Just 20 minutes away from Santa Cruz de la Sierra's downtown, there is a biocentre called Güembé, which is perfect to enjoy surrounded by the regional wildlife while relaxing and enjoying the good weather.
Güembé Biocentre & Resort, Santa Cruz
6QJ3+M4 Santa Cruz de la Sierra, BoliviaTaking care of the wildlife
The objective of Güembé is to raise awareness for the environmental conservation, allowing the visitors to get in contact with the regional biodiversity.
The biocentre takes care of animals that have been rescued but cannot go back to wildlife because they have lost their abilities to survive in that environment. Consequently, their new homes are conditioned spaces where they can feel as comfortable as possible while they are fed with products coming from the organic garden of Güembé.
An island in the middle of an artificial lagoon is home of two monkey species - Capuchin and Saimiri. At the same time, a swamp inside the biocentre is the living place of capybaras and rheas.
On the other hand, an aviary with an area of 2800 square meters and 35 meters high, is the refuge of several exotic bird species, rescued from traffic or captivity. Visitors can, in fact, get inside the aviary to observe them at close range.
A truly memorable experience in Güembé is to visit the butterfly garden. It has more than 50 species of butterflies from the region: a parade of colors and designs created by nature.
The beauty of orchids
Orchid is a flower that needs a lot of care but shows extraordinary beauty when it blooms. There exist, literally, thousands of orchid species, with different colors and shapes.
One of the most special places of Güembé is, precisely, its orchid sanctuary. Filled with the beauty of these flowers, it offers a peaceful environment to meditate, do yoga, or just spend some time clearing the mind.
Time to have some fun
As if it was not enough, Güembé has more to offer. If you are a sports person, Güembe has facilities to practice soccer, beach volley and kayak. Besides that, there are 15 pools in the biocentre to take a dip in and enjoy the warm weather of this region, which has only a few days of a 12 to 15 °C “winter” per year.
At the same time, small children can have a fun time, not only discovering the wildlife but also enjoying a mini-club specially designed for them.
Spending the night
As you can see, there is a lot to do in Güembé, therefore one day might not be enough. Good news! It is possible to spend the night in the biocentre. You can choose to rent a room or a whole cottage.
When it comes to food, there are local and international options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, while two snack bars offer food supplies to enjoy between meals.
Thanks to Güembé, you do not need to go far to start discovering the wildlife of the region. Let Santa Cruz captivate you with all the colors of its nature scattered over its green background.
The author
Vanesa Zegada
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