We depart Concepción and drive east, passing the towns of San Javier and San Ramon. We follow the road to Santa Cruz, until we arrive to the police checkpoint at Los Troncos where we depart from the main road and continue west along a gravel road to the banks of Rio Grande. We cross the enormous river on pontoons and then continue through agricultural landscapes and small villages until we arrive to the intersection of Santa Cruz and the Cochabamba turn-off. (During the rainy season it might not be possible to take this shortcut and we may have to return all the way to Santa Cruz in order to cross the Rio Grande via the railway bridge at El Pailón).
The road we choose continues steadily easterly and borders the Amboró and Carrasco National Parks and crosses numerous rivers and creeks that flow from the mountains down north towards the Amazon. The biggest of the rivers are the rivers Piray, Yapacani, Chapare and Chimore.
We pass the infamous town of Shinaota, which back in late 80s and early 90s looked like a gold rush town back in the USA. However this town was different to that of South America’s North sister, as it did not possess a sheriff and nor was there any gold to dig. The gold here was cocaine. This town for many years operated on dirty money and its economy boomed from the traffic of drugs, prostitution and different levels of illegal activity. This smorgasbord came along without any interference or presence of the Justice Department. Today there are both the Police and the Military that keep a strong hold on the agriculture of the town.
Eventually we arrive to Villa Tunari, the gateway to the Chapare region. It is a small town with several hotels catering for tourist of all categories. We stay in one of these, enjoying the pool and warm climate.
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