Chalalan Tour
5 Days / 4 Nights
Chalalan Ecolodge
You will go to this Amazonian region (400 -1600 ft. above sea level). You will visit the heart of Madidi National Park where the Tuichi River is located, with the final destination in the Chalalan Lake and Chalalan Ecolodge. The scenery in this region was shaped by ancient geological and glacial processes, resulting in spectacular views. One of the many communities that we support is the village of San José de Uchupiamonas, a Quechua-Tacana ethnic group. This community owns Chalalán Ecolodge, which was built with a "minimum impact" philosophy, using local materials and traditional techniques, as well as solar energy and treatment of all waste waters. The San Jose community hopes that by participating in responsible tourism, it can be successful in the preservation of thousands of hectares of pristine rainforest that belong to them and were inherited from their ancestors. Their operations are developed under standards that respect local culture and traditions as well as the amazing natural surroundings.
Day 1 - La
Paz - Rurrenabaque
Transfer from the hotel to the airport. Flight to Rurrenabaque. Transfer
to the hotel, where you will have lunch. Free afternoon to explore this
colorful town on the bank of the Beni River. Dinner.
Day 2 - Rurrenabaque
- Chalalan - Madidi National Park
After an early breakfast, you will travel up the Beni River in a dugout
canoe, passing through the spectacular Cañón del Bala (Bala Gorge). The
wild and scenic Tuichi River is your gateway to Madidi National Park,
and your access to the Chalalan Ecolodge, our well-designed and comfortable
accommodation. The river trip to Chalalan takes about 5 hours, followed
by an easy 30-minute hike from the river's edge to the lodge, which is
nestled in the rainforest on the shores of Chalalan Lake. After checking
in, guests will have the opportunity to explore several short forest trails,
including a stop off at the "Mirador" (lookout), which offers spectacular
views of Chalalan Lake and some of the mountain ranges in the area. After
dinner, an optional night walk or canoe trip on the lake to look for wildlife
such as caiman, frogs and nocturnal birds.
Day 3 - Chalalan
- Madidi National Park
After breakfast, you will take an early morning trek through the forest.
If you are alert, you may observe macaws, guans, and a variety of other
birds, as well as brown capuchin and squirrel monkeys, or with more luck
cross herds of white-lipped peccary or tapirs. Your local guides will
share their extensive knowledge of plants (including their traditional
medicinal uses), natural history, and animal behavior. After lunch at
the lodge and a relaxing afternoon (a swim in the lake is recommended),
you can walk another of Chalalan´s trails to observe some of the amazing
variety of birds found in the area. After dinner, learn about the San
José community, its history, stories and traditions.
Day 4 - Chalalan
- Madidi National Park
Today you will go on the longest of our hikes, passing through primary
rainforest and gallery forest on your way to the Rayamayo and Eslabon
Rivers. On this 5-hour trip, you will explore some of the rainforest further
from the lodge, and hence with luck, you can see howler and spider monkeys,
and a variety of other wildlife, as well as learn more about the ecology
of the forest. Boxed lunch. Return to Chalalan in the afternoon. Participate
in and learn about the making of traditional Tacana handicrafts, for example
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 Chalalan!
After an early breakfast, you will walk to the Tuichi River, where you will board the boat to return to Rurrenabaque. The return trip (down-river) is fast; it takes only about three hours. Transfer to Rurrenabaque airport and flight to La Paz. Transfer to your hotel.