Rurrenabaque, Bolivia

Rurrenabaque or "Rurre" as locals call it, is a small town in the northern part of Bolivia. Rurrenabaque has become a popular destination for travelers or ecotourists wanting to see parts of the Bolivian Amazon, with its close proximity to the pristine forests of Madidi National Park (Parque Nacional Madidi) and to see the plentiful wildlife of the surrounding pampas along Rio Yacuma.

Rurrenabaque is small town with a population of about 12,000 people. The town is located about 400 km northeast of La Paz and is situated on the east banks of the Beni River, which serves as a border between the Beni department and the Department of La Paz, with the town of San Buenaventura on the opposite side of the river.

Rurrenabaque came to prominence during the rubber boom in the late 1800's & early 1900's. Also, the extraction of timber of the surrounding rainforest was once the town's main industry, but most of this has been reduced with the establishment of Parque Nacional Madidi and other protected areas. Now the ecotourism industry has emerged making it the most popular destination for visiting the Bolivian Amazon.

The biggest attraction in Rurre is seeing the plentiful wildlife in the area. The town is the starting point for jungle and pampas tours where you can spot numerous animals such as; caiman crocodile, anacondas, pink dolphins, capybaras, monkeys, giant ant-eaters, toucans, and many other bird species. There are also several community-based ecolodges where you can go to experience the rainforest.

There is a number of tour agencies in Rurre that offer trips to the rainforest and the pampas. Most are 3-day tours, which is generally long enough to see the wildlife that you want to see. Probably the best way in choosing the right agency is by asking other travellers returning from their tour of the area.

The best time to visit Rurrenabaque and the Bolivian Amazon is in the dry season from April through October, when most wildlife is attracted to the river for water, the walking trails are less muddy and there are fewer mosquitoes. Expect some rain if traveling there between November through March, which is the rainy season and the area is subject to flooding during the rainy season, which can make getting around difficult. Since the town is located in the Amazon Basin, be prepared for the humidity and bring insect repellent which will come in handy on your excursions.

Getting There

Buses arrive at the Terminal Terrestre a few blocks away from the center of town on the corner of Calle Guachalla and Calle 18 de Noviembre.

Another option is taking the 30-45 minute plane ride on a small aircraft from La Paz, where planes land on a landing strip at the small Rurrenabaque airport. Amaszonas Airlines has daily flights from La Paz and Santa Cruz to Rurrenabaque. Also, the military airline TAM has around 4-5 weekly flights to and from Rurrenabaque.

Rurrenabaque Places To Visit & Attractions

Madidi National Park
The Madidi National Park can be reached from Rurrenabaque by crossing the Beni River with a small ferry over to San Buenaventura. This national park covers nearly 19,000 square kilometers and has of the most diverse plant and animal life in South America.

Chalalán Eco-Lodge
Chalalan is an ecolodge independently run by the indigenous population of San Jose de Uchupiamonas and is located in Madidi National Park. The lodge sits on the Tuichi river, and can be accessed from Rurrenabaque by a 4-5 hour boat up the Beni River and then to the Tuichi River. The lodge has a great network of trails with excellent guides that can help you spot numerous wildlife, insects and plants.

Pampas of the Yacuma River
Visit the pampas along the Yacuma River where you can spot numerous wildlife. Located northeast of Rurre are the pampas, which are swampy grassland that support numerous wildlife, mostly along the forest covered banks along Rio Yacuma. Here you can spot caiman crocodile, anacondas, pink river dolphins, capybaras, monkeys, giant ant-eaters, toucans, and many other bird species.

The Pilón Lajas Bioreserve
This bioreserve is located just south of Rurrenabaque. This area is home to around 600 species of birds, 200 species of fish and 2500 species of flora. It is also home to a small population of indigenous communities. A tour agency in Rurre can take you here.

Mapajo Eco-Lodge
This eco-lodge is located on the Rio Quiquibey about 2-3 hours by boat from Rurre and is located within the Pilón Lajas Bioreserve. This lodge is also run by an indigenous community and makes an excellent place for exploring the rainforest and spotting wildlife, while experiencing the lifestyle of the local indigenous community. The lodge sits on a high bluff overlooking the river and it has six cabins.

San Miguel del Bala
Is another ecotourist place that is only 30 minutes down the river from Rurre. It is a great place to experience the indigenous Tacana community and see traditional practices, like weaving Jataca leaves. The cabins there all have private bathrooms and there are also trails leading out from the cabins. The guides are all from the community and can take you on some good hikes.

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