Tour
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.