Bolivia Guide
The Amazon
Accommodation
1 
Albergue Ecologico Chalalán 
03/8922419 
www.chalalan.com Chalalán is a beautiful ecolodge in the heart of the park beside the Río Tuichi, four to five hours by boat from Rurrenabaque. It was established with support from international conservation groups in a bid to demonstrate how rainforest conservation can provide sustainable livelihoods for local people who might otherwise turn to logging or other destructive activities. It is owned and managed by the Quechua-Tacana community of San José de Uchupiamonas, located 25km further up the Tuichi, and the only settlement of any size inside the park. The project is now run entirely by the community. The lodge overlooks a large lake, teeming with cayman and all manner of water birds (a boat trip with a guide is included in the price of your accommodation), and the surrounding forest is covered by a 25-kilometre network of trails which you can explore with local guides from San José. Most guides speak a little English, and all are knowledgeable about the forest in the way that only those who grew up in it can be, highlighting the many plant species that can be used for food, medicine or building materials.Accommodation at Chalalán is in comfortable thatched wooden cabins built in a traditional Tacana style, with mosquito netting, comfortable beds and solar-powered lighting, and shared, or private, bathrooms. The lodge has an office in Rurrenabaque on Comercio street, or you can book through various agencies. Price: A four-day stay including transport to and from Rurrenabaque costs about $280 per person
2 San Miguel del Bala 03/8922394 
reservas@sanmigueldelbala.com Only half an hour down the river from Rurre is the ecotourist destination San Miguel del Bala, the perfect place to experience a taste of a traditional Tacana community, particularly if you're short on time. You can visit for a day, though there is easily enough to keep you entertained for longer. The cabins all have private bathrooms and are spacious and comfy, with excellent food served in the communal dining area. Partly due to the site's proximity to Rurre, the chances of seeing animals are slimmer than at Chalalán. However, here you can actually visit the community where you are able to see and experience traditional practices, like weaving Jataca leaves. There are a number of trails leading out from the cabins, one of which follows a series of animal traps. The guides are all from the community and have many interesting tales of the superstitions and folklore of the forest. A longer walk along the trails leads to a beautiful, winding canyon where you can swim and take in the scenery. Book through the Rurre office, which is located on Comercio between Vaca Diez and Santa Cruz. Price: An all-inclusive trip will cost about $60 a day
3 Albergue Ecologico Mapajo 03/8922317 www.mapajo.com mapajo@mapajo.com The Albergue Ecologico Mapajo, on the Río Quiquibey within the Reserva de Biosfera y Territorio Indígena Pilon Lajas, is three hours by motorized canoe from Rurrenabaque. This lodge was established at a fraction of the cost of Chalalán and with a greater degree of community autonomy – the lodge is administered by Mapajo Ecoturismo Indigena, a company wholly owned by the indigenous communities of the Río Quiquibey. A two- to four-day visit to the lodge offers excellent opportunities for exploring the rainforest and spotting wildlife, as well as the chance to visit the local indigenous communities and see at first hand their unique lifestyle, and the skills that enable them to survive in the rainforest.With a beautiful setting on a high bluff overlooking the river, the lodge features six comfortable cabins (one of which is a family cabin built for six) built in traditional indigenous style, with the added luxury of mosquito-screening, balconies with hammocks, and shared bathrooms and showers; there's also an interpretation centre with books and other information. Deeper in the forest are some more rustic campsites where you can stay overnight on longer excursions. Inclusive visits to Mapajo with accommodation, food, transport, boat excursions, guided walks and visits to indigenous communities can be arranged through the Mapajo Ecoturismo Indígena office in Rurrenabaque on Calle Santa Cruz. Price: A three-night trip for two to three people will cost about $240 each