March 6- Arrival
The trip begins in the world’s highest capital, La Paz. After clearing customs at the El Alto International Airport, you will be shuttled into the heart of the city to the Hotel Rosario. This colonial hotel, just a few blocks above La Paz’s famous Witch’s Market, is comfortable with most modern conveniences including internet access. Depending on your arrival time, you may wish to venture out to explore the city. Please do, but remember to carry a map: La Paz’s confusing layout can disorient even the most seasoned traveler! At 7pm we will meet for an opening dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.
March 7-9 La Paz
The beautiful mornings in La Paz give the chance to explore the city, visit museums, or head out on hiking, birding, or other adventures in the dramatic nearby mountains. After lunches at some of the city’s most interesting restaurants, our van will climb almost 3000 vertical feet into the sprawling shantytown of El Alto. Though the view from the rim of the canyon would make the trip worthwhile, it isn’t what motivates our visit: El Alto is home to one of the most innovative theater troupes in the world, where young Aymara and Quechua locals have learned to use art as a tool to fight poverty and marginalization. In addition to watching theater and hearing music, we will teach English and photography, learn Spanish and Aymara, and work as a crew on the television show the children produce about their lives. In addition to helping a marginalized community to share its cultural wealth, we will have a unique opportunity to live daily life with Bolvians, a privilege few tourists are afforded.
March 10- La Paz to Rurrenabaque
In the morning, we will be shuttled to the airport where we will check in with the airline Amazonas for the flight to the lowland town of Rurre. The flight is less than an hour but will carry us more than 12,000 feet down the Andes and over the Amazon Basin. We will land on the grass runway at Rurrenabaque and take a van the short distance into town to the office of the Chalalan Lodge. After some routine paperwork for the next day’s trip up the river and into Madidi National Park, we’ll head over to the Hotel Oriental in downtown Rurre. In the afternoon, you can explore the rainforests just outside of town, wander the streets of the city to understand life in a remote jungle outpost, or walk the shore of the Rio Beni to watch the diversity of bird and riverine life.
March 11- Rurre to Chalalan Lodge
After breakfast at the hotel we will join our guides and boatmen onboard a motorized dugout canoe for the journey up river to the Chalalan Lodge. Chalalan is located in the heart of Madidi National Park, one of the most biologically rich places in the world. Thousands of species fill the park, so along the way we will keep our eyes peeled for toucans, macaws, wading birds, and raptors along the shore. We should see caiman sunning on the riverbank and monkeys foraging high in the canopy. If we are very, very lucky we may catch a glimpse of a jaguar stalking through the riverside brush. We will have lunch along the river then walk half a mile through the rainforest to arrive at the lodge in the early afternoon. The lodge, situated beautifully on the shores of an oxbow lake, is operated by the indigenous community of San José de Uchupiamonas. Unlike many communities in the upper Amazon, the people of San Jose de Uchupiamonas are Quechua with their cultural origins in the highlands. However they have lived for many hundreds of years as hunters, gatherers and farmers in the Madidi region. As part of a local conservation effort the community started Chalalan, which has become a model for responsible, sustainable ecotourism throughout the world. The lodge is comfortable with multiple individual cabanas spread across the primary rainforest surrounding the main lodge and dining areas. After our arrival, the local English-speaking guides will show us the rainforest where they live.
Day March 12-14- Chalalan Lodge
The Amazon basin and its vast rainforests are famous for their life, but what is less known is that the upper Amazon, and particularly the region of southeastern Peru and northern Bolivia is the most diverse part of that great basin. Madidi National Park, and its neighbor across the Peruvian border, Manu National Park, are keystones in the Amazon’s biodiversity. More species of birds occur in these two parks than in any other place in the world, more species of plants, monkeys and insects. There may still be uncontacted tribes in the border regions and possibly even in Madidi itself. At Chalalan we will have two full days to explore this incredible forest during the day and night, experience the culture of the locals, watch the abundant wildlife, swim in the lake, and hike down little-traveled rainforest paths. Nearly 400 species of birds have been recorded in the vicinity of the lodge. Monkeys, caiman, and other large wildlife are seen daily. This is your chance to explore one of the world’s last great biological treasures. Take advantage of it!
March 15- Chalalan Lodge to La Paz
As any explorer knows, the trip back may not inspire as many stories, but it can take just as long. Shortly after breakfast we will depart Chalalan and head back down the Beni River (keeping our eyes peeled for wildlife) to Rurre where we will transfer to the airport and then catch a dramatic flight over the 20,000 foot Illimani and Huayna Potosí to La Paz and on to the Hotel Rosario.
March 16-17- La Paz to Choro Trek or Coroico
In our final few days in Bolivia you can either take a three day trek from the high Andes or spend three days relaxing and exploring the beautiful town of Coroico, where the trekkers will conclude their walk. The Choro Trek begins at almost 15,000 feet in the Andean tundra, and then follows an Inca trade route downhill from the highlands to the Coca growing regions of the rich cloudforests. The ancient road, where the Incas laid the paving stones almost 700 years ago, will take us from the high alpine tundra to strange elfin forests and the wet, moss-covered cloudforest. Wildlife watching, scenery, and birding opportunities abound along the route. The two nights along the trail will be spent camping. Guides and porters will support the hike so you can enjoy the walk without worrying about carrying a heavy pack.
If you choose to spend your days in Coroico, set in one of the most beautiful places in South America, you will have the opportunity to wander the quiet cobblestone streets, enjoy the views of the Andes and explore the cloudforest and the many nearby waterfalls and swimming holes. There is good hiking nearby and local guides are available.
March 18- Coroico
Trekkers will arrive in Coroico in the afternoon in time for dinner while those of you who chose to spend your time in Coroico will have the day to experience more of the Yungas. We will have a closing dinner at a Swiss restaurant in Coroico, serving the best fondue in Bolivia, before returning to the local hotel for our final night. (If you have an early flight the next day, we can arrange transport for you to return to La Paz.)
March 19- Coroico to La Paz
We will depart Coroico early in the morning for the return back up the Andes to La Paz where you will be shuttled straight to the airport for your departing flight. If you have opted to spend more time in Bolivia you will be transferred to the hotel of your choice.
For a PDF of the itinerary please click HERE
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