Boating In Bolivia: Top Destinations To Visit

Bolivia is a landlocked country in South America, but that doesn't mean you can't travel by boat there. In fact, there are several regions where water is the best form of transport, such as Lake Titicaca and the Amazon. Bolivia has large rivers that are tributaries to the Amazon, and the country also maintains a naval presence on Lake Titicaca, which it shares with Peru. So, if you're looking to explore Bolivia by boat, here are some options to consider:

- Lake Titicaca: You can take a boat from Copacabana, Bolivia, to visit the famous Isla del Sol, or head to the Peruvian side to see the Uros Island people and their man-made floating islands made of reeds.

- Amazon River Basin: There are river trips along the Bolivian Amazon, which offer a great opportunity to explore the rainforest.

- Jungle Boat Tours: You can find jungle boat tours in places like Rurrenabaque and Puerto Maldonado.

- Fishing Charters: Bolivia offers fishing charters in various locations, including Trinidad and Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

- Rafting and Kayaking: For a more adventurous experience, you can go whitewater rafting in La Paz or try kayaking in Copacabana or Puerto Maldonado.

Lake Titicaca

Bolivia may be landlocked, but there are still plenty of opportunities to take to the water. One of the most popular boating spots is the famous Lake Titicaca, which is the largest and highest lake in South America. The lake is situated on the border of Peru and Bolivia, 3810 metres above sea level, and is the birthplace of the sun god and the world's first two Incas, according to Incan lore.

The only ferry service in Bolivia operates between San Pedro and San Pablo on Lake Titicaca. The lake is also the best way to travel between Bolivia and Peru, with steamers crossing the lake to the Peruvian port of Puno from Guaqui, the most important port on the lake. The journey from La Paz to Guaqui is a rough one, but it is possible to access the port by road.

The lake is a great place to enjoy peace and quiet, with breathtaking colours and views of the Bolivian snow-capped peaks, as well as the rich greens and reds of the lake shore and islands. There are plenty of opportunities for day trips, with boats departing from Copacabana to Isla del Sol, where tourists can enjoy spectacular sunsets and sunrises. There are also trips to see the Uros people and their man-made islands made from the lake's Totora plants.

For those who want to spend more time on the lake, there are options to stay overnight on Isla del Sol, with accommodation available in Yumani, the largest settlement on the island. There are also over 80 ruins to explore, as well as a gold museum, and the chance to learn about the history and mythology of the Incas.

Amazonian rivers

Bolivia is a landlocked country, but it is possible to boat on several of its lakes and rivers. The Amazon River, the largest river in the world by discharge volume, runs through Bolivia, and the country also contains part of the Amazon basin, the largest drainage basin in the world. The Amazon is well known for being the greatest river in South America and for the Amazon Rainforest found along its shores. The Amazon basin covers about 40% of South America, an area of approximately 7,000,000 sq km (2,700,000 sq mi).

The Amazon River originates in the Andes Mountains of Peru and flows through Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, and Brazil before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. The river's total length is at least 4,000 miles (6,400 km), although its exact length is hard to determine due to the complexity of the river system. The Amazon has three outlets to the Atlantic Ocean: two on the northern side of Marajó Island in Brazil and one to the island's south, which joins the Pará River.

The Amazon basin is home to a vast array of wildlife, including fish, crabs, algae, turtles, dolphins, manatees, otters, anacondas, caimans, and turtles. The river also has a rich history, with evidence of complex and large-scale indigenous societies dating back thousands of years. Early European explorers, such as Vicente Yáñez Pinzón and Francisco de Orellana, began sailing up the Amazon in the 16th century.

In Bolivia, the Amazon River and its tributaries offer opportunities for river trips and cargo transportation. The Río Mamoré, for example, runs between Trinidad and Guayaramerin on the Brazilian frontier. Additionally, the Beni River Basin in the Bolivian Amazon is a biologically diverse region that is home to several indigenous communities, including the Tacana, Moseten, Uchupiamona, Leco, Tsimane, and Ese Ejja nations.

Río Mamoré

Bolivia is a landlocked country, but that doesn't mean boating isn't a popular activity. The country has several regions with large bodies of water, such as Lake Titicaca and the Amazon, where water is the best form of transport.

The Río Mamoré is one of the largest tributaries of the Amazon. It rises on the northern slope of the Sierra de Cochabamba, east of the city of Cochabamba, and is known as the Chimoré down to its junction with the Chapare. Its larger tributaries are the Chapare, Secure, Apere, and Yacuma from the west, and the Ichilo, Guapay, Ivari, Manique and Guapore from the east. The Guapare and Guapore rivers rival the Mamoré in length and volume, but the Guapare is shallow and carries a much smaller volume of water. The Mamoré is interrupted by rapids a few miles above its junction with the Beni, but a 300km-long railway has been built from below the rapids of the Madeira. Above the rapids, the river is navigable to Chimore, and most of its tributaries are navigable for long distances.

The Mamoré is part of the Bolivian Navy's Second Naval District "MAMORA" (Segundo Distrito Naval "MAMORE"). The Bolivian Navy extensively patrols Lake Titicaca and 5,000 miles of navigable rivers, including the Mamoré, intercepting smugglers, delivering supplies to remote rural areas, and rescuing people and livestock during floods.

Río Ichilo

The Río Ichilo is a Bolivian river at the foot of the Eastern Andes-Cordillera in South America. It is named after the Ichilo Province, one of the 15 provinces of the Santa Cruz Department of Bolivia. The river is formed from the confluence of the Río Moyle and the Río Alto Ichilo, and it flows north, forming the border between the Cochabamba Department and the Santa Cruz Department. The city of Puerto Villarroel sits on the banks of the river, and it is here that the river reaches its maximum depth of 18.6 metres. The river's maximum width is 420 metres at the 75-kilometre mark. The Ichilo is one of Bolivia's most water-rich rivers, and its many tributaries include the Sajata, Víbora, Chimoré and Choré.

The Río Ichilo is part of the upper course of the Río Mamoré, one of the main waterways of Bolivia. The Ichilo itself has a length of 632 kilometres and a catchment area of 15,660 square kilometres. From its source in the Manuel Maria Caballero Province of Santa Cruz to its mouth at the Amazon, the river has a total length of 2,455 kilometres.

The river is an important transport route in Bolivia. Cargo boats run along the river between Trinidad and Guayaramerin on the Brazilian frontier. In February 2016, an expedition set off from northern Chile to cross the Pacific to Australia in a boat made of reeds, in an attempt to prove that ancient mariners were capable of making the journey.

Ferry services

Bolivia is a landlocked country, but it does have several regions with waterways, such as Lake Titicaca and the Amazon, where boats are the best form of transport. While it is not possible to cross between Bolivia and Peru by boat on Lake Titicaca, there are day trips to Isla del Sol on the Bolivian side, and to see the Uros Floating Islands on the Peruvian side. The only ferry service in Bolivia operates between San Pedro and San Pablo on Lake Titicaca.

There are also cargo boats on the Río Mamoré, which run between Trinidad and Guayaramerin on the Brazilian frontier, and the Río Ichilo. River trips along the Bolivian Amazon are a great way to see the rainforest.

Bolivia has a navy, established in 1963, which patrols 5,000 miles of navigable rivers and Lake Titicaca, delivering medical supplies to remote communities, responding to disasters, and intercepting smugglers.

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