Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
leave when full from the main road a block north of El Pescadito and for Yacuiba (B$20,
1½ hours) from three blocks south.
The main reason for stopping in Villamontes, however, is to catch a bus connection to
Asunción in Paraguay (B$300, 15 hours) via the border crossing at Infante Rivarole be-
fore continuing on to the Trans-Chaco Road. All companies have their offices on the main
road close to the El Pescadito statue and buses pass through in the early hours of the
morning. You should buy your ticket in advance, but you will be allocated to a bus irre-
spective of which company sold you the ticket. Unfortunately, the quality of service varies
considerably between companies and which one you get is pot luck.
The train to Yacuiba (B$11, 2½ hours) passes through on Friday morning at 5am and
returns to Santa Cruz (B$38, 14 hours) on Friday evening at 7:45pm, but the route is pain-
fully slow.
Parque Nacional y Área Natural de
Manejo Integrado Aguaragüe
The long and narrow 1080-sq-km Aguaragüe National Park takes in much of the moun-
tains of
Serranía de Aguaragüe
, which divide the vast Gran Chaco and the highlands of
the department of Tarija. Right in the center of the region known for being the hottest in
Bolivia, it is best visited in the cooler winter months (May to October).
Although it lacks visitor facilities, the Cañón del Pilcomayo is easily accessible from
Villamontes. The name of the park comes from Guaraní, meaning 'the lair of the jaguar',
because the range is famous for being home to this lovely spotty (and scary) cat. Foxes,
tapirs, anteaters, assorted parrots, numerous plant species and 70% of the region's potable
water sources can also be found here. Viva Tours (
Click here
)
conducts guided hikes and
visits, or negotiate with a taxi driver in Villamontes.
CAÑÓN DEL PILCOMAYO
In the beautiful Pilcomayo Canyon at
El Chorro Grande
waterfall, fish are prevented
from swimming further upstream. Abundant
surubí, sábalo
and
dorado
are easily caught,
making the area a favorite with anglers from all over the country. The predatory
dorado
is
prized by game fishermen because of its legendary fight; it's particularly interesting be-
cause it has an odd hinge at the front of its jawbone that allows its mouth to open wide ho-
rizontally.
