Samaipata is a small mountain town (population < 3000) on the last spur of the Andes before Bolivia slopes into the Amazon basin, and it has a lot going for it. Great weather, views, and food, and located right next to both a major pre-Incan archeological site and Bolivia's second-largest national park. It's so great that a significant number of foreigners show up and love it so much that they move there permanently. We compromised on 4 glorious, gluttonous days.
Highlights:
Stayed in a Texan-Bolivian-owned hostel, La Posada del Sol, with an attached restaurant so good we had breakfast burritos every day and ate there 3 more times.
Hiked through the ferns in the rainforest/cloudforest in Amboró National Park, which was used as inspiration for Jurassic Park.
Went to El Fuerte, a pre-Incan ceremonial site. The mountaintop is a single rock, 500x50 meters, carved with jaguars and ceremonial alcoves.
Visited an animal shelter, host to a number of local species injured and in need of care: monkeys (some roaming free!), parrots, peccaries, coatis, tortoises, owls, geese, deer, horses, dogs, cats, rats, etc.
Watched the Champions League final at a local bar with an even split of Barcelona and Juventus fans.
Now we're about to board an overnight bus through the Chaco scrublands into Paraguay. First stop: a Mennonite colony!
Oh, also those pants from my last post? Already ripped again on our jungle hike.
-Peter
Samaipata is paradise to foreigners, does local people feel the same?
ReplyDeleteThey do! We met lots of nice local Bolivians!
Delete