Flor De Oro By Air

6 Days and 5 Nights

Home base for this trip will be the comfortable lodge "Flor De Oro" located at the extreme Northern section of the Noel Kempff Mercado Park. From here we will move to different destinations according to the following program.

Expedition Rute

1th.- Day Santa Cruz - Flor De Oro
7:30 AM - Pick up from hotel or home to take you to El Trompillo Airport were we will board a single engine airplane. (We recommend you visit the W.C. before boarding). This aircraft will take us to the Noel Kempff Mercado National Park, and the "Flor de Oro" Camp located in the Northern part of the park. A great part of our flight will be made over hundreds of kilometers of the Park´s virgin jungle which will allow us to see the savannah, rock formations and lakes from the air.
We will also fly over the impressive Huanchaca Plateau to go to the Ahlfeld and Arco iris Waterfalls whose water comes from the Caparú Plateau.
After landing at Flor de Oro and after meeting the staff who will make our visit pleasurable we have time to check into our rooms.
Lunch at Flor de Oro and after a short rest we will take a 1 ½ hour walk on one of the camp´s paths. At night and after dinner we will have the opportunity of taking a night excursion on motor boat for about an hour in the Itenez River and some of its bays. During this boat ride we will have the opportunity to see up close different kinds of birds while they sleep in the lower parts of the trees in the river banks. During this ride we will also have the opportunity to see caimans and nocturnal snakes on tree branches.

2nd.-Day.- Flor De Oro-Lago Caiman-Noctunal mammals Observation
After breakfast we visit the Flor de Oro´s Visitors Center were they will explain the development of the center as well as other details (1hour). Following, we will take a short walk through one of the paths close to the campsite.
Lunch. After a short rest we go out by boat and head towards Caiman Lake. This will take us approximately 1 ½ hours. During this ride we can see birds, fresh water dolphins as well as giant otters.
Continue bird watching and spotting other animals while we sit on the boat. We leave the boat on the river bank and begin our walk towards the Mirador de los Monos (monkey watch) Peak which belongs to a part of the Caparú Plateau. The uphill walk takes about two hours and most of it goes through high vegetation and the latter part of the walk changes to lower vegetation. Once at the peak one is able to take in the enormity of the Park.
On returning we make a stop in a selected place where we will be able to have a night watch of mammals from a platform located 4 meters high next to a saltpeter bed where the mammals like to go and get their rations of salt. Here we will be able to watch the Tapir and other big mammals such as deer among others. At this watch point we will stay anywhere between 1 ½ to 3 hours depending on our luck with animal watching as well as our patience. (There is no 100% guarantee of finding and watching mammals.).
Return to Flor de Oro - Dinner

3er.-Day : Flor De Oro - Ahlfeld Camp.- Ahlfeld Waterfall
After breakfast we leave the Flor de Oro and set out to Ahlfeld Camp. We begin a beautiful day navigating the Itenez River waters for the first two hours then on the Pauserna River. The total time of this boat ride is approximately 5 hours. On this ride we will have the opportunity of seeing and watching a great variety of birds and Kingfishers and different mammals such as the Capibaras and if are lucky enough..it is even possible to spot some jaguar on the beaches of the river. This will certainly turn our journey into an unforgettable experience. An experience which permits us to enjoy the infinite wonders of nature...
Arrival to Ahlfeld camp. Settle in cabins which will be our sub base camp for all our excursions. Depending on the number of guests, for some it will be necessary to sleep in tents since the cabin only accommodates 10.
We have lunch to then start our walk through a path parallel to the Pauserna River. The path is covered by a very relaxing canopy forest. This walk is approximately 30 minutes and goes towards a natural pool formed by the Ahlfeld Falls. Here we will have a special and spectacular view of these famous waterfalls. We will also be able to take pictures from different angles. We will be able to enjoy these falls and take a swim but NOT to close to the falls. We must take notice and respect all existing signs and indications of caution. We must be aware of the presence of Rays in the water as well as the presence of other animals which are not very probable but surely possible.
After, we return to Ahfled camp for dinner and rest to be ready for the next day. As a nocturnal walk is possible if the guests desire to do so in coordination with the guide.
Sleep over in Ahlfeld Camp.

4th.-Day : Ahlfeld Camp. -Ahlfeld Waterfall -Arcoiris Waterfall -Ahlfeld Camp.
After breakfast, we will set out on a different path also parallel to the Pauserna River towards the top part of the Ahlfeld Falls. Here is where the falls begin to from. This view for some is the most impressive even though the view is not as extensive as the one from under Ahlfeld Falls. CAUTION: do not get too close to the edges since therocks are very SLIPPERY. This first part of the walk is 40 minutes, and we will stop to enjoy the place and surroundings for 30 minutes.
Following, we will keep on getting further away from the campsite on the same path and walking through different types of forests. The path will go slightly uphill towards the Arcoiris (Rainbow) Falls. There are parts where the path turns narrow with a rocky wall on one side and an edge that falls several meters down to the Pauserna River... We must walk VERY CAREFULLY. We will keep going upward on the path through the jungle whose vegetation keeps changing until at the top we reach the Caparú Plateau where the forest´s vegetation becomes low. We walk for approximately 30 more minutes on the plateau until we get to the point where we get a magnificent view of Arcoiris Falls. It is here where we stop for refreshments and sandwiches meanwhile we match the immense Walter fall which creates the evaporation of liquids, part of the natural cycle which must be watched, appreciated and meditated upon. Now, depending on the rain season, some streams become rivers which turn into other impressive waterfalls; smaller but yet closer and accessible to the visitor who may swim and get massaged by the fall of the water.
Total walking time (one way) from the Ahlfeld campsite to the Arco iris Falls observation point is approximately 3 hours.
Sometimes Arcoiris Falls may be visited from below. This is less frequent though. This visit depends largely on the CONDITIONS of the Pauserna River and available time. The Pauserna River must be crossed swimming with much caution with the animals of the place as well as caution with the "tenant" residing on the bottom part of the Arcoiris Falls who is the Anaconda "Iris"!!!!!!! She has been spotted on several occasions from the top of the plateau (with binoculars) basking in the sun on the rocks.
Return to the Ahlfeld Campsite to rest and have dinner.
Sleep at Ahlfeld Camp.
Have dinner and sleep to return the next day to Flor de Oro.

5to.- Day :. Ahlfeld Camp. -Waterfall Acrosos from the Camp. - Flor De Oro
Breakfast and if the guests prefer we can cross the Pauserna River on boat to enjoy the site of a 30meter (approximately) water fall which forms other smaller falls and from which you can get some wonderful massages for the whole body. Something exhilarating before beginning the return to Flor de Oro.
The return trip is somewhat shorter than the original trip.
We arrive Flor de Oro have lunch and rest in our rooms. We may a short on one of the paths around the campsite.

5to.- Day :. Ahlfeld Camp. -Waterfall Acrosos from the Camp. - Flor De Oro
Optional early walk to be more in tune with the wildlife´s movements and have more possibilities of observing some mammals or birds that we have not yet seen. This walk will be short and will go through some paths near the runway or paths bordering the Itenez River.
Return to Flor de Oro for breakfast and we get ready to return to Santa Cruz.
Lunch and short rest, return to Santa Cruz to El Trompillo Airport were we will be met for you to be taken to your hotel or home.
End of our services. Thank you

Keep in mind that this program can change or Would not completed in all its parts if the factor weather becomes of wheather reasons.

Note:
* Keep in mind that this could be an adventure where miss fortunes may happen. We needed great explorer and adventurer spirit, you are visiting places where few people have been.
Be prepared for the sun; hats, sun screen, sun glasses long sleeve shirts and pants. And also be prepared for the rain.
Warning:
* You can not take anything from the park, not even plants or seeds.

"Take only your pictures and leave only your foot prints"