Ángel Sandoval: Caves, Bats and Cerrado

Ángel Sandoval offers several specific topics for nature enthusiasts: cave refuges with bat habitats, the vegetation of the Serranía La Curicha, and recreation at Laguna Curichón. The places and landscapes have different points of focus. When planning your trip, you can consider whether you are particularly interested in caves and species, vegetation, or the area around San Matías.

Caves, Bats and Vegetation

In the Municipal Ecological Sanctuary San Juan del Corralito, cave refuges also provide habitat for Natalus espiritosantensis, a species considered endangered. In the same protected area, Lonchorhina aurita lives in two small caves. These two caves are the only known refuges for the species in Bolivia; Lonchorhina aurita is considered critically endangered. The two bat species therefore represent different aspects of the natural environment: for Natalus espiritosantensis, the cave habitat is specified, while for Lonchorhina aurita, the particular significance of the two caves as known refuges in Bolivia is also highlighted.

The Serranía La Curicha offers another detailed look at the natural environment. Three vegetation units occur on the Serranía and in its surroundings: Bosque Chiquitano, Cerrado Chiquitano and Vegetación Riparia. While the cave refuges establish a direct connection to the bat species, these three names describe the landscape's vegetation. Nature enthusiasts will therefore find more than one reason to plan a trip.

The Área Natural de Manejo Integrado San Matías extends across the provinces of Ángel Sandoval and Germán Busch in the far eastern part of the Departamento de Santa Cruz. Both provinces are therefore important to the regional context. The protected area complements the individual nature themes with a broader geographical perspective that extends beyond the borders of Ángel Sandoval.

San Matías and Laguna Curichón

San Matías has an Ecological Center. It collects samples that illustrate the region's great diversity of flora and fauna, as well as its very old geological formations. Nature and geology are two sides of the same topic here: the center's collections relate both to the living world and to the geological history of the region.

Laguna Curichón is three kilometers from San Matías and offers visitors a place to relax. Its stated focus differs from that of the Ecological Center: here, recreation by the water takes center stage, while the center collects samples to illustrate regional nature and geology.

If you are looking for hotels for a stay in Ángel Sandoval, you can first decide what you want to focus on during your trip: the caves and bat habitats, the vegetation of the Serranía La Curicha, or the attractions around San Matías.

Santa Cruz in the Broader Travel Picture

The broader travel destination of Santa Cruz also offers further regional perspectives. The Valles Cruceños cover about 13,000 km² and lie at elevations between 1,200 and 2,000 meters. They include the provinces of Florida, Vallegrande and Caballero in the Departamento de Santa Cruz. Their size and elevation give the Valles Cruceños a distinct place within the department.

The Área Protegida de los Valles Cruceños is home to 374 recorded bird species, including the endemic Red-fronted Macaw and the Andean Condor. The vegetation types found there are also diverse: inter-Andean dry forest, Bolivian-Tucuman forest, serrano Chaco, subtropical rainforest and Puna vegetation. The birdlife and vegetation therefore offer two different ways to explore this part of Santa Cruz.

The Chiquitano culture offers another regional perspective. It developed mainly in the Chiquitanía in the Departamento de Santa Cruz and combines Indigenous Chiquitano traditions with Jesuit influence, introduced in the 17th and 18th centuries. Together with the landscapes of the Valles Cruceños, this cultural history broadens the view of Santa Cruz beyond the nature themes of Ángel Sandoval.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: San Matías, Guarayos, Chiquitos Province, José Miguel De Velasco, Ñuflo De Chávez, Provincia de Germán Busch, Florida Province, Ignacio Warnes

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