Thursday, 29 December 2011

Rurrenabaque & The Jungle

Saturday 17th to Tuesday 20th December


Our transport to & from the Jungle, we took a 4 day excursion from La Paz. Rurrenabaque is a small town of 8,000 inhabitants situated on the East bank of the Beni river 400k NE of La Paz & forms the gateway to the Madidi National Park & our final destination of Chalalan Lodge.
 

Tourism is the main economy for the town but locals still bringing their produce for sale on the bank of the River Beni.


Happy Hour & a Pisco Sour or two in the Mosquito Bar.
 

On our way from Rurrenabaque to Chalalan Lodge, 5 hours by boat up river & 3 hours return, for once Dave & I have no motion sickness issues.


A Capybara (The World’s largest rodent) on the bank of the River Beni.

 
Dave relaxing outside our accommodation at Chalalan, this eco-lodge was built & is run by the local indigenous community with the guides passionate about their way of life & the pristine rainforest, local plans for a dam, oil exploration & a new road are not well received.

 
Our new Dutch friends Michele & Paul on the lake during our first exploration from the lodge, further trips included day & night Jungle treks plus a night paddle around the lake.
 


Red Howler Monkey in the trees, other animals spotted included Toucan, Scarlet Macaw, various spiders & tarantulas, Toads, Squirrel & Cappuccino Monkeys, Amazon Tree Boa plus many others along with interesting Flora & Fungi. 
We really wanted to see a ‘spotty dog’ (the name we gave to a Jaguar) but only got as close as finding a paw print in the mud.

 
Caiman in the Lake, I believe they are not dangerous to humans (that’s what they told me when I went for a swim).



Roger & Bob by the Lake, what a beautiful & peaceful location! Iit’s easy to see why the locals want to keep it this way even if they don’t have TV & internet access.


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