Bolivia Lodging

Icon Legend

Escort

Escorted

Unescorted

Difficulty

Easy

Moderate

Challenging

When to Travel

Excellent

Very Good

Unpredictable

Unavailable

This is our primary hotel choice in this location, though availability is not guaranteed. If a given hotel is not available for your tour date, we will reserve you a room at a hotel of similar appeal and quality in the same area.

Chalalan Lodge

In the heart of Bolivia's pristine Madidi National Park lies Chalalan Ecolodge. Chalalan is the result of 6 years of hard work by the nearby indigenous community of San Jose Uchupiamonas and the commitment of two foreign aid organizations who were willing to break with tradition to support the community’s initiative. The result is comfortable accommodation surrounded by 4.5 million acres of protected wilderness. The lodge is owned and managed entirely by the indigenous Quechuas.

Chalalan is in one of the richest protected areas of the planet known by scientists as a "Biodiversity Hotspot", which is a priority for conservation weakened by the huge demand for development in the area. This tropical Andean hotspot has the highest biodiversity of plants endemic to the planet and is host to some 45,000 different plant species and over 1,000 tropical bird species whose songs will wake you up in the morning.

Chalalan sits on the edge of Chalalan Lake, and is accessed by dugout canoe up the spectacular Beni and Tuichi Rivers, 5 hours from the gateway community of Rurrenabaque. Chalalan has been constructed with respect for the natural surroundings, using forest materials and with solar energy providing limited electricty, and intensive protection of the lake. The cabins are surrounded by primary forest inhabited by an astonishing variety of birds and mammals. The lake is and ideal habitat for monkeys, caiman, turtles, hoatzin, and macaws that reverberates under a constant symphony of birdsong, shouts of howler monkeys, and barking toucans, particularly at dawn and dusk.

Local guides give expert interpretation as ecotourists traverse the varied forest paths around Chalalán. Each hike has a different theme where you will learn about medicinal plants, hardwood trees, observe the wildlife and experience primary forest.

At dusk the birds and monkeys come down to the shores of Chalalán to drink and then go back into the canopy to look for insects, making the lodge a great destination for bird watching. Once they have fed they gather together in groups to spend the night in the branches of the largest trees.

Design and Infrastructure

• Traditional Tacana-style cabins: chonta palm walls, roofs woven from jatata leaves, interiors with decorative art and protective mosquito nets.
• Capacity: 24 people - 9 cabins accommodating 18 people in double occupancy rooms, plus 3 romantic honeymoon cabins with private bathrooms.
• Professional kitchen with a delicious combination of local and international cuisine.
• Modern public bathrooms and showers and three cabins with private bathroom
• Potable water and solar energy providing limited electricty.
• Library, field guides, art exposition, rest area.