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1. MADIDI NATIONAL PARK & CHALALAN ECO-LODGE (4 days)
TOUR CODE: MDDI-CHLN-4 RATING:
easy
2. BENI PAMPAS, TUICHI RIVER & CHALALAN ECO-LODGE (8 days)
TOUR CODE: PAMP-CHLN-8 RATING:
easy
3. PILON LAJAS & MAPAJO - INDIGENOUS ECO-LODGE (5 days) TOUR
CODE: PILJ-MAJO-5 RATING: easy
*Please Note: These tours are available from March to December
for the most part - but can be run in the rainy season as well (mid-December
to late March). The flight to Rurrenabaque IS included in the land price.
The roundtrip (La Paz-Rurrenabaque-La Paz) ticket can only be purchased
in Bolivia. We buy the ticket to guarantee you will have a seat on the
plane, which departs daily to Rurrenabaque from La Paz. Flights depart
in the AM on TAM Airlines and PM on Amaszonas Airlines at different times.
Flights are a little over an hour across the Cordillera Real of the Andes.
Flight schedules change often so these guidelines are based on current
knowledge and airlines flight schedules. We reserve the right to make
changes to itineraries in response to the flight changes by the airlines.
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1. MADIDI NATIONAL PARK & CHALALAN ECO-LODGE
(4 days) TOUR CODE: MDDI-CHLN-4 RATING:
easy
Chalalan Eco-Lodge is situated next to Laguna Chalalan –
near to the Tuichi River in Madidi National Park (as featured in March
2000 issue of National Geographic). Departure begins from Rurrenabaque
via a motorized boat on the Beni and Tuichi Rivers for approximately five
hours. The lodge is administered and run by the natives of the village
of San Jose de Chupiamonas - a few hours via motorized boat up the Tuichi
River from Chalalan. Generations of the Quechua-Tacana people living in
this region make them the obvious choice as naturalist guides that will
take you along trails through the forest to view birds, mammals and reptiles
and to share their knowledge of their home with you. Day hikes and overnight
camping journeys to different regions will introduce you to the abundant
variety of animals and plants that make this park one of the most diverse
in the world. This quick tour of Chalalan is the perfect getaway for those
with just a few days to spare, yet want an in-depth view of the wonders
of the Bolivian Upper Amazon Basin. It’s a magical location - unlike
any other in the Bolivian Amazon!
 Daily Itinerary
Day 1: Rurrenabaque - Chalalan
Our journey will begin with early morning departure via motorized boat
up the Beni and then onto the Tuichi River. Along the way we will have
ample opportunities to view the typical Amazon basin made up of rainforest
and rivers, home to thousands of bird species and other animals. Further
up-river the scenery will change and the landscape will show its hidden
secrets as we go through Bullet Canyon. After approximately four hours
we will arrive at the Tuichi river port for Chalalan. A short hike through
the forest with a local guide on the Wichi trail will introduce you to
the rainforest and bring you to Chalalan lodge. Lunch upon arrival. Afterwards
you'll have the option of taking a siesta or just relaxing in the hammocks.
Later in the afternoon we can go on a canoe trip on Chalalan Lagoon or
take a hike on one of numerous trails near the lodge for birdwatching
and to enjoy the natural peace in the area. Dinner and an optional night
hike to see nocturnal animals. Overnight at Chalalan. (L,D)
Day 2: Chalalan - Eslabon River - Chalalan
After breakfast, we depart on a day hike on the Paraba Trail bordering
Laguna Chalalan as we go through the rainforest where we can view macaws
nesting and feeding in the tall palm trees. Further on we cross the Rayamayo
creek after going through various sections of forest with trees that adapt
to their geographical location within the forest. We join the Marimono
trail until we get to the Eslabon River where we will have lunch and rest.
This is a permanent camp that is used for overnight trips. After lunch
we make our way slowly back to Chalalan and take time to stop at the overview
on the Paraba trail to see the tropical sunset. We will cross the lagoon
via dugout canoe to the lodge. After dinner there’s an optional
night hike or a paddle on the lagoon. Overnight in Chalalan. (B,L,D)
Day 3: Chalalan - Rayamayo - Chalalan
After breakfast we go on an early morning hike on the Silbador trail until
we arrive at Rayamayo River to view birds as they begin their daily activities.
We continue on the Mutun and Anta trails that will take us back to the
lodge where we will have lunch. The afternoon is free for you to enjoy
the beauty of Chalalan at your own pace and indulge in your interests.
Canoe trips on the lagoon are always available for birdwatching. Dinner
and rest. Overnight in Chalalan. (B,L,D)
Day 4: Chalalan - Rurrenabaque
After breakfast we will have time for a quick tour before we head to the
river to board the boat back to Rurrenabaque. As we head downriver you'll
have time to reflect on all the wonderful things that you saw in Chalalan.
The scenery unfolds once again as we come to the confluence of the Tuichi
and Beni rivers and finish the tour in Rurrenabaque around noon. * The
hotel in Rurrenabaque this evening is not included in this itinerary.
(B)
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2. BENI PAMPAS, TUICHI RIVER & CHALALAN ECO-LODGE
(8 days) TOUR CODE: PAMP-CHLN-8 RATING:
easy
This journey to the pampas (savannas) of the Beni and to Madidi National
Park is the perfect introduction to the Upper Amazon Basin of Bolivia.
The variety of eco-systems and flora and fauna you will see on this trip
is just fabulous. The pampas of the Beni and the adjacent wetlands and
small rivers have an abundant variety of birds, mammals and reptiles.
Observing pink river dolphins, anacondas and caiman in their natural home
is an experience that should not be missed and is relatively easy to do
here as it is still a wild place with little if any development except
cattle ranches that for the most part are just the pampas with fences.
After visiting the animal-rich pampas we head to Chalalan Eco-Lodge, which
is situated next to Laguna Chalalan – near the Tuichi River in Madidi
National Park (as featured in March 2000 issue of National Geographic).
Departure begins from Rurrenabaque via a motorized boat on the Beni and
Tuichi Rivers for approximately five hours. The lodge is owned and administered
by the natives of the village of San Jose de Chupiamonas, 8-10 hours via
motorized boat up the Tuichi River from Rurrenabaque. Generations of the
Quechua-Tacana people living in this region make them the obvious choice
as naturalist guides that will take you along trails through the forest
to view birds, mammals and reptiles and to share their knowledge of their
home with you. Day hikes and overnight camping journeys to different regions
will introduce you to the abundant variety of animals and plants that
make this park one of the most diverse in the world. Chalalan is the perfect
getaway for those that are in love with the neo-tropics and also for those
just venturing into world of the Amazon for the first time. Within just
8 days you will get an in-depth view of the wonders of the Bolivian Upper
Amazon Basin that includes the pampas and the rainforest. It’s a
magical location - unlike any other in the Bolivian Amazon!
Daily Itinerary
Day 1: La Paz - Rurrenabaque
We will arrange the transfer for you from your hotel to the airport for
the TAM flight to Rurrenabaque. The flight is a little over an hour from
the Andes to the Amazon. Upon arrival in Rurrenabaque we will pick you
up and transfer you to the hotel to check in and relax. We will have lunch
together and talk about the upcoming trip so you can prepare. The afternoon
is on your own to explore this colorful town on the banks of the mighty
Beni River. At the appropiate time we will have dinner together. Overnight
in Rurrenabaque. (L,D)
Day 2: Rurrenabaque - Pampas
We will have breakfast at 7:30 AM so that we have enough time to enjoy
ourselves on the drive out to the natural pampas (savannas) of the Beni.
We will board 4x4 jeeps in Rurrenabaque and drive northeast for approximately
3½ hours to the village of Santa Rosa. Upon arrival we will have
lunch and then continue to our camp – a rustic eco-lodge near the
Yacuma River. We will board dugout canoes on the Yacuma River and travel
up the river looking for pink river dolphins, capybaras, turtles and caiman,
as well as a great variety of birdlife from herons to macaws and from
hawks to toucans. We will also go into the savannas to look for the world’s
largest snake – the anaconda. These constrictors are easy to find
and are less dangerous than what people are accustomed to hearing. If
we’re lucky we will find one and observe it closely. After our wildlife
adventure we will return via motorized boat to our camp in the late afternoon.
After a short rest we will have dinner. Afterwards we will go out once
more and look for caiman at night as they are easily spotted because their
eyes glow bright red or yellow once in the beam of our flashlights. Hopefully
we can catch some small ones to view up close and take some photos before
returning them to their home. We return to our camp and overnight in our
camp. (B,L,D)
Day 3: Pampas – Rurrenabaque
After an early breakfast we once again head out early in canoes to observe
more wildlife in these natural savannas. This region is so rich in animals
that we have everything from giant anteaters to ocelot and from Jabirou
storks to Suri (the Amazonian ostrich) and from pink river dolphins to
anacondas! After this morning’s jaunt we will return to Santa Rosa
and have lunch. Afterwards we board our vehicles again and head back to
rurrenabaque and arrive in the late afternoon. We will check into our
hotel once again. Overnight in Rurrenabaque at Hotel Safari. (B,L,D)
Day 4: Rurrenabaque - Chalalan
After breakfast our journey will begin with early morning departure via
motorized boat up the Beni and then onto the Tuichi River. Along the way
we will have ample opportunities to view the typical Amazon basin made
up of rainforest, rivers and savannas - home to thousands of bird species
and other animals. Further up-river the scenery will change and the landscape
will show its hidden secrets as we go through Bullet Canyon and get further
into the rainforest After approximately five hours we will arrive at the
Tuichi river port for Chalalan. A short half-hour hike through the rainforest
with a local guide will introduce you to the natural ecosystems that are
living and struggling to survive in the tropical forest and bring you
to Chalalan lodge – situtaed next to Chalalan Lagoon. Lunch upon
arrival. Afterwards you'll have the option of taking a siesta or just
relaxing in the hammocks. Later in the afternoon we can go on a canoe
trip on Chalalan Lagoon or take a hike on one of numerous trails near
the lodge for birdwatching and to enjoy the natural peace in the area.
Dinner and an optional night hike to see nocturnal animals. Overnight
at Chalalan. (B,L,D)
Day 5: Chalalan - Eslabon River - Chalalan
After breakfast, we depart on a day hike on the Paraba Trail bordering
Laguna Chalalan as we go through the rainforest where we can view macaws
and other species in the canopy high above our heads. Further on we cross
the Rayamayo creek after going through various sections of forest with
trees that adapt to their geographical location – much of it based
on the ava.htmlity of sunlight within the forest. We join the Marimono
trail until we get to the Eslabon River where we will have lunch and rest.
This is a permanent camp that is used for overnight trips. After lunch
we make our way slowly back to Chalalan and take time to stop at the overview
on the Paraba trail to see the lagoon and the tropical rainforest that
extends far into the distance. We will cross the lagoon via dugout canoe
to the lodge. After dinner there’s an optional night hike or a paddle
on the lagoon to see nocturanl animals. Overnight in Chalalan. (B,L,D)
Day 6: Chalalan - Rayamayo - Chalalan
After breakfast we go on an early morning hike on the Silbador trail until
we arrive at Rayamayo River to view birds as they begin their daily activities.
We continue on the Mutun and Anta trails that will take us back to the
lodge where we will have lunch. The afternoon is free for you to enjoy
the beauty of Chalalan at your own pace and indulge in your interests.
Canoe trips on the lagoon are always available for bird or animal watching.
Dinner and rest. Optional night hike for those interested in viewing nocturnal
animals. Overnight in Chalalan. (B,L,D)
Day 7: Chalalan - Rurrenabaque
After breakfast we will have time for a morning tour of another part of
the forest to see wildlife and get to learn more about the rainforest.
We will have lunch at noon. Afterwards we will walk to the river and board
the boat back to Rurrenabaque. The approximate travel time will be about
3 ½ hours to Rurrenabaque – depending on water levels. As
we head downriver you'll have time to reflect on all the wonderful things
that you saw in Chalalan. The scenery unfolds once again as we come to
the confluence of the Tuichi and Beni rivers and finish in Rurrenabaque.
We will check into our hotel and the rest of the day is free for you to
rest and relax or explore at your own pace. Dinner is on your own tonight.
Overnight in Rurrenabaque. (B,L)
Day 8: Rurrenabaque – La Paz
After breakfast we head to the airport for the morning flight to La Paz.
We should arrive in La Paz around noon. Upon arrival we will be transferred
to your hotel. (B)
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3. PILON LAJAS & MAPAJO - INDIGENOUS ECO-LODGE (5 days) TOUR
CODE: PILJ-MAJO-5 RATING: easy
DETAILS COMING SOON!
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