Toro Toro National Park

• Location: Bolivia, Region of Potosí
• Phone: +591 65333238
• Nearest City: Cochabamba
• Area: 165 square meters. km
• Reason: 1989 г.
• Cost of visiting: 30 Bs

Bolivia is one of the most exotic countries in South America. The main attraction of this region is its amazing nature - it is a whole world full of mysteries and miracles. On the territory of the state there are many reserves and national parks. One of them - the National Park Toro Toro (Parque Nacional Torotoro) - not the most famous, but, according to many tourists, the most beautiful. Let's talk a little more about the features of this place.

general information

Few facts about the Toro Toro National Park:

1. The park was founded in 1995. It covers an area of ​​165 square meters. km, and the range of altitudes varies in the range from 2000 to 3500 m.
2. There are protected areas of the park in the north of the Potosi region, 140 km from the large Bolivian town of Cochabamba . And in the immediate vicinity of Toro Toro there is a small village with the same name. From here and start sightseeing tours to the park.
3. Renowned for its ancient sights, the Toro Toro National Park is a place of pilgrimage for archaeologists and historians from all over the South American continent.
4. In Toro-Toro, there are a lot of birds, in particular, red-eared ara. The park's flora is represented mainly by shrub forests.
5. In Quechua, the name of the park means "dirt".

Attractions of Toro Toro Park

Despite its modest size, in terms of the number of attractions, Toro Toro Park wins from any other reserve in Bolivia. Here is what visitors of the park are invited to see:

1. Karst caves are the main attraction. Only 11 of them have been investigated, the total number of caves is 35. Scientists have found out that they belong to the Paleozoic era. The most popular are the caves Umajalanta and Chiflon. There you can see beautiful stalactites and stalagmites, as well as lakes inhabited by blind fish.
2. The canyon called Garrapatal is truly an incredible sight, because its depth reaches 400 m!
3. The El Vergel waterfall is 3 km from the village of Toro Toro. Extraordinary beauty of the waterfall is noted even by experienced tourists who have seen many sights. Its waters fall from a canyon about 100 m high. For millions of years, El Vergel has formed a hollow in which its crystal-clear waters accumulate.
4. Casa de Piedra (translated from Spanish as "stone house") is a museum where various unusual stones are collected, both processed and created by nature itself.
5. Ruins of the ancient city of Llama Chaqui , which was once a fortress of the Incas. Today the city is completely destroyed. These ruins are of great interest to archaeologists and those who are fond of the history and culture of Inca civilization.
6. Here is a place called Batea Q'oca - there you will see rock paintings, also made by the Incas. And in the valley of the Toro Toro on the rocks there are even more ancient images made, apparently, by prehistoric nomadic tribes.
7. There are in the Toro Toro National Park and something else interesting in the historical plan. These are petrified traces of dinosaurs , in particular, bronzosaurs and tyrannosaurs, who lived in this area more than 150 million years ago.

How to get to Toro Toro National Park?

Getting to the park is the main problem facing travelers. The fact is that only old dirt roads lead to Toro Toro, which during the rainy season, from December to March, is very blurry. That's why visiting the park is best in the dry season. But even then it will take you about 4-5 hours.

It is also possible to rent a private jet for up to 5 passengers, and to get to Toro Toro by air. This takes you about 30 minutes and $ 140.

To the tourist on a note

1. Prepare for the fact that during the rest in this park you will be deprived of many benefits of civilization - hot coffee, Wi-Fi network, etc.
2. For the time of traveling through the park it is better to hire a guide who will help you not to get lost in the wilderness.
3. The cost of a trip on a comfortable bus from the city of Cochabamba to the park - 23 boliviano for 1 person. Entrance to the park will cost you 30 Bs, and the guide - 100 Bs. Hire a car, on which you can navigate through the park, will cost another 300 Bs.
4. Buses leave Cochabamba on Sundays and Thursdays at 6 am, and on the remaining days, except Monday - at 6 pm.