History says that, hundred of years ago, a group of natives called Guarasug'we -coming from Paraguay- inhabited these Bolivian lands to leave us dubious legends and colorful traditions. It is also known that in the northern side of the Noel Kempff Mercado National Park, there are several stones that show human faces, but they have not been studied rigorously yet.

Nature and history blend in the Noel Kempff Mercado Park-northeast of the department of Santa Cruz- one of the most extensive ecological reserves in the world, with a surface of 914,000 hectares.

Images of startling waterfalls and unbelievable rocky islands in the river. Rivers and lagoons that run through an ecosystem loaded with an surprising flora and fauna. A world yet to be discovered. A place that offers various habitats that could hardly be found in other parts of the planet.

Flora and Fauna

It is thought that in this area there are close to 4,000 species of vascular plants. But, without a doubt, the eyes of any adventure man will be captivated when admiring the variety of orchids, bromelias, pasifloras, heliconias, arceas and palms.

Among the trees and plants that can be traded the best known are the mara (Swietenia macrophylla), the oak (Amburana caearensis), the cedar (Cedrela odorata), the rubber (Hevea brasiliensis), and several species of palms like the asa or palmito (Euterpe precatoria).

The fauna in the Noel Mercado Kempff Park is astonishing. The latest studies acknowledged around 150 varieties of mammals, among those: jaguars, pumas, elks and tapires, troop porks or pecares, monkeys, urinas or deer, capiguaras and strange species like the mount dog, borochi, deer of the swamps, bufeos and londras, among others.
As for birds, there have been catalogued more than 620 species. Among them: pavas, parabas, parrots, toucans, sparrow hawks, hawks, partridges, gulls, tapacars, batos, ducks, cormoranes, herons, martn pescador and others.

The Park, offers a total of 62 species of amphibians. Although the fish are the less studied vertebrates of the area, they have a bigger importance because they represent are the food of many of those that inhabit the communities near to these paradisiac places. A recent study has registered some 250 species.

About the reptiles that rest, crawl and swim in the area, 74 species have been catalogued, including crocodiles, diverse saurian, turtles and snakes. To be watched: black cayman, sicur, tataruga, tracay, land peta, pa rattlesnake, chonono rattlesnake and iguana, among others. 347 species of insects have been identified. Natural wonders seen in this park are hardly found in other parts of the world.


Tourist Places

Charming and grand places, amazing waterfalls, wrap and catch any tourist. The Bay of the Orchids, the Mirador of the Monkeys, Caparuch and the Rainbow Waterfalls, they are the most attractive natural places in the Park.

Upon their arrival, visitors are received in the Flor de Oro camp, located along the Itenez or Guapor river, close to the border with Brazil. This place is perfect to stop and to observe the flight of the birds; to go for a walk along the river and to observe the beauty of the londras (Pteronura brasiliensis) and the sweet water bufeos (Inia geoffrensis).

Las Torres, a group of rocky formations that offer a brilliant panoramic view of the area, has become a very visited place by tourists. Some further steps ahead, we find the Mirador of the Monkeys, from which the whole Flor de Oro Camp can be contemplated. The best time for visits is from December to May.


Population

Although there are not people residing in the Park, during the rubber extraction time -a practice that begun in the last century-, many communities of Chiquitanos mestizos settled in the environs (Remanso, Piso Firme, Bella Vista, Porvenir, Florida y Esperancita de la Frontera).

Time past and now these residents have dedicated themselves to other economic activities based on the exploitation of natural resources such as the medicinal plants, poalla, wild animals (saurian, felines, parabas), palmetto and wood.

Currently, the population is less than 1,500 people. All of them cohabit poorly, under precarious services of water, energy, health and education.
It is, indeed, a captivating and amazing natural place that invites to be visited and a humanity that also needs to be protected.