Madidi Rainforest and Yacuma Pampas
Fly to Rurrenabaque for an Amazon combination of rainforest lodges and wetland birdwatching and pink dolphin spotting
Cover two Amazon environments in Bolivia in five to six days: first take a boat upstream to a community lodge in Madidi National Park, then take a vehicle to the Pampas wetlands to see capybaras, caimans, and pink river dolphins. The itinerary mainly relies on local multi-day tours that include accommodation, with no need to change cities in between. Wildlife is easier to spot in the Pampas, while the rainforest focuses on the ecology itself. Due to the limited schedule of small planes, flexibility needs to be reserved.
Flights are more stable during the dry season from May to October; during the rainy season, flights are often canceled due to fog, and there are many mosquitoes.
Day by day
Day 1 · Fly to the Rainforest Gateway Town
Rurrenabaque (Madidi National Park)（Rurrenabaque Town & Río Beni、Mirador La Cruz）
Take a morning flight from La Paz to Rurrenabaque, taking about 45 minutes. Walk around the town in the afternoon.
Flights are mostly on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, so check first. ATMs in town are unreliable.
Stay: Rurrenabaque Town
Day 2 · Take a Boat Upstream into Madidi
Rurrenabaque (Madidi National Park)（Madidi National Park）
In the morning, take a motorized boat upstream along the Beni and Tuichi rivers for about 3 hours to the community ecolodge.
Bring mosquito repellent, long sleeves, and a rain jacket.
Stay: Madidi Eco-Lodges
Day 3 · Rainforest Trails and Night Observation
Rurrenabaque (Madidi National Park)（Chalalán Ecolodge）
Walk along the rainforest trails with a guide all day. Optional night walk or small boat observation in the evening.
Stay: Madidi Eco-Lodges
Day 4 · Go Downstream and Transfer to Pampas
Rurrenabaque (Madidi National Park)（Angosto del Bala、San Miguel del Bala）
Take a boat back to town in the morning, taking about 2 to 3 hours, then take a jeep to Santa Rosa, taking about 3 hours.
If the two segments are with different tour operators, coordinate the pickup and drop-off in advance.
Stay: Santa Rosa (Yacuma River)
Day 5 · Yacuma River Wetlands, Return to Town
Rurrenabaque (Madidi National Park)（Pampas del Yacuma）
Take a boat in the early morning to see waterbirds and pink river dolphins, and take a jeep back to Rurrenabaque in the afternoon, taking about 3 hours.
Listen to your guide when swimming with dolphins, and watch out for caimans in the water.
Stay: Rurrenabaque Town
Day 6 · Fly Back to La Paz and End
Take a morning flight back to La Paz, taking about 45 minutes. You can rest in the city in the afternoon.
Flights are often canceled due to weather. Leave at least one day before your international flight.