Santa Cruz: Wildlife Sanctuary and Preservation Park Tour

The most memorable part of this day is the close look at animals that have been given a safe home at AFASI Foundation, including five monkey species, pumas, coatis, wild pigs, toucans, macaws, and land turtles. Urs Butchler and his team make the sanctuary personal, explaining where the animals came from and how they are cared for.

I like the mix of a 90-minute sanctuary visit and a second walk through swamps, lagoons, and tropical forest. I also like that pickup, park entry, a welcome fruit juice, and a proper Bolivian lunch are included. The main drawback is the roughly one-hour ride each way, and one account raises a concern about seat belts in a taxi, so confirm the vehicle arrangements before you go.

Key points at a glance

• Meet about 500 rescued animals: Expect monkeys, pumas, foxes, coatis, martens, wild pigs, toucans, macaws, and turtles.
• Two very different walks: The sanctuary visit lasts about 90 minutes, while the second walk explores swamps, lagoons, and tropical forest for another 2 to 3 hours in total.
• A personal foundation visit: Urs, Monica, Jorge, Benji, Julio, and the wider team give the day a human face and explain the work behind the animal care.
• Lunch is part of the experience: You get a typical Bolivian meal, with a vegetarian choice, in a simple restaurant at the property.
• Come prepared for heat and insects: Wear long pants and closed shoes, and bring water and insect repellent.
• Best for animal lovers: This suits you if you want a small, educational day trip rather than a polished zoo or a full-scale jungle expedition.

Why this Santa Cruz day trip feels different

This is not a quick animal stop tacked onto a city tour. AFASI is a wildlife sanctuary and preservation park operated by a foundation, and the visit centers on rescued animals and their care. That gives the day a more personal feel than a standard viewing enclosure.

The setting also adds useful context. The park includes plants from three climate areas: the Gran Chaco, the Amazon, and the zone influenced by nearby Amboró National Park. You are not simply looking at individual animals. You are also learning how tropical Bolivia supports different habitats within the same broad region.

I would choose this outing if you have a free day in Santa Cruz and want something more meaningful than a city excursion. It offers close animal encounters, but it also asks you to follow sanctuary rules. You cannot feed the animals, make noise, bring food, touch plants, or bring pets. Sandals and flip-flops are not allowed.

The one-hour ride from Santa Cruz

Pickup is arranged directly from your accommodation, which removes one of the usual headaches of a countryside outing. A driver takes you from Santa Cruz to the foundation, with the journey lasting about one hour.

That transfer is part of the day, so set your expectations correctly. This is not a nearby urban attraction. You are going out to a rural setting, and the ride can feel long if you are hoping for nonstop activity from the moment you leave.

One useful detail is that a driver named Omar has been praised for safe driving and for explaining the places passed on the way. At the same time, one visitor reported a taxi without seat belts and felt uneasy on parts of the route. That is a practical point worth checking before departure. Ask for a vehicle with working seat belts, especially if you are traveling with children.

The transport is described as air-conditioned in one account, which matters in Santa Cruz’s heat. Still, bring water. One visitor specifically advised carrying enough water and insect repellent, and that is sound advice for a warm day outdoors.

Meeting the animals at AFASI

On arrival, you receive a fruit juice before the first guided walk. It is a small touch, but useful after the drive and a pleasant way to begin before entering the sanctuary.

The first tour lasts about 90 minutes. The guides explain the habits and individual stories of the animals rather than simply pointing out species. Expect to see around 500 animals in all, including five types of monkeys, pumas, coatis, martens, wild pigs, foxes, toucans, macaws, and land turtles.

The variety is the real draw. A puma gives the visit a different scale from a group of playful monkeys, while macaws and toucans add color and movement overhead. The land turtles are less dramatic, but they can be surprisingly entertaining at close range. One account describes being chased by turtles, which gives you a fair idea of the relaxed, hands-on character of parts of the visit.

The sanctuary also has a kindergarten for young monkeys. Depending on the animals’ condition, you may be allowed to pet them. That permission is not guaranteed, and it should never be treated as a general invitation to touch wildlife. The park rules say not to feed animals, and you should follow the guide’s instructions at every encounter.

This is where the foundation’s work becomes easiest to understand. The guides explain why individual animals are there and what it takes to give them a healthy, protected place. Urs is often involved personally, while Monica, Jorge, Benji, and other team members help create a welcoming visit. Julio leads the nature walk and adds a different focus, with attention to local plants and wild creatures.

The second walk through swamps and forest

After a short break, you head out for the preservation-park portion of the day. The route passes through swamps and along picturesque lagoons. You will probably see caimans, while water turtles are considered a sure sighting according to the tour description.

Other sightings depend on conditions. After rain or in suitable weather, you might find frogs and other reptiles. With luck, you may also see sloths, wild monkeys, and more birds. A free-living sloth has been spotted on this walk, but it is best to treat that as a fortunate possibility rather than a promise.

The walk also takes you to a canyon where vultures may be visible. That stop gives the outing a wider sense of place. You are seeing animals living in the area, not only animals housed within the sanctuary.

The total guided walking time is about two to three hours, including the sanctuary tour. The length of the nature walk can be adjusted to suit your wishes, which is helpful if the heat is strong or you prefer a gentler outing. Even so, this is not a paved, climate-controlled attraction. Wear shoes that can handle mud, as one account specifically advises, and choose long pants and closed toes over light beach clothing.

Do not expect the Amazon rainforest itself. The surrounding forest offers a useful glimpse of the tropical environment near Santa Cruz, but the excursion is a local preservation-park visit rather than a remote jungle expedition. That distinction matters. You get a manageable day trip with a broad range of animals and plants, not an overnight wilderness experience.

Lunch with monkeys watching from nearby

Lunch comes after the walks in the property’s homely restaurant. A typical Bolivian dish is served, and there is a vegetarian option. The meal is more than a box lunch, so it gives the day a welcome pause and a chance to talk with the team.

Wild monkeys may watch from nearby while you eat. That is a memorable setting, though you should still follow the no-feeding rule. The attraction is observing their behavior, not turning the meal into an animal handout.

The food receives repeated praise, and that makes sense in the context of the itinerary. After a hot morning of walking, a proper meal saves you from having to organize lunch elsewhere. It also adds to the personal character of the place. This is not a quick bus stop with vending machines. It is a foundation where the people caring for the animals are part of the experience.

A welcome juice, lunch, and the chance to speak with the team help explain why the $85 price can be reasonable. You are paying for transport, entry, small-group guiding, two walks, and food in one package. The value is strongest if you want the full day and care about supporting the foundation’s work.

What the $85 price really covers

At $85 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a day near Santa Cruz. The price includes:

• Pickup and return transportation from your accommodation
• Park admission
• Guided tours in small groups
• A welcome drink
• Typical Bolivian lunch
• A vegetarian lunch option

The small-group format matters. One group had only four people, which made the walks more relaxed and allowed room for questions. You are likely to get more direct contact with the guides than on a large coach tour, although group size can vary.

The value also depends on what you want from wildlife tourism. If your main goal is a polished zoo with perfect viewing conditions, the rustic setting may feel basic. If you want to see rescued animals, understand the foundation’s work, and walk through nearby habitats, the package makes more sense.

Tips are not included. Plan to bring a little extra for gratuity if the driver and guides provide good service.

Language, timing, and what to bring

The experience is advertised in Spanish, English, and German, while the activity details identify Spanish as the live guide language. If language is important to you, confirm the guide language when booking rather than assuming all three will be available on your date.

The day returns to Santa Cruz by 3 p.m. at the latest. Starting times vary, so check availability when you book. The schedule gives you a full outdoor morning and early afternoon without using your entire evening.

Wear:

• Long pants
• Closed-toe shoes
• Weather-appropriate clothing
• Insect repellent
• Enough drinking water

A spare layer can help if the weather shifts, but the most important choices are practical footwear and clothing that covers your legs. Mud is possible, and heat and insects are part of the setting.

The park does not allow food, pets, sandals, flip-flops, loud noise, plant touching, or animal feeding. These rules protect both the animals and the people visiting them. The rule about touching deserves special attention because the young-monkey area may allow limited contact only when the animals are in suitable condition and the staff says it is acceptable.

Who should book this outing

I would recommend it to you if you love animals, want direct contact with a local conservation project, and have a free day in Santa Cruz. Families with older children may appreciate the range of animals, though adults should be ready to enforce the park rules and manage the heat.

It also suits visitors who prefer a personal, small-group setting. Urs is described as a warm host, and the team’s role is not limited to pointing out cages. You learn about the animals, the foundation, and the plants around the property.

I would hesitate if you dislike long transfers, muddy paths, warm weather, or rustic facilities. I would also think twice if you are seeking guaranteed sightings of sloths, caimans, frogs, or wild monkeys. Those are possible or likely in some cases, but nature does not keep a timetable.

Should you book the AFASI Foundation tour?

Book it if you want the day to combine rescued wildlife, local conservation, and a real Bolivian meal. The animals and the personal attention from the team are the strongest reasons to go, while the two walks add a useful look at the habitats around Santa Cruz.

Before paying, confirm the pickup time, vehicle seat belts, and guide language. Bring water, insect repellent, long pants, and shoes you can get muddy. If you accept the one-hour ride and the simple setting, this is a worthwhile $85 day trip with a clear purpose and plenty to see.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

It is described as a one-day experience, with return transportation reaching Santa Cruz by 3 p.m. at the latest. The total guided walking time is about two to three hours.

Does pickup come directly to my accommodation?

Yes. Transportation includes pickup directly from your accommodation in Santa Cruz.

How far is AFASI Foundation from Santa Cruz?

The drive takes about one hour each way.

What animals can I see?

The sanctuary has about 500 animals, including five monkey species, pumas, coatis, martens, wild pigs, foxes, toucans, macaws, and land turtles. On the nature walk, you may see caimans, water turtles, frogs, reptiles, sloths, wild monkeys, and birds.

Can I touch or feed the animals?

Feeding animals is not allowed. Young monkeys may sometimes be petted in the kindergarten, depending on their condition and the staff’s instructions. Follow the guide’s rules at all times.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The price includes a typical Bolivian lunch, with a vegetarian option.

What languages are available?

The tour is advertised as available in Spanish, English, and German. The activity information lists Spanish as the live guide language, so confirm your preferred language when booking.

What should I wear and bring?

Wear long pants, closed-toe shoes, and weather-appropriate clothing. Water and insect repellent are also useful for the outdoor walks.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now-and-pay-later option is also available.