Samaipata

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(Noticing a trend in decreasing creativity in blog entry titles, and text in general)

The nature around the town of Samaipata either makes you want to grab a machette and explore the jungle/forest, or rent a hammock and enjoy an afternoon siesta. Having spent the last three weeks rushing around Bolivia, I finally decided to relax a bit and enjoy the tranquilidad that the Santa Cruz atmosphere has to offer.
Looking for a chance to stretch my legs (I didn´t feel like I´d gotten any exercise while in Bolivia) I arrived in Samaipata on Monday morning and immediately rushed to El Fuerte, the self-titled "Best Ruins in Bolivia." Although they were pretty cool (the ritualistic site contained engraivings of animals and niches), I´d just spent the past 2 weeks around Cusco, and El Fuerte really paled in comparrison to Machu Picchu. I took a shorter hike past some rabid dogs up to a vista above the town.
Like with Sucre, the prices were all based on how many people you could organize to do a tour or hike. So on Tuesday, despite paying too much by booking through a tour agency, I did a hike in Bella Vista. It included a short hike with great views of the ancient volcanic sandstone formations, as well as several hours trapsing through high jungle. We saw some really beautiful parrots, insects, morpho butterflies and a pair of toucans. Yestderday I was able to avoid the guides and started from Las Cuevas, hiked past several waterfalls and a couple hours upriver, climbed the adjacent mountain and back towards Samaipata. Today I was able to tag along on a cheaper tour of the Refugio de las Volcanes, which was similar but more spectacular than Bella Vista.
Tomorrow I do a self-guided canyon hike/swim before heading to Santa Cruz for the apparently famous Octoberfest. Then off to Paraguay (still haven´t found out what there is to do yet in Paraguay. Our guide today was from Asuncion and all he could tell me is that it is HOT) and Iguazu.

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