Exploring The Amazon In Bolivia: Best Places To Visit

The Amazon is the world's largest tropical rainforest, spanning eight countries across South America, including Bolivia. Bolivia is a budget-friendly option for exploring the rainforest, with cheaper and less crowded tours than those in Brazil. The town of Rurrenabaque is the gateway to the Bolivian Amazon, where you can find various tour operators offering trips into the Amazon rainforest. From here, you can choose between the Pampas Tour, which takes you through the wetlands and offers abundant wildlife sightings, or the Jungle Tour, which provides a more traditional rainforest experience with trekking and lodge stays. When planning your trip, consider the best time to visit, which is typically during the dry season from May to October, and choose a reputable tour company that prioritizes eco-tourism and the protection of the habitat and wildlife.

Getting to the Amazon in Bolivia

The small village of Rurrenabaque is the gateway to the Bolivian Amazon. You can either take a short flight from La Paz or opt for a longer bus ride.

Flight from La Paz to Rurrenabaque

Rurrenabaque is a quick 35-minute flight from La Paz. Ecojet is the only airline that flies into Rurrenabaque with flights scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The one-way flight will cost between 500 and 700 Bolivianos.

Bus from La Paz to Rurrenabaque

The bus to Rurrenabaque is a cheaper option but it's a long 12 to 18-hour ride, usually overnight. Buses depart daily between 4 and 7 pm. The road is not the best, with numerous twists and turns along the way. The bus journey is previously rumoured to be unsafe due to the conditions of the road, but it's now considered the best way to get to the Bolivian Amazon for budget backpackers.

Getting to the Amazon from Rurrenabaque

There are two ways to experience the Amazon rainforest in Bolivia: from Madidi National Park, also known as "The Jungle", and from the Pampas. Madidi National Park offers a true jungle experience with howler monkeys, tarantulas, frogs, butterflies, and snakes. The Pampas is a more relaxing experience with riverside lodges and wetlands exploration by small boat. You will see more wildlife in the Pampas as there is no dense forest.

To get to Madidi National Park, take a 3-hour boat ride from Rurrenabaque. To get to the Pampas, take a 3-hour car ride north of Rurrenabaque.

The town of Rurrenabaque

Rurrenabaque is easily accessible by plane, with a 35-45 minute flight from La Paz costing around $70. Alternatively, there is a long and arduous 12-18 hour bus journey from La Paz, which costs as little as $10. There are basic guesthouses available for around $5-10 a night, and it is easy to find a tour operator in the small town.

There are two main types of tours available from Rurrenabaque: the pampas tours and the jungle tours. The pampas tours are the cheaper option and offer the best wildlife viewing opportunities, including alligators, squirrel monkeys, capybaras, and pink river dolphins. This is because the lack of trees in the wetland savannah makes it easier to spot animals. However, it may not be the classic Amazon experience some are looking for, as it is not deep in the jungle. The three-day/two-night tour costs around $75, plus a park entrance fee of around $20. This usually includes all transportation, food, and a guide.

For those seeking a more traditional Amazon experience, there are the jungle tours, where you can stay in eco-lodges and take part in activities such as canoe trips, jungle treks, piranha fishing, and jewellery making. These tours are pricier, with a three-day/two-night tour costing upwards of $200.

The best time to visit Rurrenabaque is during the dry season, from May to October, when there are fewer mosquitoes and more wildlife. However, it is still hot and humid, and the occasional rain shower can be expected.

Pampas tours

Rurrenabaque is a hub for tourists, with plenty of accommodation, restaurants and bars catering to a range of budgets. It's easy to book a tour once you arrive, and they cost around $75 USD for three days and two nights, plus a park entrance fee of around $20 USD.

The tours include all transportation, food and a guide, but be aware that the quality of your experience will depend on the operator you choose. While it's a budget option, you can still expect to see a wide variety of wildlife, including alligators, squirrel monkeys, capybaras, pink river dolphins, caiman, anacondas, turtles and birds.

On a typical tour, you'll travel by jeep and motor canoe, go on hikes, swim with dolphins, and try piranha fishing. You'll stay in a riverside lodge, with shared wooden huts on stilts, and a generator that provides power until 10 pm.

The dry season, from May to October, is the best time to visit the Bolivian Amazon, as there are more animals and fewer mosquitoes. However, it's still hot and humid, and you can expect some rain.

Jungle tours

The main starting point for trips into the Bolivian Amazon is the town of Rurrenabaque, which is a 35-minute or 40-minute flight from La Paz. You can also opt for a much longer (12 to 18 or 35-hour) bus ride. In Rurrenabaque, it's easy to wander around and find a guesthouse for around $5-10 USD a night, and there are plenty of tour agencies to choose from.

From Rurrenabaque, you'll take a three-hour boat ride to Madidi National Park, which is known for its biodiversity. The jungle is dense, so it can be difficult to spot animals, but you'll certainly be able to hear them! Trips through Madidi tend to focus on identifying natural medicines and other jungle oddities.

There are designated eco-lodges in the park, as well as cheaper camping options. You'll need to be prepared for the conditions: it's extremely humid, and there's no escaping the mosquitoes.

Jungle treks are more physically demanding than pampas tours, so be sure to wear good footwear and proper hiking clothing. You'll also want to cover up to protect yourself from insect bites, and bring bug spray.

A three-day/two-night jungle tour with Madidi Travel to its Serere Lodge costs $207 USD per person, including a large, comfortable bungalow, great food, and a professionally run trip. Profits from the trip go back into conservation work for the area.

What to Pack

• Light hiking trousers with detachable bottoms
• Light cotton string tops
• Light-coloured shirts
• Shorts or flowy pants
• Rain jacket or poncho
• Waterproof hiking boots
• Swimwear
• High-DEET bug spray
• Head torch
• Flip flops
• Old shoes
• Towel
• Malaria tablets
• Sunscreen
• Sun hat or cap
• Cash

What to pack

The Amazon Rainforest in Bolivia is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but it's important to pack the right things to make the most of your trip.

The key things to remember are light, breathable clothing, good footwear, and protection from mosquitoes.

Here's a detailed list of what to pack:

Clothing

• Light, breathable clothing in light colours: trousers, t-shirts, vests, shorts, and flowy pants.
• Long-sleeved tops for the evenings to protect from mosquitoes.
• Rain jacket or poncho.
• Sun hat or cap.

Footwear

• Waterproof hiking boots for jungle treks.
• Old shoes that you don't mind getting ruined.
• Flip-flops.

Other essentials

• High-DEET mosquito repellent.
• Head torch.
• Towel.
• Sun cream.
• Cash: there are limited ATMs in Rurrenabaque, and most places charge a fee for card payments.
• Malaria tablets.
• Swimming gear: for swimming with pink river dolphins in the Pampas.

Frequently asked questions