Rurrenabaque Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
Rurrenabaque (or simply Rurre) is a small town (population 15.000) on the banks of the Río Beni in the Bolivian Amazon Basin. Trips to the jungle in the nearby Madidi National Park and pampas are the main attraction.
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Get in
To get to San Buenaventura accros the Río Beni take one of the watertaxis at Calle Santa Cruz for 1 Boliviano.
By Bus
There are daily busses to and from La Paz. The journey takes 20 hours. There are generally more people on the bus than seats and there isn't much space to put your legs. You can break the trip in Coroico, which is only 17 hours away.
There are also daily buses to Riberalta and Guayará-Mirim. Inquire about departure times at the bus terminal; they vary wildly. During the rainy season, this road is virtually impassible, and trips may take up to six days. When the road's in good condition, Rurrenabaque-Riberalta should take about 20 hours, and Guayará another four.
There are two offices on Avaroa offering jeep services to nearby towns and even La Paz (US$25 and only 12 hours).
By Air
A grassy field outside town is the main airport. In case it's flooded companies use the landing strip at Reyes, about 45 mins. away. There are daily connections to La Paz, but cancelations are common, especially in the rainy season.
- TAM, Santa Cruz s/n, has around two flights weekly to La Paz for Bs350. TAM likes the mastercard and Visa logos painted on their office, but only accepts cash or travellers checks.
- Amaszonas[1], Santa Cruz s/n, tel/fax (3)8922472, is slightly pricier with Bs475, but has several flights daily. Visa and mastercard are accepted, that is, if their reader works.
If you're going east or north from Rurrenabaque there's a flight with TAM from Reyes to the cities of San Borja, Trinidad, Riberalta and Guayará-Mirim (on the border with Brazil).
See & Do
- The Dirreción Municipal de Turismo, Avaroa y Vaca Diez, might be open in the high season.
- Climb up to La Cruz, the cross southeast of town for a rewarding view of Rurre and Río Beni.
- Balenario El Ambiabo. For Bs20 you can cool down in the swimmingpool.
- Zipline / Canopy tour [2]. For 20 USD You can speed through the canopy on a steel cable. Longest run is 620 meters.
Tours
There are over a dozen tourcompanioes offering jungle and pampas trips, the main and only attraction in Rurre. The official price is US$30, but in the low season prices will drop below that. The best time to visit is in the dry (and high) season when most wildlife is attracted to the river for water, the walking trails are less muddy and there are less musquitos.
Jungle Tours
It's possible to stay two days to up to one month in the jungle. Mosty tours have lodging facilities along the Río Beni, but you can also go for a trekking and camp in the jungle. Good guides can tell you about the properties fo the different plants and trees and let you taste some of the fuits. To spot wildlife you have to be lucky, most of the animals prefer to stay hidden in the dense forest. A nightwalk to reveal the nocturnal life is the best chance to see some. Tour prices usually don't include park entrance (Bs80) and a fee to stay at the community (Bs50).
Pampas Tours
For watching wildlife opt for a pampas tour. Animals you might see include alligators, caimans, turtles, pink dolphins, capybaras, monkeys tucans anacondas and blue and yello macaws. Note: the pampas tours have become very popular and touristic during the high season and are causing damage to the wild life in the small river Rio Yacuma. The tours are usually done by motor boats that can cause lethal injuries to the pink river dolphins. Try to ask for some other transportation methdos than motor boats.
Touragencies
- Flecha tours, Avaroa y Santa Cruz. Friendly service and also quiet cheap.
- Mapajo[3], Santa Cruz s/n, Junglelodge run by an indigenous community.
- Chalalan[4]. C Comercio Rurrenabaque, or book through America Tours in La Paz. Ecolodge in Madidi national park, supports the community of San Jose. 6-8hrs by boat from Rurrenabaque. Expensive (USD 370/person for 4 days) but top quality accomodation, guides and food.
- Madidi Travel[5]. Not the cheapest possible option (USD 40-60/person/day) but high quality, flexible and ecologically responsible operator. Madidi Travel has offices in La Paz and Rurrenabaque. Madidi Travel takes you to Serere Park, a private protected area with exclusive use. The schedule of activities is decided with the group upon arrival in order to best serve each individual’s interest, if necessary, providing different guides for separate activities. The guides are very friendly and knowledgeable.
Eat
- In the Mercado Municipal (Avaroa) there are severl comedors and jugerias for cheap food and fruitjuices.
- Restaurant Tacuara, Avaroa y Santa Cruz, has good deal dishes. The menu includes pizza, pasta, meat dishes and fastfood. It serves big portions of lasagna and it's also a good place for breakfast.
- Restaurant Camila's, Santa Cruz s/n, serves pastas, pizzas, mexican food meat dishes and fastfood, mainly to foreigners.
- Restaurant La Cabaña, Santa Cruz s/n, has tasty meat and fish dishes with sunset views over the Río Beni.
- Sala de fiesta, Cl. Beni (San Buenaventura), for cheap lunches. It's popular with the locals, television and loud music is included in the price
- Cafe Pachamama, cosy restaurant run by a British lady in the far end corner of the town. Pachamama servers tasty sandwiches, salads, tortillas etc. It is also possible to rent DVD:s and view them in a privat room, play games and there's a pool, too.
Drink
- Junglebar Moskkito, Commercio s/n is the tourists' favourite with a long list of cocktails to pick from, two pool tables and a large cd collection. Happy hour from 7pm till 9pm.
Sleep
- Hostal Touristico Santa Ana, Avaroa s/n. Clean rooms, friendly service and some lofty courtyard. There is also a pleasant hammocking area. Bathrooms (some with hot showers) are shared. All for only Bs25 pppn.
Get Along
The closest cash machine is in La Paz. Prodem (commercio s/n) gives cash advances on Visa and Mastercard credit cards with 5% commision.
There are several places to change dollars or cash travellers checks. Moskkito also change euros and claim they have the best rates in town.
Several tour companies have Mastercard and Visa logo painted on their wall, but acceptence hasn't been confirmed.
Your can bring your dirty clothes to the friendly Lavanderia Number One and for Bs8 a kilo you can pick them up fresh an clean the same day.
For Internet go to Únete Sat (Avaroa s/n) or Camila's, both charge Bs18 for a slow connection.
Get out
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