Carrasco National Park Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

Carrasco National Park (Parque nacional Carrasco) is a protected natural area in the Cochabamba Department of Bolivia.

Carrasco is a large park, covering an area of 622,600 hectares.

The park was established in December 1988 as the Carrasco-Ichilo National Park. In 1991, it was expanded to its current size and renamed Carrasco National Park. At that time, it absorbed the nearby Caverns of Repechón Wildlife Sanctuary.

The park is very mountainous with steep trails, sheer cliffs, and elevations that range from 280 to 4,717 meters above sea level. Geologic features include limestone formations, towering mountain peaks, deep ravines, and underground labyrinths leading off from various cave entrances.

A number of ecosystems are on display in the park including cloud forests where heavy mists drape the forests almost continuously. Some of these rainforests are in a Yungas ecosystem, which is a transition between highlands and lowlands.

A number of rivers and streams have their headwaters in the park and with the mountainous terrain, there are numerous waterfalls. Rivers that traverse the park provide water sources to support the rich biodiversity of the region and are important water sources for nearby communities. The park's rivers include:

• Ivirizú River
• Chimoré River
• Ichilo River
• Sajta River
• San Mateo River
• Ichoa River

The park is rich in biodiversity with an estimated 5,000 plant species within its boundaries. Trees include cedar, mahogany, alder and walnut. Several tree species, some known collectively as mountain pines are regarded as endangered species. In areas of mixed cloud forests, walnuts, palms, and giant ferns are found. At higher elevations, evergreen shrubs and grasslands prevail.

The animal kingdom is equally diverse in the park with large cats like the jaguar and puma prowling the mountains and jungles, several types of deer, like the taruca (or Andean deer), tapirs, and even Andean spectacled bears.

Birdwatchers could see how many of the park's 850 known resident species they could spot. The park has numerous parrots, macaws, and quetzels, as well of a peculier nocturnal bird called the oilbird, which lives in caves and takes the jungle skies on even the darkest nights.

It's a big park and you could access it in different ways from different places. Most visitors are coming from either Cochabamba or Santa Cruz.

From Cochabamba, drive east on ruta nacional 4 for 125 km. The trip will take about 2½ hours.

From Cochabamba, take a Trans Carrasco bus to Villa Tunari. Buses are frequent, roughly once an hour, and will cost about Bs.60 for the 2½-hourtrip.

The park entrance is open from sunrise to sunset. Park admission costs about Bs. 50. The park office can provide maps and information about camping or hiking trails. Some areas of the park may be inaccessible during the rainy season.

A 4WD truck is advisable during the rainy season, when roads become slick, muddy holes.

• Cavernas del Repechón Wildlife Sanctuary: Oilbirds (also known as Guachero) nest in the caverns as do several species of bat

• Inca Chaca (Inca Bridge): Come for the bridge and the gorgeous waterfalls and stay to explore some of the myriad quirky natural attractions, like the Ventana del Diablo (Devil's windos)

• Sehuencas Valley: Scenic valley where the clouds touch the rocks and vibrant green plants fill the spaces in between. This is the area of the park where you're most likely to spot some spectacled bears (who also go by numerous other names, like, jukumari, mountain bear, or uku-uku).

• Quewiñas Forest – Infiernillos: The Kewines trees are said to be guardians of the water. Hike the trail through a dense Quewiñas forest in search of some of the forest's endemic bird and plant species. The 3.2-km trail can be hiked out and back in about 5 hours.

• Cajones del Ichilo: Follow a winding stretch of river with canyons and rapids, stopping at pools and fishing holes.

• Valle de la Luna: Bizarre rock formations scattered among the pitted rocky surface are popular places to spot parrots and parakeets.

• Torotoro National Park
• Amboró National Park
• Tarata
• Villa Tunari