where we were going but he was friendly & kind and we were soon getting along like a house on fire. We talked about everything from religion to marriage & relationships in our cultures, and found of course some similarities and some differences. He seemed unusual in his ‘Western’ attitude to marriage – i.e not wanting to get married to your first girlfriend and start a family immediately. I liked him, and enjoyed my time with him. He drove carefully to the waterfalls & showed me the best places to take photos. Unfortunately it was too cold to take a dip, but I did paddle my feet in the water! The morning passed swiftly, and then Dario drove me to El Fuerte to meet Jacquelin who would be my guide for the pre-inca ruins there.

Lunch was included in the tour, and Jacquelin had brought bread, cheese, ham & salad to make our own sandwiches, plus fruit and chocolate to keep our energy up! After lunch we walked around El Fuerte complex and she explained the significance of the ruins. The site consists of a huge rock, naturally found in the strategic spot atop the mountain, and various constructions around it, built by the inhabiting people. Archaeologists have found several civilisations lived at at the site at one time or another, beginning with the Mojocoya in 400 – 800 AD. The Chané people followed, from 800 – 1450 AD, they were the ones who carved figures in the rock, then came the Guaraní and the Incas, and even the Spanish colonialists used the site to secure a trade route between Asunción in Paraguay & Lima in Peru.

I was glad to have Jacquelin as my guide, as the signage around the site was sparse, and she really helped to flesh out the ruins so I could better understand its history. As we went around the site, Jacquelin also told me her story, of how she set up her own tour business after being turned away from another company because her husband was a competing guide. She built up Samaipata Tours from scratch, and now she & her husband have around 9 guides working with them – I felt honoured to have Jacquelin herself as my guide! I could tell she truly cared about her company & loved her work – she was even picking up bits of rubbish from around the site! She also explained how the rock is under threat, as the weather, lichen, and man-made influences are gradually eroding the markings in the rock. The measures that have been taken so far to try and save the rock have only made matters worse (like building a pine forest to break the wind, which led to the corrosive sap being blown onto the rock), so it remains to be seen if a suitable plan can be found to protect and preserve the history here.

I really enjoyed my day with her & Dario, and felt sad to catch the trufi back to bonkers Santa Cruz.

Have you been to Samaipata?  Do you have any recommendations for what else to do in Samaipata?  I’d love to hear your thoughts, please comment below.

If you’re looking for travel insurance for your trip to Bolivia, get a quote now from World Nomads .

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Hi! I'm Claire Sturzaker, a 30-something foodie traveller who loves to enjoy the best of a destination without breaking the bank. I'm here to help you and all women backpackers to plan their best budget travel adventure. I am an avid supporter of female solo travel, and took my first solo trip 20 years ago! I love to write about travel, hostels, backpacking and van life.

12 thoughts on “ Samaipata: What to do in Samaipata Bolivia ”

Aw I missed out on Chile – there is just too much to see and do in South America its impossible to do it all!! I would love to go back too, hopefully one day we’ll all get to see everything! 😀

Samaipatha sounds like an awesome place off the beaten path. Coca leaves was a miracle worker for us in the high Altitude as well. We were in Bolivia in August, but our route took us towards Chile through the Salt flats. It would have been awesome to see the rain forests areas of Bolivia. Thank you for this guide. It will surely helps us to prepare for our next trip to this wonderful country.

Ooh you should definitely go, I loved it!!

It was incredible, I would love to spend some more time there 🙂

I totally agree! I definitely underestimated Bolivia the first time I went, so I went back again to spend some more time there! There was still so much to see though, I hope to go back again and explore properly!

You have to go! Bolivia was one of my favourite countries in South America, beautiful and varied and not very touristy either YET! (Aside from the salt flats)

Ha, yup it certainly makes things interesting! It is awesome, I highly recommend Bolivia!

I love when tour guides have a great sense of humor! That’s so funny that he let y’all think for a minute that he was offering…. substances lol. I would love to get to Bolivia someday soon (I just had friends return home from a long trip in SA and they loooved Bolivia!).

I’m kicking myself that I still haven’t been to Bolivia! Las Cuevas looks so peaceful and relaxing – the perfect place to sit and read and just be. Great tips 🙂

So glad you enjoyed Samaipata! I genuinely believe Bolivia is one of the most underrated countries in the world – we visited last year and LOVED our time there. We took in La Paz and the Amazon, so we didn’t see much else of the country which was a shame, but I would love to get back.

Samaipata wasn’t on my radar, but it sounds like the perfect place!

Wow — you’re right it looks gorgeous. The Fern Forest and the waterfalls looks so beautiful. I love the photos you captured.

I’ve been looking into going to South America since I have never been so I loved reading this post!

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SAMAIPATA BOLIVIA FULL DAY TOUR

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Samaipata Bolivia is a pre-Hispanic ceremonial fortress, which consists of two parts:

1. There are many carvings in the hill, and archaeologists believe it was a ceremonial center of the old town in the 14th–16th centuries.

2. The administrative and residential district was in the area south of the hill. The unique testimony to pre-Hispanic traditions and beliefs is an enormous sculptured rock located in the town below. There is not something similar to this in the Americas.

In this full day tour, you will visit the pre-Hispanic ceremonial fortress, the surrounding waterfall caves & the town’s museum.

• If you have more days in Santa Cruz, we recommend you check our  04 Day Santa Cruz Bolivia Tour Package

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Your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel to transfer you to the countryside town of Samaipata. It is only 120 kms from the city of Santa Cruz and the journey is filled with beautiful landscapes.

Your first stop will be a pre-Hispanic ceremonial fortress and a  UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site . It is among the largest in South America, and it is unique because it combines buildings from the Chane (pre-Inca), Inca, and Spanish cultures.

After lunch, visit the archaeological museum in the town of Samaipata. Later, enjoy the cave waterfalls in the surrounding area. Finally, return to your hotel.

Note: the tour lasts approximately 10 hrs. due to long travel distances.

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Daytrip to Samaipata

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Passengers will be collected and taken to Samaipata to see Fort Samaipata.

What’s included:

• Local transfer in a private chauffeur-driven vehicle
• Local bilingual guide and entrance fees where applicable
• Lunch at a local restaurant

Passengers will be collected and taken to Samaipata to see Fort Samaipata, which is not in fact a fort (it was given that name because it is on top of a hill) but a pre-Hispanic settlement built by the Chané culture. There also some Inca ruins nearby. The road to El Fuerte crosses a mountainous area called Volcanes, you will visit the caves and then have lunch and a stroll through the village before returning to Santa Cruz.

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From Samaipata itself you can arrange one or more day hikes to the fabulous area of Volcanes (only so called because the mountains to locals looked like volcanoes).

VisitBolivia.net – Your Guide to Bolivia's Top Attractions

Samaipata became a popular travel destination lately, much due to the most terrific sightseeing spot in Santa Cruz – El Fuerte. This archeological monument of Pre-Columbian era was added to the UNESCO Heritage List in Bolivia in 1998 . Immediately a calm village of Samaipata received significant glory and popularity. Despite a location on the high hills of Bolivian Andes, numerous fashionable hotels and cafes were established within a settlement. Indeed, travel attractiveness of El Fuerte de Samaipata cannot be exaggerated.

On the Quechua language “Samaipata” means “the rest in mountains” , this is why the village is also visited by local Bolivians, who are eager to explore the remains of ancient civilizations. The first one recorded on Samaipata lands is the Chané people, who built dense villages nearly 2500 years ago. Samaipata is the exact example of their culture, the characteristic feature of which is an adherence to agriculture and hunting. Chanes are the founders and constructors of El Fuerte. There are some Chane burial sites left in the Samaipata neighborhood. The city of Samaipata developed crucially, as Incas set a peace with Chane people. In practice, they built a bigger settlement around momentous fort. Further rulers of Samaipata were Guarani people, who, unlike Incas, conquered the settlement by constant raids to the valley. However, the date of Samaipata’s founding is registered in 1618, by the order of Pedro de Escalante y Mendoza.

The entire history and development of Samaipata is associated with El Fuerte. Despite its visual image of a fortress, there is nothing in common with defense and protection in real. Ancient people built fort for rituals and religious rites, much distributed in prehistoric cultures.  The ceremonial set of El Fuerte consists of two main parts. The first one is a hill, full of rock-art images performed by indigenous Indians. Historians assume that religious cults were kept here by the 14-16th centuries. The other part is a large and flat area on the south. It was a perfect territory for Samaipata’s establishment, protected by sacred hills of Andes from Guarani invaders.

The most precious construction of El Fuerte is El Cascabel or “the Rattle” . It maintains two parallel lines, which are directed on east on the 71° azimuth and 6,75° height. Scientists believe that El Cascabel was used for astronomic purposes. The observation of Venus and Jupiter rising is among possible versions. In addition, the rock-art pictures might signify that Chane people watched the flight of Halley’s Comet in 1066.

Besides El Fuerte, Samaipata can boast of other travel attractions in its neighborhood. For instance, Amboró National Park is a cradle of South-American bird species and mammals, among which the special place is taken by ocelots, pumas and spectacled bears. Natural wonders of Samaipata area might be observed while taking a trip to Las Cuevas waterfalls and beaches or to Laguna Volcan , which is a lake in the crater of dormant volcano. For fans of South-American history a visit to neighboring town of Vallegrande may be especially pleasant – it is the place, where well-known revolutionary Che Gevara was buried.

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Just outside the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra lies the little oasis of Samaipata. Completely different to any other town in Bolivia due to its temperate climate and easy access to National Parks. Since the settlement of a large community of Germans and Dutch, Samaipata has significantly grown to attract tourists, mainly backpackers, in search of a tropical feel and a chilled out atmosphere.

A bit hippyish around the edges, Samaipata is a small village where it feels good to walk around the many little art shops, buying freshly baked bread from a cycling dutchman or stop at a coffee shop to hide from the heat. On another day, Samaipata also gives the chance to discover the surrounding waterfalls, the cloud forest of the Amboro National Park or even take a hike to look for Condors. Some say Samaipata is the reason to head to the East of Bolivia.

Travelling around Samaipata

There are many things you can do from Samaipata, but without a car, you might need to join a tour or chip in for an overpriced taxi ride. Let’s be honest, this isn’t something we particularly liked about this part of the country. We have been used to visiting Bolivia by taking local buses and mostly making our own self-guided tours. But in Samaipata it is a bit more complicated since it is quite hard to find a local bus. For any destination close enough to the main road, hopping in a collectivo will be the best bet, but as soon as you try to go off the beaten path, taxis and tours will become a necessity.

We spent a week relaxing in Samaipata and exploring what it has to offer. We would by no means suggest others to stay that long, but there are several things to do to keep you occupied and enjoying the Bolivian sun.

This is what to do in Samaipata without breaking the wallet!

Visit the “las Cuevas” Waterfalls

These waterfalls are situated about 15 km outside of town and worth the journey to cool down. To get there you can take a collectivo or hitchhike. Really you shouldn’t rely on the bus as it passes once or twice a day and the time is variable. The locals didn’t seem to know when it was due to pass. Hitchhiking in this part of Bolivia is perfectly fine, all of the locals do it and if you hop in the back of a 4×4 there is no better feeling than watching the coffee fields whiz by.

In the park, there are 3 waterfalls to visit with a short walk between each. The first one is quite small but you can swim and there are usually fewer people. The second is bigger while the 3rd opens up to a large bathing area where you can just chill.

From the 2nd waterfall, there is a trail to access a Viewpoint. Only a short walk, it is made slightly hard by the heat but from there the view is worth the effort. A gorgeous valley surrounded by the iconic rounded peaks of the area is the reason many love Samaipata.

Entrance Fee: 15 Bs (€1.90) Collectivo : 7 Bs (€0.90) You may need to wait outside for 10 – 15 minutes before entering as there only seems to be one park ranger to take the entrance fee. If you can, avoid the weekends! This is when all of the locals come and it can get rather cramped.

Animal refuge

Where possible we like to support those caring for abandoned or hurt animals. Just outside of town there is a small refuge. To get there walk West along a gravel road to the animal refuge for about 2 km. On the way make sure to stop at the small place called la Vaca Loca, “the crazy cow”, where the homemade ice cream will cool you down. A little further is the animal refuge which has been set up by a local family and helped by volunteers.

Once the entrance fees are paid, the owners let you walk around freely to see the different animals they have rescued from illegal trafficking, road accidents and that were unauthorized pets. The refuge was nice but we thought it was lacking a bit of information about the actions taken by the refuge, but they do what they can with what they have. We saw Toucans, Monkeys and even an Ocelot.

Entrance Fee: 20 Bs (€2.56)

NEXT READ: WHAT TO DO IN SANTA CRUZ DE LA SIERRA?

Mirador de Samaipata

if you don’t know what to do and want to go for a walk, you can go to the Mirador de Samaipata. It is a little walk up towards the hotel El Pueblito . What we liked the most about this walk was the chance to see the winery “Viñedos” which is one of the oldest in the region. It can be visited but unfortunately, when we went it was closed. Worth checking in out.

This Pre-Colombian fort is probably the main attraction of the area. Recognised as a World Heritage site by UNESCO , El Fuerte was built around 2,500 years ago by the civilisation of the Chané of the Mojocoyas before being taken over by the Incas and Spaniards.

To get there, we had to take a taxi as the only cars going there are visitors and they are not many. The taxis are a scam. They know most people who come to Samaipata want to visit El Fuerte and they completely overcharge. The price is per car, so it is better to team up with other people in order to decrease the price per head.

If like us you can’t find anyone in your hostel heading that way, our tip is to hang out on the main square, near the taxis, and spot other tourists asking the taxi prices to El Fuerte. Join them and ask if they would be okay to split the cost of the taxi to get to El Fuerte. It is a win-win for them and you. Once there, the taxi will wait for you to do the tour of the park.

Without much information on offer, the significance El Fuerte is lost. The views of the rock carvings and the mountains behind are simply beautiful.

Taxi to El Fuerte : 100 Bs per car (€12.80) Entrance El Fuerte : 50 Bs (€6.40)

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The Che Trail

In 1967, Che Gevara was killed in Bolivia after he built a Bolivian guerrilla group called the National Liberation Army of Bolivia in order to start a similar Revolution to the one in Cuba.

This time, the Revolution never really picked up and Che Guevara was executed in the forest near La Higuera , a very small village in the countryside, about 180 km from Samaipata. These days, it is possible to hike in the  Quebrada del Churo where Che and his men hid out before being arrested.

We did not find the courage to do a day trip since the road is a nightmare and it would have taken a very long time to get there. The best is to stop at Vallegrande and maybe stay a couple of days to be able to visit the area. Otherwise, there are always tours that offer deals from Santa Cruz or Samaipata.

The Amboro National Park

The Amboro National Park is accessible from Saimapata by car or with a tour. There are no local buses or collectivos driving to and from the park, which makes it a bit complicated to visit on a budget.

Tours offer two types of excursions into the park: a day-hike into the cloud forest or a morning at the Refugio Los Volcanes . To do it on your own, the best is to either rent a car or leave from Santa Cruz. Here is an article from Bolivian life that is really well documented .

In the end, we decided to skip the Amboro National Park as we here heading towards Rurrenabaque , The Bolivian Amazon, after Samaipata. It is a shame as the park is known to have the most biodiversity in all of South America.

Coffee farms and harvest season

During our stay in Samaipata, we had the chance to stay at a coffee farm created by the coffee producers we had volunteered with in Caranavi. The first commercial coffee farm in the area, the producers harvested for the first time during our stay. The good thing about starting coffee farming near Samaipata is that the size of the land which can be bought isn’t limited like in Caranavi.

Here the farms are 30 to 50 hectares and start producing a very interesting coffee. This is excellent news for the increase of Bolivian coffee production that has been in a bad state for the past years.

RELATED: HARVESTING COFFEE IN BOLIVIA

Where to eat in Samaipata

We absolutely loved the food in Samaipata, even if the choice is quite limited. We ended up eating at the same place over and over but it was really worth it.

• Cafe Tango : Vegetarian Restaurant – We ate the sandwiches here every single day. It is affordable and very tasty. The lady is very nice and sells lots of organic creams, tea, spices, etc. – On Calle Arce
• La Cocina : Great variety of Mexican food, well served. The falafel burger and fries are excellent! – On Calle Sucre
• Caff’é Art : A nice place, making okay coffee and great pies. A bit pricey but it is a nice comfort food after a long hike. Our favourite? Banana and carrot cakes. Have a chat with the owner, he’s a lovely man with lots of stories about the region. – On Calle Bolivar
• La Vaca Loca : A restaurant just outside of town offering homemade ice cream. A must visit to cool down! –  Avenida Ramon Dario Gutierrez
• Boheme : The only bar with great atmosphere, live music and good beer. The main draw here is that you can order food from La Cocina and have them serve it in the bar while having a drink! It is a small town after all. – Corner of Sucre and Ruben Terrazas

Where to stay in Samaipata

• Hostel Andoriña : Bunk beds – shared room/bathroom 60 Bs per person Breakfast included – Rooftop balcony but no kitchen
• Hostel El Jardin : Private double Bedroom 80 Bs per room Campsite & Room – Kitchen – Awesome design made in Adobe and recycled material.
• Hostal Don Ysidro : Double Bedroom – shared bathroom 80 Bs per room Family-owned – Breakfast included – Kitchen well equipped.
• Nomada hostel Bunk Bed & Doubles 80 to 100 Bs per person Breakfast included – Rooftop terrasse & Yoga Classes
• Hostel Serena Bunk Bed & Doubles 80 to 100 Bs per person Breakfast included – nice garden and views – Kitchen
• YVY Casa hostel – NEW Double bedroom Min 150 Bs Breakfast included – a beautiful house with yoga facilities
• El Pueblito Resort Double, bungalow min 550 Bs per room Breakfast included – Swimming pool – best view in town with wines
• Finca La Vispera Chalet & Private house min 400 Bs Breakfast included – Kitchen – Farmhouse –

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We visited here last month, but only El fuerte and Cheguevara trail as we ran out of time. Makes me sad but at least I have a reason to come back 🙂

Yes, travelling is about decisions but not doing everything gives time to enjoy the moment and not rush. And as you said, it gives an excuse to go back again!

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Samaipata El Fuerte Giant Ferns

Samaipata, located in Bolivia, is famous for its stunning archaeological site known as El Fuerte. This ancient site, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, features intricate carved rock formations believed to have served both ceremonial and defensive purposes. Beyond the archaeological wonders, Samaipata is also known for its lush surroundings, including forests filled with giant ferns. These towering ferns, known as the giant ferns "helechos gigantes" in Spanish, add to the mystical and enchanting atmosphere of this unique destination, attracting visitors with a passion for history and natural beauty alike.

Samaipata El Fuerte Giant Ferns. Samaipata is a pleasant village Located 120 km from  Santa Cruz city. Many prefer to visit this place for its mountains and its climate. Although the Amboro Park is quite distant from these town, there are many other places where tours are conducted from here. The main attraction of this place is "El Fuerte" and the forest of giant ferns that is approximately 1 hour by car.

It is on an altitude of 1600–1800 m it tempts foreigners to settle. The little village is kind of a Micromundo where now about 25 nationalities live together in harmony and peace. It lies  to the southwest of the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra in the foothills of the Andes on the way to Sucre. It is a popular resort for inhabitants of Santa Cruz due to its much cooler climate.  The town is small with numerous colonial buildings and narrow cobbled streets. There is a good range of hotels and restaurants to suit all budgets

The valley was originally populated by people of the Chane culture dedicated to agriculture, hunting and gathering. The Chanes are famous for their densely populated villages, their ceramics and graphic designs, and most importantly the construction of the temple at El Fuerte. They cultivated mainly corn and peanuts, and were rather peaceful. There are several Chane burial sites all through the valleys and pampas of Santa Cruz between the Siberia mountain ridge and the Guapay river.

The region was later conquered by Incas as they expanded to the southeast from their native Peru. The Incas reached a pact with the Chanes and built a city at El Fuerte de Samaipata.

The Guarani warrior tribes coming from the south invaded the valley and defeated both Incas and Chanes. The Guarani hordes kept raiding the valley and the nearby region well into the Spanish colonial times.

In 1618, Pedro de Escalante y Mendoza founded Samaipata, as point of contact between Santa Cruz and Vallegrande. The town moved from its original location in a place known as Castilla to its current location a few kilometers west.

Samaipata El Fuerte Giant Ferns Museum

  standard tours - details, itineraries - 1 day 0 nights - 2 days 1 night  , - photos:     el fuerte & museum   giant ferns -  cuevas - videos - what to bring ......

Tour Combination - Amboro National Park South Side with Samaipata  

Visitors may combine Amboro park with Samaipata in Two Days or more. The first day you may visit Refugio Volcanes and next day after breakfast or after lunch you may continue to Samaipata to visit El Fuerte and/or The Giant Ferns

Itinerary  One Day Zero Nights

Samaipata         

1 Day 0 Night

From the city of Santa Cruz

1 Day 

At 7:30 we meet at your place, and then go to Samaipata on a paved road, a trip of approximately 3 hours. There are 75 miles or 120 km from Santa Cruz which is approximately at 1,200 feet or 370 meters above sea level. Samaipata is approximately at  1600 meter above sea level.

Please may sure you take with your original passport or your country´s I.D.  if your country is a member of the MERCOSUR agreement. 

Please take with you the small sheet  of paper that the control people give you when you enter Bolivia 

Once in  the outskirts of Santa Cruz the contour of the highway to Samaipata begins to change from urban plains to a narrower highway that starts its way up bordering mountains on one side and the Pirai River on the other side, and the landscape changes to sandy rock and green mountains.

If we have nice weather and time we may stop at "Cuevas" in this place after a short walk of about 15 minutes we will encounter some waterfalls. 

You may have 20 minutes if you want to jump into the water

The entire highway until the town of Samaipata is paved except for some parts where the pavement has disappeared due to landslides or because many parts are under maintenance. We will stop in any places where the visitor wishes to take some photographs.

Samaipata has tempered climate during the day and it is a little cold during the night.

Once in Samaipata we will visit first El Fuerte or the  the museum.

In the museum we will be able to appreciate different objects and ceramics that remain as a testimony of the different cultures that settled in the surroundings or from others sites of Bolivia.

The museum also has different pictures that explain the pass of the different cultures that left their signs on the famous carved rock known as “El Fuerte” (The Fortress) which is said to be the largest carved rock of the planet Earth. The museum has a small model of this rock.

We have lunch in Samaipata.

In the afternoon, we go to El Fuerte, the entrance to the secondary road that leads to fort is located 2.5 miles or 4 kilometers away from the town of Samaipata by the paved road to Santa Cruz. From this point we go up on a secondary  road in the vehicle to the top of the mountain where El Fuerte is located and from where the footpath begins.

Once we are there, a specialized guide will accompany us during the long walk around the big carved rock, providing us with the explanations of the possible reasons for the carving made there, the strategic location that this place had in those days and the clash of different cultures that happened in this location for this reason. (Take a sweater)

During the hike it is fascinating to wonder about the experiences lived by the different cultures that passed through this magnificent place.

When the tour of El Fuerte is over, we return on the same highway to   the city of Santa Cruz.

Once in the city we will leave you in your place.

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Amboró Tours is the only original source of this Itinerary

Amboró Tours also offers shorter or longer tours to this destination.

Adverse climatologic conditions or social unrest can change the original itinerary.

Be prepared to protect yourself against cold (sweater) the sun (sun lotion, sunglasses, hat or cap, long-sleeved shirt, long trousers and others) and rain (impermeable clothes)

“Take only photographs and leave only footprints”

Itinerary - Samaipata El Fuerte Giant Ferns 2 Days 1 Night 

2 Days 1 Night

From the city of Santa Cruz - Samaipata El Fuerte Giant Ferns

1st Day   At 8:00 we meet at your place, and then go to Samaipata on a paved road, a trip of approximately 3 hours. There are 75 miles or 120 km from Santa Cruz which is approximately at 1,200 feet or 370 meters above sea level. Samaipata is approximately at  1600 meter above sea level.Once in  the outskirts of Santa Cruz the contour of the highway to Samaipata begins to change from urban plains to a narrower highway that starts its way up bordering mountains on one side and the Pirai River on the other side, and the landscape changes to sandy rock and green mountains.

Please make sure you take with your original passport or any original identification document valid in Bolivia. 

Once in Samaipata we will first  visit the museum or El Fuerte.

In the afternoon, we go to El Fuerte, the entrance to the secondary road that leads to fort is located 2.5 miles or 4 kilometres away from the town of Samaipata by the paved road to Santa Cruz. From this point we go up on a secondary unpaved road in the vehicle to the top of the mountain where El Fuerte is located and from where the footpath begins.

Once we are there, a specialised guide will accompany us during the long walk around the big carved rock, providing us with the explanations of the possible reasons for the carving made there, the strategic location that this place had in those days and the clash of different cultures that happened in this location for this reason. (Take a sweater)

When the tour of El Fuerte is over, we return  to the town of Samaipata.  

The driver will take you to your hosting place and he and you coordinate the time to pick you up for dinner.

After breakfast we pick you up to drive you towards "Cerro la Mina" .

This place is about 50 minutes from the town of Samaipata. If it raiining we may have to change the plan.

Once in Cerro La Mina.  we start trekking a bit uphill to enter the forest of the Giant Ferns

This forest is about 1900 meters on sea level.

Here you can find hundreds or thousand year old  giant ferns and  higher than 15 meters tall.

The trekking ove here is a bit hard amd dificult.

Because it is up and down small hils.

All the circuit may take about 3 1/2 hours. 

But if you fell that is too much for you after about one hour of walking we may return to the vehicle.

The long trails pass by some small streams. If you fell like doing the long trekking you need to be in an average to good physical condition.

The highest part is about 2000 meters on sea level with a great view of the valleys of Samaipata

When the tour of the Giant Ferns is over, we return in the same highway to samaipata and then to   the city of Santa Cruz.

What To Bring

(DO NOT BRINGS THINGS YOU MAY DO NOT NEED)

- Sunscreen

- A Cap or a Hat  ( No to be used under the trees or branches)

- Sun Glasses

- A Warm Sweater

- Swimsuit ( You may not have time to use it in one day tours)

- Insect Repellents

- Long-sleeved shirt- Pants 

- Passport (Original) Or identifications documents valid in Bolivia

- Plastic bags  to protect whatever you do not want to get wet

- Trekking Shoes or others proper Shoes.

- Bring your own medication for your personal needs

- Personal items you may need

- Extra food, cookies or sweets of your choice

Videos - Samaipata

Samaipata El Fuerte Giant Ferns Photos-  Museum

Samaipata El Fuerte Giant Ferns Photos - Cuevas

Photos - Samaipata - Giants Ferns

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Samaipata Bolivia: Definite New Destination For Hidden Inca Tours In 2013

Not far away from Samaipata, one of the most important archeological monuments of pre-Columbian time in Bolivia can be found: El Fuerte (The Fortress). This archeological place has been declared Cultural Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO. This mysterious place has been given many hypothetical explanations for its origins. It is supposed that El Fuerte is the work of the Amazonian pre-Incan ‘Chané’ culture, and later on was used as an advanced city by the Incas and finally by the Spanish colonists that turned El Fuerte into a fortress.

 El Fuerte is the largest carved stone in the world. This archaeological monument reaches a height of 1.949 metres above sea level and is on the ridge of a hill of a sandy rock where ancient cultures sculptured figures but emphasized snakes and pumas, as well as waterways and wells, triangular and rectangular seats, vaulted niches, among other details.

OK; that is the official version…just because some pottery of the Chane culture was found there does not necessarily mean that they were the first builders. This amazing site is very similar to places in Cusco and the Sacred Valley of Peru attributed to the Inca, but are clearly thousands of years older.

About Brien Foerster

Brien has explored more than 90 countries but his true passion is researching and writing about the ancient megalithic works found in Peru, Bolivia, Mexico, Easter Island, Egypt, England, and beyond. His 23 books are available on this website & amazon.com . He has appeared 15 times on the Ancient Aliens television series as well as numerous other TV and radio presentations. Brien's popular Youtube channel contains more than 850 videos related to hidden history and megalithic sites.

Brien Foerster

Upcoming tours you can join.

Our operations began nearly a decade ago as a way to facilitate my longterm research into megalithic sites and ancient wisdom. Over the years our offerings have grown to an annual series of major group tours featuring well known researchers as well as private tours with me to sites in Peru and Bolivia.

MAJOR GROUP TOURS

January 12–23, 2019 – Join our team of researchers and explorers as we examine the evidence and discuss the remarkable indications of what is possibly the world’s greatest secret – that a highly advanced civilization with superior intelligence and capabilities once inhabited our planet tens of thousands of years ago.

February 18-28, 2019 – Join Brien & irene on this adventure through Mexico to discover evidence of ancient technology, lost cultures, and incredible sites.

April 6th – 18th, 2019 – Join Khemitologists, Researchers, and Explorers as they examine the evidence and discuss the remarkable indications of what is possibly the world’s greatest secret.

PRIVATE TOURS WITH BRIEN

Paracas & Nazca

Cusco & The Sacred Valley

Machu Pic'chu