Chalalan Lodge is located right next to the beautiful Chalalan Lagoon and was built in the traditional style for the region. You will be warmly greeted and guided by members of the community of San José de Uchupiamonas, who own and manage the lodge. On our Chalalan Lodge Amazon tour, you will then be expertly guided into the Madidi National Park to see many different Amazon Rainforest animals and plants.
Welcome to Rurrenabaque in the Bolivia Amazon Rainforest. We will tour the Bolivian Amazon, one of the world’s most wildlife rich areas, where you can see colorful parrots, strange mammals that exist nowhere else on Earth and the world’s only social mustelids, the elegant Giant River Otters. This is your base for the incredible Madidi National Park.
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Bolivia is a tropical country in central South America and is landlocked between Brazil in the north and east, Chile in the south west, Peru in the west, and Argentina and Paraguay towards the south. The Bolivian Amazon has a high diversity of animals and plants including Tapir, Jaguar and many different Monkeys. The country is home to incredible wildlife and is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. This high level of biodiversity is linked to the forests and rainforests as about 50% of the country is forested, and a little over 10% of Bolivia is given some type of official protection. Half of the forest cover in Bolivia is primary forest, which means it hasn’t been cut down in recent history and left to regrow like in many other world areas.
Unlike the northern Amazon, Bolivia is home to several clay licks where you can see Macaws and other Parrots feeding off clay to neutralize toxins in their food. These sites present guests with almost guaranteed wildlife sightings and exceptional photo opportunities.
Located in northern Bolivia, Rurrenabaque is one of the entry points to the incredible Madidi National Park. Rurrenabaque is a rainforest town and provides a base to experience the Bolivian Amazon Rainforest, one of the world’s most biodiverse areas.
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Earth’s largest continuous tropical rainforest, the Amazon contains more life than anywhere else. Spanning nine nations, you can take a tour in the Amazon Rainforest from a variety of places, some well known and others for the more adventurous. The main countries to access the Amazon are Peru and Brazil, which contain the highest amounts of the forest, but there are another 7 to choose from. We have selected the top tour operators for visiting this impressive forest where you will be shown the Amazon’s scenic beauty and its life within.
The largest intact tropical wildernesses are the Amazon, the Congo in west Africa, and the rainforested landmass of New Guinea. If you combined New Guinea and the Congo rainforest, the resulting land area could fit snugly inside the Amazon Rainforest. Not only that, the Amazon contains 1/5th of the world’s fresh water, covers nearly half of South America (40%) and provides 20% of the planet’s Oxygen. This incredible forest contains 1/10th of all the species on Earth. The Amazon Rainforest is fed by the Amazon River, which is a remarkable natural feature in its own right. This is Earth’s largest river by volume and second longest after the Nile.
While you’re reading this, there is an intense struggle going on in the Amazon between people who see the rainforest as a resource to be exploited and used up for its huge amounts of timber, precious metals, meat, pets, and oil and those of us who think its existence is worth its weight in oil and timber. The Yasuni National Park in Ecuador is at the moment sitting on the world’s largest untapped oil reserve. This is creating a bit of tension between our fellow humans who live inside the national park and oil prospectors constantly trying to penetrate the forest. If this is important to you, you can convince people to de-invest in oil companies who don’t play ball. If deforestation continues at current rates, the WWF estimate 55% of the Amazon Rainforest will be gone by 2030.
To get geographical, the Amazon Rainforest spans 2, 300, 000 square miles (6,000,000 square km) and is contained by the mountain ranges of the Guiana Highlands in the north, the Andes in the west and then the Brazilian plateau in the south.
Although dominated by rainforest, the Amazon also contains many other vegetation types, such as seasonal, flooded and deciduous forests, as well as savannahs. This vegetation is fed by the Amazon River and occurs in the Amazon’s drainage basin
As the world’s largest container of life, you can see many different animals in the Amazon including the famed Scarlet Macaws and Toucans, more easily seen at clay licks in the Manu or Madidi National Park or the Tambopata National Reserve in Peru and Bolivia. Tapir are the largest land mammal in the Amazon and these strange looking mammals can also be seen at the Amazon’s clay licks where they come to feed off nutrient rich clay. As well as Tapir, the other main animals Amazon tourists like to see are the Giant River Otters and Jaguar. However, there is an incredible diversity of other animals to amaze you as you wander or canoe Amazonia with your professional Amazon guide. They will spot Sloths clinging to the branches high the trees and draw your attention to the Monkeys following you through the forest.
The Amazon River is the planet’s most voluminous, with a mouth of 300 miles, which drains 500 billion cubic feet of water each day. The river and its 1000 or more tributaries contain an incredible diversity of fish as well as aquatic mammals like Manatees and River Dolphins. On the Amazon River, you will find the main bases for the Amazon Rainforest such as the port cities of Iquitos in Peru, and Manaus and Santarem in Brazil.
Tourism in the southern Amazon Rainforest of southern Peru and Bolivia is at its most developed whereas in the north it is still in its infancy. The small Peruvian town of Puerto Maldonado gives you access to the edge of the Madidi National Park in Bolivia, the Tambopata National Reserve close to town, and the famous Manu National Park, the most pristine national park in the Peru. These areas are fantastic for clay lick to see Macaws, Toucans, Tapir, as well as Jaguar, which prey on the mammals. These areas are also a good choice to see the endangered Giant River Otters. If, however, you would like a cruise or to see the rainforest near the Amazon River itself, you can choose the forests of Ecuador, Peru and Brazil. Here you can see the abundant Monkeys and many different Amazon Birds. So what are you waiting for? Jump in and TourTheTropics!
Iquitos
Iquitos is the largest Peruvian city in the Amazon Rainforest and is the Amazon gateway for visits to Peruvian rainforest along the Amazon River. Iquitos is also the largest city in the world unreachable by road, which means to access Iquitos you are likely to enter the region by air. To see the breathtaking carpet of green spanning the horizon as you fly over the rainforest is a spectacle in itself. From Iquitos, you will have access to cruises along the Amazon River focusing on the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve and Amazon Rainforest lodges. To fully enjoy this region, we advise choosing tours that take you far from the city (~150 km) to see the incredible diversity of animals and plants this region boasts. We have selected the best tours in the region to make sure you make the most of your visit to this fun and welcoming Amazon Rainforest gateway. Continue to Iquitos Tours >>
Cusco
Cusco is the main tourist destination in Peru. Hundreds of thousands of tourists travel to Cusco each year to visit the very well marketed Machu Picchu and other archaeological sites in the region. Natural wonders are also on the list of activities, however, as Cusco provides a base to visit the Amazon Rainforest Cloud Forest in the Andean Mountain Range. Manu National Park is regarded as the most pristine protected in Peru and contains both lowland and Cloud Forest habitats containing an incredible diversity of Amazon plants and animals. You can combine both the lowland and Andean rainforest from an Amazon tour from cusco and take advantage of three excellent lodges in the region. Continue to Cusco Tours >>
Puerto Maldonado
A short flight from Cusco will bring you to this unassuming Amazon Rainforest gateway. As well as Cusco, the Puerto Maldonado region has access to one of the most developed tourism industries in the Amazon Rainforest. Here you can visit the Manu National Park, Madidi National Park (Bolivia) and the Tambopata National Reserve — the closest protected area to Puerto Maldonado (only 45 minutes), which contains exceptional Amazon wildlife. Puerto Maldonado is your best choice for short tours into the Amazon (~3 Days) as you can quickly get in and out. We have collected the best tours for visits to the Amazon, the majority of which have environmental certification. Continue to Puerto Maldonado Tours >>
Manaus
Manaus is the main Amazon Rainforest gateway in Brazil, where you can visit the impressive Central Amazon Ecological Corridor — a mega-reserve that incorporates several protected areas. The closest of these protected areas to Manaus is the Anavilhanas. From Manaus you can organise cruises on the Amazon River or Rio Negro, the meeting of these rivers creates one of the main short tours near the city. Manaus is a bustling industrial port boasting incredible architecture from the rubber boom period of Amazon history. Continue to Manaus Tours >>
Santarém
Another Brazilian gateway to the Amazon Rainforest, Santarém is surrounded by impressive lakes fed by the Amazon River and 100 kms of attractive beaches. Like Manaus, in Santarém you can find impressive architecture and many historical buildings.
Sitting in the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest is the Yasuni National Park occupied by various indigenous groups and to the north is the Cuyabeno Reserve. The Yasuni region contains the highest amount of life anywhere on Earth, but sits on one of the largest remaining untapped oil reserves. This places a considerable threat on the heads of many of the world’s animals and plants, but also on the indigenous population. Some communities have adopted ecotourism as a way of showing visitors the extraordinary diversity of this region and why it should be protected, as well as communicating their ongoing struggle against oil companies. Continue to Ecuador Tours >>
Leticia is the Amazon Rainforest gateway in Colombia and is one of the safest places in the country, but we always advise checking with your country’s government for the latest news. Leticia will be a stopping point on cruises and ferries between Iquitos (Peru) and Manaus (Brazil).
The Amazon Rainforest in Venezeuala is mostly known for the Yanomami indigenous group, who occupy the largest tract of land of any native community. The Yanomami occur on the border between Venezuela and Brazil and have accepted tourism as a means to communicate their struggle for forest protection.
The Bolivian Amazon Rainforest is mostly known for the Madidi National Park, an impressive protected area containing a high diversity of Amazon wildlife. Your entry point for the Bolivian Amazon Rainforest is the town of Rurrenabaque and here you can take tours to the surrounding rainforest. Madidi had a history of misusing the power of tourism as too many tourists resulted in park degradation, a big no no when it comes to eco tourism. With much improved park management and regulations, tourism is now being used to protect the forests.
These last three countries (and parts of countries–French Guiana is actually in France) are the smallest and most neglected areas to visit the Amazon Rainforest. They are included in an area of South America known as the the Guianan Shield (geological section of the South American plate) that encompasses all three nations as well as parts of Brazil, Venezeuala and Colombia. Guyana is the largest of the three nations and probably the most well known. Although, because French Guiana is part of the European Union, it isn’t as popular as a tourist destination as French Guiana and neighboring Suriname. Guyana is growing in popularity with nature lovers and is especially haled by birdwatchers worldwide.
Tourism in Suriname remains important for the economy and is centered around the Amazon Rainforest. The largest protected area in the country is the Central Suriname Nature Reserve and is also its most popular. Suriname presents exceptional wildlife experiences with over 30% of the country protected in wildlife reserves.
French Guiana is the wealthiest of these three regions and contains 31, 000 square miles (8 million hectares) of tropical forest with a large fraction protected in ecological reserves.
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A continent of contrasts, South America split from the African landmass and joined with North America to merge a distinct set of flora, fauna and geographical features. The South American continent is bound by the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the west and is the jumping off point for Antarctica to the south. After the merger with North America, the Isthmus of Panama in the north would be the land bridge by which many different animals, including humans, migrated south into this diverse continent. Welcome to South America.
The largest tract of continuous rainforest on Earth is found in South America. The Amazon is larger than the other largest rainforests, the Congo Rainforest in West Africa and the New Guinean Rainforest in Australasia, combined. This incredible forest has filled the hearts and minds of naturalists and explorers for hundreds of years and can be accessed from any one of the nine nations it crosses. For the majority of Amazon tourists, the two countries to base themselves for an Amazon Adventure are Peru and Brazil, which contain the largest portions of the rainforest, but there are lesser known adventurous alternatives…
The Brazilian Cerrado is the country’s 2nd largest habitat after the Amazon Rainforest. The Cerrado is a tropical savanna habitat that experiences a humid climate. The habitat is home to many endemic species found nowhere else on Earth. Here you will see incredible wildlife, such as Endangered Maned Wolves, Hyacinth Macaws, and tool-using Capuchin Monkeys.
The Pantanal Wetlands allows a higher chance of seeing some of the Amazon Rainforest’s most sort-after wildlife, such as Jaguar, Giant Otters and Capybara. The open and often treeless habitat means Capybara can roam the grasslands in huge numbers and animals cannot easily hide from view. Although lesser known than the Amazon, the Pantanal houses an equal concentration of wildlife to the densest areas in Africa.
When the Portuguese first set foot on South America over 500 years ago, they were met with the Atlantic Forest. One of the most threatened tropical forests, the Atlantic forest in southern Brazil is home to many highly threatened animals and plants. Over 85% of the original forest cover has been deforested, but because of its significance as a home for many endemic species, hundreds of businesses, NGOs and charities are working to restore this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The main countries that make up South America are, in order of highest population, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Venezuela, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uraguay, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana (France).
Tourists can explore the different eco-regions in South America, which offer a chance to view breathtaking scenery, amazing wildlife and contrasting environments. You can explore the Amazon Rainforest or Atlantic Forest previously mentioned, the wetlands, which are home to abundant animals and plants, Andean Cloud Forest to see incredible bird life, the Atacama desert, Earth’s driest area, the Andean mountain range, the world’s longest mountain range, and the famous Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador to see uniquely famous animals and plants.
Within these Bio Regions are the main National Parks that protect South America’s famous and world renowned wildlife for future generations. View the famous macaws of Tambopata National Reserve and Manu National Park and see Jaguar in the Pantanal.
In addition to South America’s cities and bio regions, tourists flock to South America to see its rich cultural heritage for a glimpse into a land before the modern world as well as natural wonders, such as Angel Falls in Venezuela, the world’s highest waterfall.
Like the pyramids of Egypt, South America is home to its own archeological sites of now vanished societies. Machu Picchu in Peru alone draws hundreds of thousands of tourists each year to visit this mystical Incan ruin. As well as Machu Picchu, Peru is home to other archaeological sites like the Cradle of Gold and the latest tourist destination, the Northern Kingdoms.
There have been many different civilizations in South America, such as the Chavin, which spanned 900 BC to 300 AD, the Moche, from 100 BC to 700 AD, the Chachopayas, from 1000–1450, but none that have caught the public attention as much as the Inkas, which dominated the Andean region from 1438 to 1533 and were invaded by the Spanish in one of the most significant periods in South American history. To explore South America’s rich and interesting Archeological sites, travel to one of our popular Ancient Destinations.
The traditionally styled Tacana cabins are surrounded by virgin Amazon rainforest where you will hear the sounds from Howler Monkeys, resonating through the forest, as well as the dawn chorus from many different birds.
The lodge itself is composed of three different types of accommodation. There are the more luxurious cabins with cabins of double beds and private bathroom (7 in total) and twin rooms that have shared bathroom (4 in total).
Features of all rooms include a mosquito net, bedside tables, wardrobes, comfortable armchairs, verandas, balconies and hammocks where you can relax and read. Cleanliness and hygiene is very important to our standard of practice and all bathrooms are unisex and cleaned regularly without causing disturbance. The bathrooms are either stone-clad or tiled to provide a touch of elegance in the jungle.
For transport, we have three comfortable boats to take you to our lodge as we navigate the beautiful River Beni (Bala Canyon) and River Tuíchi. On your trip, we will provide you with your packed lunch so you don’t get hungry. The boats are equipped with a roof, comfortable seats, life jackets, raincoats and a first-aid kit, and each one seats up to ten people.
To get deeper into the forest, we have five traditional dug-out canoes made by our community’s artisans. These comfortably seat a maximum of 6 people are provide a fantastic way to see and experience the surrounding animals and plants.
We pride ourselves on providing the highest quality of food available. To cater for different tastes and to provide an experience of the region, we prepare national, regional and international cuisine. Your meals will be accompanied with fruit juice and are prepared to a high standard of hygiene and quality. We can cater to special diets with prior notice.
The dining room seats 40 people and we have a well stocked bar with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
Friendliness and respect are embedded in the Quechua-Tacanan culture and are a priority for your experience. So far, we have been rated 'excellent' and 'very good' by 98% of our guests, however, we still aim for 100% satisfaction.
Themed Walks
Surrounding the Chalalán Ecolodge are a maze of themed trail winding over 30km through the rainforest, which have been meticulously designed to show off the forest, ecological processes, natural history, medicinal plants, hardwood trees, birds, mammals, amphibians, insects and a variety of fungi native to the tropical rainforest.
All of our guests are given the opportunity to plan activities according to their interests with the help of a local guide. Each group contains a maximum of six people.
Our Guides
We provide bilingual indigenous guides from the community of San José de Uchupiamonas. Our guides are professionally trained in environmental education, natural interpretation of the forest, ecological processes and natural history. They maintain their ancestral knowledge of medicinal plants and hardwood trees, animal behavior, myths and beliefs about the plants and animals and are excited to share their knowledge. Our local guides interpret the forest from their traditional knowledge and incorporate scientific knowledge into their descriptions and explanations. Our guides are specialists in plants, birds and insects and have gained further experience working at the Chalalán Lodge.
Guided Hikes
Local guides give expert interpretation on various forest trails surrounding Chalalán Lodge. Each hike has a different theme and you will learn about medicinal plants, hardwood trees, observe the wildlife and experience primary forest.
Forest Interpretation
The area around Chalalán is ideal for learning about tropical rainforests. During your stay in Chalalán, you can hike the different trails with a local guide who will teach you about the forest using both his inherited knowledge and scientific knowledge.
Bird Watching
Chalalán is home to over 340 species of birds including parakeets, parrots, toucans, wild turkeys, woodpeckers, etc. Our guides can easily identify their calls and songs.
Wildlife
As you walk along the trails, especially those that are a little further from the Ecolodge, you will be able to see howler monkeys, spider monkeys, tapirs, deer, capybaras, frogs, lizards and maybe even a jaguar.
Canoe Trips
At dusk the birds and monkeys come down to the shores of Chalalán to drink before going back into the canopy to look for insects. Once they have eaten they gather together in groups to spend the night in the branches of the largest trees.
Night-Time Canoe Trips
While gently paddling along the shores of the Chalalán Lagoon you can see nocturnal birds, amphibians and the glowing eyes of lack alligators.
Night Hikes
Equipped with a torch you can take a short hike at night to look for colorful frogs, mammals and insects that welcome in nightime with their unique chorus.
A Night of Traditions
On the last evening of your stay in Chalalán, you can try the traditional dunucuavi dinner and then enjoy a night of traditional music, dancing and storytelling. A guide will be with you to explain the traditions and customs of the people from San José de Uchupiamonas.
An Afternoon of Handicrafts
After lunch you can look at local handicrafts and make your own necklaces or rings with the help of your guide.
Swimming and Relaxing
After lunch we recommend that you take a dip in the lake or simply relax in a hammock to read a book or listen to the sounds of the forest.
Insect Watching
The Madidi is a fabulous place to see a large variety of insects, which also make up the diet of most of the birds around Chalalán.
Fungus Watching
There are many varieties of edible and poisonous fungi of all shapes, sizes and colors to be found in the Madidi tropical rainforest.
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