Bolivian biodiversity

The Noel Kempff National Park is one of the largest and most intact parks in the Amazon Basin. The remoteness of this largely untouched natural landscape makes visiting a true travel adventure.

Located in northeastern Bolivia and bordering Brazil, the Noel Kempf Mercado National Park is nearly 1.6 million hectares (roughly the size of Massachusetts). It is said to have been the inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle’s the The Lost World.

The Noel Kempff National park offers a bountiful array of wildlife and biodiversity. It has one of the highest densities of wildlife in the world with over 640 bird and 130 mammal species recorded and absolutely spectacular scenery and landscapes including the breathtaking waterfalls of Ahfeld and Arco Iris. The national park contains a rich mosaic of different habitat types, ranging in altitude from 200 metres (656 feet) to over 1000 metres (3,280 feet), with flood plains, savannahs and evergreen forests. The main river, Iténez, marks the border with Brazil and is a part of the Madeira River basin that eventually empties into the mighty Amazon. A visit to the rainforest is an invigorating and life-changing experience that offers a fresh perspective of the natural world.

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Guide to the Noel Kempff Mercado National Park

This diversity of habitats results in an incredible myriad of flora and fauna. It is estimated that the Park contains approximately 4,000 species of vascular plants including various types of orchids, bromelias, pasifloras, heliconias, aráceas, and palms. Also found there are several species of trees, such as mahagony, ceder, paquió, serebó and rubber. Investigations made up until this date have registered more than 130 species of mammals, 33 of which have been classified as threatened or in danger of extinction. These include rare river otters, black jaguars, red deer, dolphins, various species of monkeys and many more. In addition, Noel Kempf is home to over 620 species of birds, more than 70 species of reptiles and hundreds of different insects, making it one of the most biodiverse locations on earth.

Getting to Noel Kempff National Park

Journeys to the Noel Kempff Mercado National Park begin in the city of Santa Cruz, which has international and domestic flights to Bolivia’s main destinations. From here, you either travel by plane or land to either of the two entrances to the national Park: Noel Kempff Flor de Oro or Noel Kempff Los Fierros.

The Flor de Oro access point is on the north side. To reach it you need to fly by private charter plane, over hundreds of kilometers of perfectly pristine rainforest. Alternatively you can arrive via Los Fierros on the south side.

When to travel

The national park can be visited year-round. There are two distinct seasons: rainy season (october-april) and dry season (May-September). The best time to visit is in the dry season. Although temperatures are slighlty cooler this time of year, access is easier and trails are less muddy.