Pre-Columbian
Earthworks
of Bolivia.

Artificial earthen platforms on which entire communities lived, keeping them safely above the annual floodwaters. The largest lomas are impressive in scale — some are as large as a football pitch and as tall as a four-storey building. Each represents centuries of accumulated construction. Some still support forest island vegetation distinct from the surrounding savanna.

The Llanos de Moxos earthworks are the largest known complex of pre-Columbian earthworks on earth — over 10,000 geometric mounds, raised causeways, fish ponds and elevated agricultural fields built across ~120,000 km² of Bolivia's Beni department over 2,000+ years by the Moxos civilisation. This sophisticated hydraulic society engineered the seasonal floodplains of the Beni to create one of the most productive pre-Columbian agricultural systems in South America. The site has UNESCO World Heritage candidacy status.

The Moxos (Mojos) civilisation — a network of complex chiefdoms that inhabited the Beni lowlands from approximately 500 BCE to the Spanish conquest in the 16th century CE (over 2,000 years). They built raised fields, causeways, settlement mounds and fish ponds without metal tools, the wheel or draft animals. Modern descendants of the Moxos people — including the Mojo, Trinitario, Loretano and other communities — still live in the Beni today.

The most compelling view is from a small plane. A 15–30 minute overflight from Trinidad airport (~$80–120 USD/person in a shared charter) reveals the geometric perfection of causeways, mounds and fish ponds invisible at ground level. Ground-level guided walks from Trinidad also allow direct contact with the mounds and causeways — a guide familiar with Moxos archaeology is essential for meaningful interpretation.

Not yet formally listed, but the UNESCO candidacy has been advanced by the Bolivian government. The archaeological significance is unquestionable — the Llanos de Moxos earthworks represent one of the largest and most complex pre-Columbian engineering projects in the Americas. Researchers including Clark Erickson (University of Pennsylvania) and John Walker (University of Central Florida) have documented the site extensively.

The oldest known earthworks date to approximately 500 BCE. Construction continued across many phases for over 2,000 years until the Spanish conquest in the 16th century CE. The most complex mound and causeway complexes appear to date from approximately 500–1400 CE. Some structures may still have been actively maintained by Moxos communities as late as the 18th century.

May to September (dry season) is best for access and ground visibility. April is exceptional — waters recede and causeways emerge from the floods, exactly as designed. January–March (maximum flooding) makes ground access nearly impossible but a boat circuit offers the most dramatic hydraulic perspective. Avoid the wet season unless you have a local operator and boat arranged.

Boliviana de Aviación and Amaszonas operate direct flights from Santa Cruz (1 hour, ~$80–120 USD one way) and from La Paz (1.5 hours, ~$100–140 USD). Road access from Santa Cruz takes 12–18 hours and is partly unpaved. Flying is strongly recommended. From Trinidad, a local guide with 4×4 is needed to reach the earthwork sites (10–60km away).

Visits with a local guide from Trinidad are strongly recommended. The earthworks are spread across a vast landscape and appear as unremarkable hills at ground level without expert interpretation. A guide knowledgeable in Moxos archaeology transforms the experience. For the overflight, contact local plane charter operators in Trinidad directly or ask Love Bolivia to arrange it as part of a Beni circuit.