Ecotourism

For many people, the main attraction of Noel Kempff is the Caparú Plateau, a Precambrian sandstone mesa that rises abruptly from the rainforests approximately 1,800 feet to an elevated plain of grasslands and cerrado woodlands. The plateau was first described by the legendary British Colonel explorer Percy Fawcett who discovered the plateau in 1910 while demarcating Bolivia's national boundaries. Later, his descriptions were used by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who was inspired to write the legendary novel, The Lost World. Today the great expanse is protected as a national park, and visited by only a few hundred people each year. This is due in part to the fact that it is found in one of the most remote wildernesses of the world.

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park houses two comfortable lodges: Flor de Oro and Los Fierros. 

At Flor de Oro, calmness settles in as the moonlight shines over camp. Here in this remote region, you will be met by the sunrise while observing groups of monkeys traveling through inundated forests, or freshwater river dolphins fishing and playing in the extensive system of blackwater rivers and lagoons. During the afternoons, from the gallery inside the visitor's center, one can observe Giant Otters swimming among the clouds - reflections on the surface of the river found right out your front door. Watching the otters and viewing the Caparú Plateau clearly visible in the distance, you will quickly  realize that Noel Kempff is a special place to visit. As the center of ecotourism activities within the park, Flor de Oro is a renovated ranch located on the bank of the Iténez River in the extreme north-central section of Noel Kempff Mercado National Park. It is accessible only by small plane or a long boat ride up the Iténez River, but provides easy access to an incredible diversity of habitats. The two largest waterfalls - Arco Iris and Ahlfeld - can also be reached from Flor de Oro.

Flor de Oro makes the perfect destination for those who enjoy breathtaking scenery, impressive landscapes, and a diversity and abundance of flora and fauna found in few other places in the world. Its remote location and relaxing atmosphere also make it perfect for those who just want to get particularly far away from the established routines of daily life.

Los Fierros offers a more rustic setting and a different variety of ecosystems and habitats. From the middle of a large African-like savanna, an unfamiliar calmness will settle in as you stare in awe at the Caparú Plateau projected in the distance. Here you will watch endangered black howler monkeys travel through the canopy of tall humid tropical rainforests. During the afternoons, you will travel through savannas and primary forest in search of the best mix of wildlife and scenery imaginable. Throughout your visit, you will realize again         that Noel Kempff is a special place. As the base of ecotourism activities in the southern end of Noel Kempff, Los Fierros is accessible only by small plane or a long ride (13 hours in a 4-wheel drive vehicle) from the city of Santa Cruz. Once there, you will have easy access to an incredible diversity of habitats, the magnificent Caparú Plateau, and one of the most beautiful waterfalls that the park has to offer-El Encanto.

The ecotourism program for the park is currently being run by the Friends of Nature Foundation under a 10-year management agreement with the Bolivian government. For more information and to plan a visit Noel Kempff Mercado National Park, please contact the Friends of Nature Foundation (Fundación Amigos de la Naturaleza, or FAN) at: