Fly (or bus, if you're brave) from La Paz to Rurrenabaque, then choose: pampas tour for wildlife — caiman, capybara, pink river dolphins — or jungle lodge in Madidi National Park for the trees and the silence.
Three or four days minimum. Most travelers do a pampas-and-jungle combo; if you only have time for one, pampas wins on wildlife and Madidi wins on atmosphere. Community-run lodges are the move — the money stays local and the guides know the forest.
the vibe
Hot, wet, loud at dusk. Hammocks under mosquito nets, motorized canoes at sunrise, and a guide who can spot a sloth from 80 m. Pack light, bring more bug spray than you think, and accept that the river will be your bathtub.
don't miss
- 3-day pampas tour with dolphin swim and night caiman spotting.
- Madidi National Park jungle lodge stay.
- Sunset on the Beni river.
- Community-run lodges — the money stays local.
- Piranha fishing for dinner (catch-and-eat).
May–October (drier, fewer mosquitoes, better wildlife).
30-min flight from La Paz to Rurrenabaque, or 18-hr bus.
recommended trips
Tours we'd actually do in Bolivian Amazon (Rurrenabaque).
Hand-picked itineraries. Booking links arrive soon — we'll plug in vetted GetYourGuide tours so you can book in one click.
3-day pampas tour from Rurrenabaque
Best wildlife-per-dollar in South America.
Booking link coming soonMadidi jungle lodge stay
Community-run lodges deep in the national park.
Booking link coming soonLa Paz → Rurrenabaque flight + tour combo
Skip the 18-hour bus — package deal saves the headache.
Booking link coming soon