Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: La Paz – Rurrenabaque. A 55-minute flight to Rurrenabaque, over the Andean Cordillera Real and the Amazon lowlands. Transfer to the hotel. Free afternoon to explore this colorful town on the bank of the Beni River.
Option: For an additional price your first or last night in this Chalalán Tour could be spend in the new San Miguel del Bala Lodge, near the Bala Gorge.
Day 2: Rurrenabaque - Chalalán - Madidi National Park. Early in the morning, travel up the Beni River in a dugout canoe, passing through the spectacular Bala Gorge. The wild and scenic Tuichi River is our gateway to Madidi National Park, and our access to the Chalalán Ecolodge. The river trip to Chalalán takes about 5 hours followed by an easy 30-minute hike from the river’s edge to the lodge. The lodge is nestled in the rain forest on the shores of beautiful Lake Chalalán. Later, guests will have the opportunity to explore the forest trails, including a stop at the Mirador (lookout), which offers incredible views of Lake Chalalán and the central mountain ranges of the national park. After dinner, have an optional night walk or canoe trip on the lake to look for wildlife such as black caymans, frogs and nocturnal birds. Includes: (B, L, D).
Day 3: Chalalán - Madidi National Park. After breakfast, an early morning trek through the rain forest starts. You may observe macaws, guanos, trumpeters, raptors, ant birds, trogons and other birds, as well as troops of brown capuchin and squirrel monkeys, or with more luck cross a tapir or herds of white-lipped peccaries. Our local guides will share their extensive knowledge of plants (including their traditional medicinal uses), natural history, and animal behavior. Lunch at the lodge and a relaxing afternoon; a swim in the lake is recommended. Includes: (B, L, D).
Day 4: Chalalán - Madidi National Park. ToDay you will go on the longest of our hikes, passing through primary rainforest showing beautiful tall and columnar trees on our way to the Rayamayo and Eslabón Rivers. On this 5-hour trip, you explore other rainforests farther from the lodge, and hence with luck, you can see red howler and black spider monkeys, and other wildlife, as well as learn more about the ecology of these forests. Boxed lunch. Return to the lodge in the afternoon. Participate in, and learn about, the making of traditional Tacana handicrafts, like the chonta seed rings. Dinner tonight is “dumoquavi”, a traditional dish (river catfish wrapped in leaves), a delicious feast and a great way to spend your last evening in Chalalán! Includes: (B, L, D).
Day 5: Chalalán – Rurrenabaque - La Paz. After an early breakfast, walk to the Tuichi River, where you board the boat to return to Rurrenabaque. The return trip (downriver) is faster; it takes about three hours. Transfer to Rurrenabaque´s airport and flight to La Paz. Includes: (B).
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Included: bilingual guide, hotel in Rurrenabaque, meals, lodging, transportation.
Not included: Entrance fee to Madidi National Park, round flight to Rurrenabaque, meals in Rurrenabaque, transfers from your hotel in La Paz to the Int'l La Paz Airport, airport taxes.
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Bolivia
Ecotourism
Wildlife Viewing
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