Why visit the Bolivian Amazon on your vacation in South America?

Take a second look at the Bolivian Amazon for pristine wildlife and true community involvement.

Where to go? Madidi National Park covers 1.8 million hectares and is one of the most intact ecosystems in South America. There is a great diversity of flora and fauna here thanks to the variety of habitat, from lowland rainforest to mountains reaching 5500m. The park protects more species than any other in the world; there are more than 45,000 different plant species and more than 1,000 species of tropical birds, making it a great place for your visit to the Amazon.

Where to stay? There are some magnificent projects in the Bolivian Amazon. One of the best is Chalalan Lodge in Madidi National Park. In 2010 it was included in Lonely Planet’s list of the 10 best sustainable travel experiences in the world. While many jungle lodges these days jump on the “Sustainable Tourism” gang bandwagon, this project really is worthy of the title. Community-Owned Sustainable Tourism The lodge was established and is owned by Quechua-Tacana people who live in the community of San José de Uchupiamonas. The Quechua-Tacana whose people have lived in harmony with the surrounding jungle for more than 300 years. Twenty years ago they realized that Ecotourism was a way to protect their land and their traditions from the threats of deforestation and the migration of young people to the cities. The lodge is 100% owned and operated by the local community and benefits already include clean drinking water and better health standards, education and training.

How is the accommodation? It is often difficult in such a project to strike the right balance between the needs of the local community and environment and the demands of tourists who want to visit the area. Here, the staff have excelled at providing clean and comfortable accommodation, knowledgeable local guides, and a very welcoming atmosphere. The passion for its environment and project is evident in every detail, which is probably what makes Chalalan so special. The rooms are simple but clean and comfortable with cold showers (but welcome in hot temperatures!). Your stay includes 3 delicious meals a day so you can try many local specialties.

How to get there? Most people fly from La Paz to Rurrenebaque, a jungle town on the Yacuma River. From here, a motorized canoe takes you upriver for a few hours. The lodge staff is waiting to help you with your luggage, leaving you free to follow your guide along the forest trail to the lodge.

What can you see and do there? Activities included; nature walks, bird watching, night canoe rides, nature talks, walks, craft demonstrations, canoe rides and a farewell ceremony on the last night where you can taste the local drink “leche de tigre”. Madidi is home to 340 species of birds, including parakeets, parrots, toucans, wild turkeys, and woodpeckers. Animals include the spectacled bear, Andean cat, Andean deer, white-tailed deer, puma, jaguar, white-lipped peccary, spider monkey, and red howler monkey; Not to mention more bugs and frogs than you can shake a stick at.

A truly unforgettable trip to the Amazon in Bolivia.