Comprehensive Guide Collection for Carrasco National Park in the Cochabamba Department

Bolivian Yungas wilderness protecting over 5,000 plant species in a mountainous landscape of waterfalls and deep canyons

Carrasco National Park

Carrasco National Park occupies a pivotal position in Bolivia's protected area network, safeguarding one of the nation's most ecologically valuable and biologically diverse landscapes. The park is situated in the eastern portion of Cochabamba Department, extending across the provinces of Carrasco, Tiraque, and Chapare, in a region where the Andes Mountains transition into the Amazon basin. This geographic position creates a complex mosaic of habitats, from cloud forest-covered ridges to humid foothill forests in the lower elevations. The park's terrain is dominated by mountainous topography, with deep river valleys cutting through the landscape and numerous waterfalls marking where tributaries descend from the highland slopes. More than 5,000 plant species have been recorded within the park's boundaries, a figure that reflects the exceptional botanical richness of the Yungas ecoregion. The park was established as a strict protected area, with human settlement prohibited throughout its extent, allowing the ecosystem to function with minimal human interference. This protection has preserved not only the forest cover but also the ecological processes that sustain the region's remarkable diversity of flora and fauna.