Rurrenabaque

Rugged and teeming with wildlife, “Rurre” as the town is affectionately known, is a popular ecotourism destination located on the banks of the Rio Beni in the Bolivian Amazon Basin.

Once a remote corner of Bolivia, Rurrenabaque now receives tens of thousands of visitors annually looking to explore the nearby jungles and pampas. A cheaper alternative to other South American destinations, Rurrenabaque is the ideal jumping off point to experience the Amazon and its incredible biodiversity, breathtaking landscapes, Inca archaeological sights and indigenous cultures.

When not out exploring the steamy hot jungles and swampy wetlands, travelers staying in Rurre spend their days relaxing in hammocks, socialising in bars, shopping for local handicrafts, cooling off in swimming pools all while soaking in surrounding views of the Beni lowlands. Featuring the beautiful Cordillera de Bala on one side and the river Beni on the other, the chilled town is the ideal setting to relax before and after your jungle adventures.

With its natural beauty, tropical charm and comfortable year round climate, Rurre is a great choice for those seeking an affordable, safe and authentic Amazonian experience.

Madidi National Park – Situated in the in the upper Amazon river basin of Bolivia, Madidi is an immersive jungle experience where adventurers can learn about different medicinal plants, trees and bugs as well as acquire the types of skills needed to survive in the Amazon. Home to a record breaking number of species and plants, the park is not only one of the most diverse ecological hot spots on the planet but one of the largest protected areas in Bolivia.

Pampas del Yacuma –  Unlike the dense jungles of Madidi, the pampas are an open wetland savanna area ideal for spotting rare and exotic creatures such as anacondas, capuchin monkeys, blue and yellow macaws, sloths, crocodiles, pink dolphins, capybaras and giant black caiman in the wild. Far cheaper than in neighbouring countries like Peru and Brazil, the pamaps are a fun and affordable way to see wildlife up close in their natural environment.

El Chorro – Accessible only by boat, El Chorro is a beautiful spot 1km upstream from Rurre where travelers can spend time relaxing in the sun and cooling off in the flowing waterfall. Keeping travelers safe for thousands of years, on a rock opposite the waterfall is an ancient serpentine engraving warning others that whenever the water reaches the serpent level, the Beni river is considered unnavigable.

Zip Lining – A short distance from Rurrenabaque, Canopy Villa Alcira is a community-run forest canopy zipline in nearby Villa Alcira. After a 15 minute boat ride upstream and a 45 minute hike, adrenaline-junkies can glide through the treetops along the 8 available lines while soaking in great views of the jungle below.

Swimming – Cool off from the tropical heat in one of Rurre’s swimming pools. Butterfly Pool Mirador and Oscar’s Swimming Pool provide relaxing settings to take a dip while soaking up incredible views of the rainforest below.

Mirador de la Cruz – An idyllic spot to watch the sun set over Rurre and Rio Beni. To get to the Mirador, take a 2km walk or moto taxi from the centre of town. At the top are a handful of hotels, bars and pools from which to enjoy the stunning views.

Bus: Daily buses ply the route between La Paz and Rurrenabaque, usually departing in the morning. Tickets are cheap at about 100 BOB (US$14.50) each way but the journey is no laughing matter. The trip takes at least 15 hours, often much more if it’s been raining, and the roads are bumpy, windy and terrifyingly treacherous. It’s pretty much on par with the notorious Death Road.

Adventurous souls looking to head further into the jungle can take a daily bus to Rivalta which takes 12 hours if the road is in good condition. Don’t even think about traveling there by bus in the wet season.

Plane: Amazonas and TAM offer several daily flights between La Paz and Rurrenabaque. Prices vary depending on availability but expect to pay US$80 to US$100 each way. Bear in mind that flights are frequently delayed for days on end during the rainy season.

Bus: Daily buses ply the route between La Paz and Rurrenabaque, usually departing in the morning. Tickets are cheap at about 100 BOB (US$14.50) each way but the journey is no laughing matter. The trip takes at least 15 hours, often much more if it’s been raining, and the roads are bumpy, windy and terrifyingly treacherous. It’s pretty much on par with the notorious Death Road.

Adventurous souls looking to head further into the jungle can take a daily bus to Rivalta which takes 12 hours if the road is in good condition. Don’t even think about traveling there by bus in the wet season.

Plane: Amazonas and TAM offer several daily flights between La Paz and Rurrenabaque. Prices vary depending on availability but expect to pay US$80 to US$100 each way. Bear in mind that flights are frequently delayed for days on end during the rainy season.

Accommodation

Backpacker: Hostal Curichal is the best backpacker option in town. Right in the center, it’s got a swimming pool, hammocks, common areas, kitchen facilities, WiFi and bar. Basically everything a backpacker needs. Dorm beds start at 50 BOB (US$7).

Hostel El Curichal, Comercio, Rurrenabaque, Bolivia

Hostel: Los Tucanes de Rurre has a much more relaxed, family friendly vibe than Curichal. Rooms are located around a central patio with plenty of hammocks and there’s even a pet Toucan to keep guests company. Basic rooms with shared bathrooms start at 50 BOB ($US7) per person.

Mid range: Hotel Maya de la Amazonia is Rurre’s fanciest dig. In the town center right on the riverbank, facilities include a swimming pool, terraces with a view, a great buffet breakfast and WiFi. Doubles start at 490 BOB (US$70)

Eating and Drinking

Juliano’s: A French-Tunisian expat by the name of Juliano serves up the town’s finest European fare, with steak, pizza and Moroccan spicy chicken among the crowd favorites. Save some room for his delectable deserts.

The French Bakery: As you would expect, here you’ll find a variety of French bakery goods fresh from the oven. Delicious, cheap and an absolute must while in Rurrenabaque.

There are a number of laundry services in Rurrenabaque, none of which are particularly recommended. (Lavanderia Number One has previously been recommended as being friendly, but they are known to have miscoloured their customers' clothes.)

There are at least 2 ATMs accepting foreign cards: Banco Unio and Banco Fie, both on Comercio. But like everywhere, don't count too much on the machines because they sometimes run out of money or only give out small amounts. Prodem (commercio s/n) gives cash advances on Visa and Mastercard credit cards with 5% commission.

There are several places to change dollars. Moskkito also change euros and claim they have the best rates in town.

There are around 10 establishments offering internet facilities in the town, all of which charge Bs. 8 for a fairly slow connection (chat clients and Skype can be used however).

Be aware of the guides - there have been many incidents of theft and physical abuse on the pampas and jungle tours. Some of them are professional thieves and liars. Do not lend or give anyone money - there will be no way of getting it back. They usually invent a story about ill family members that need medication or something similar to make the Gringos feel guilty. Single girls beware of "nice" guides - they spend one night with you and find a way of squeezing out the money.

Hope this helped !!!