DAY 1 – Rurrenabaque – Madidi National Park
You will get picked from your accommodation or from the airport and taken to the office for a short briefing (pickup from the airport is included also if arriving the day before). The departure time is around 08:30 and you will travel by a motorized boat from Rurrenabaque to the Madidi National Park. Boats are equipped with comfortable seats, life vests, rain ponchos and roof. The trip up through the Beni and Tuichi Rivers offers stunning landscapes, you will be able to see the Bala Canyon on the way and the boat trip itself will takes around 3 hours. Once you arrive at Caquiahuara you will be able to observe the nesting wall used by the red and green macaws and other species of parrots. The best season to see more bird species es between July and October). The trip then continues to the Madidi Jungle Ecolodge.
After lunch a 3-4 hour guided walk along the Tareche Trail to the Aguapolo Creek will start. This is a really good opportunity to observe a variety of bird species, mainly macaws and parrots, and appreciated the surrounding tropical rainforest besides the chance to observe many different species of primate and mammal such as the white lipped peccary, the black spider monkey and the red howler monkey. After watching the landscape and the surrounding tropical rainforest, we return to the Ecolodge. At the end of the day it is possible to do a short nocturnal walk after dinner and before resting for the night.
DAY 2 – Madidi National Park
After breakfast, at around 08.00 a 4 hour guided walk along the Mapajo Trail will take place. You will be able to appreciate the giant trees of the Amazon jungle and the guide will provide an in-depth explanation of the diverse species of plants used for ancestral medicinal purposes and it is actually a great opportunity to appreciate and learn about the ecosystems in the jungle area.
You will get back to the lodge in order to have lunch. After that you will be taken through the Biwa Trail -a 3-4 hour walk. On this area you will be able to see the black spider monkey which is often encountered on this trail and a hugh variety of wildlife such as the white lipped peccary, red howler monkey, toucans, guans and many more birds. Before returning to the lodge there will be a stop at the Natural Aguapolo scenic viewpoint, which is ideal to observe the rainforest. There is a nocturnal walk through the jungle after dinner.
DAY 3 – Madidi National Park
This day after breakfast you will be walking through the Pava Cullpana Trail (which is considered to be the longest Trail). In this area you will be able to observe a large Salt Lick where various animals gather to obtain important mineral salt from the substrata and you can also see many mammal prints. After seeing the variety of animals you will return to the Ecolodge. When you are back in the lodge lunch will be served. During rainy season it is possible to swim in the Tuichi River.
At around 15.30 you will be taken up through river Tuichi by boat. Along the river trip, you will have a chance to do some fishing and see which the most common species are. After fishing you will experience an exciting ride in rubber inner tubes, combining the fast-paced rapids of the Tuichi River, with calmer periods where you will have a chance to relax and enjoy the authentic natural environment. A life jacket will be provided for your safety. This activity is commonly available between April and October. Once you are back in the Ecolodge and after tasting a delicious traditional dinner people from the Uchupiamonas Indigenous Community will relate their history.
On day 3 there is an optional activity that consists on spending a full day by the Santa Rosa Lake. The boat trip to get to this area takes about 2 hours and the visit includes a short walk to view this spectacular Lake, the area is a fantastic place for canoeing and piranha fishing and you will have the chance to see the wildlife. Lunch is served before heading back to the lodge on the bank of the lake -this alternative activity has an additional cost of 50.00usd per group.
DAY 4 – Madidi National Park
Early in the morning is time for breakfast. At around 08.00 you will be guided through the Dati Trail towards “el Chaco”, this walk will take about 4 hours. Once you get to El Chaco the guide will give you an explanation about traditional plantations of banana, yucca, pineapple and sugarcane which is a great opportunity to learn more about traditional forms of cultivation and harvest of organic products for theirsustenance and you will be able to eat all these kind of organic products during your visit..
You will return to the lodge in order to have some luch and after a bit of resting you will have the chance to learn how to make local handmade handicrafts. Or you can do some piranha fishing instead. At around 19.30 you will have a delicious traditional dinner and people from the Uchupiamonas Comunity will talk about their history.
DAY 5 – Madidi National Park – Rurrenabaque
After breakfast you will start a A 3-4 walk along the Wabu Trail in order to reach the location of “Cullpana”, which is a particular area in the rainforest where various animals gather to obtain important mineral salt from the substrata. Also in this area some animals use the mud pools as bathing area. This trail offers the possibility to observe white lipped peccary, brown capuchin monkey, tapirs track, toucan, guans, and many different birds. Before going back to the lodge for lunch there will be a stop at the natural Tuichi scenic viewpoint.
After lunch and having spend a free extra time in the lodge it will be time to return to Rurrenabaque. On the way back you will have the opportunity to see various exotic animals such as the black caiman, capybara, tapir or the giant river otter and more. The return time to Rurre by boat takes 2 hours approximately - you will be back in Rurrenabaque on time if having a late flight back to La Paz.