One-week trip to experience the Amazon jungle in depth visiting Chalalán lodge located in the heart of Madidi National Park, one of the richest and most complex ecological systems in South America.

One of the most successful ecological projects in the country, Chalalan lodge, is located within Madidi National Park. After many years living as hunters and loggers, the Quechua-Takana indigenous understood the consequences of these practices and decided to work with tourism in instead. Thanks of the financing of the International Development Bank and the technical assistance of “International Conservation”, they built a lodge in the middle of the Amazonian jungle at the shores of Chalalan Lake. This lodge can only be accessed by dugout canoe upstream the spectacular Beni and Tuichi rivers, 5 hours from the gateway community of Rurrenabaque.

Constructed with respect for the natural surroundings, using forest materials, solar energy and intensive protection of the lake, the cabins are surrounded by primary forests inhabited by an astonishing variety of birds and mammals. The lake and surroundings are an ideal habitat for Monkeys, Alligators, Turtles, Hoatzin, and Macaws that reverberates under a constant symphony of birdsong, shouts of howler monkeys, and barking toucans, particularly at dawn and dusk.

Madidi National Park is the largest protected area in the country, located to the north of Cordillera Real covers a wide area of 18.000km2 (7020mi2) between the lower slopes of Apolobamba mountain range at the west, passing through the mountain valleys and cloud forest, to the savannas of the Amazonian jungle at the east.

This park of is certainly the most complex ecological systems in South America, to give you an idea of the variety of the fauna, we can tell you that it contains: about 1000 bird species (90% of all Bolivian bird species), 44% of all New World species of mammal, and an estimated of 38 % of Neo tropical amphibians.

Ruins of former cities, terraces and several hundreds of miles of stone paved trails, can be found inside the park boundaries, remaining us about ancient people that inhabited these lands. Nowadays, their descendants still live in the area in several ethnic groups like: the Aymaras or the Kallawayas in the highlands, or the Takana, Mosetenes and Chimanes in the lowlands.

Itinerary:

D1. Flight to Rurrenabaque. Hotel.
D2. Motor Boat to Chalalan Lodge.
D3. Chalalan Lodge.
D4. Chalalan Lodge.
D5. Motorboat to Rurrenabaque. Flight to La Paz.

• The most enriching interactive-tour to understand the Amazon jungle in Madidi national Park; one of the richest and most complex ecological systems in South America.
• Great opportunity to spot wildlife; monkeys, snakes, alligators and lots of birds (actually almost 90% of all Bolivian bird species).
• Accommodation at Chalalan Lodge and touring around with their experiences local guides make this trip a unique and extraordinary experience.
• The best opportunity to meet local cultures and interact with them.
• Spectacular aerial views of the mountains during the flights in and out to Rurrenabaque.