Jungle Rafting to Rurrenabaque 6d/5n

Jungle Rafting – La Paz to Rurrenabaque
The “No noise experience” Madidi’s never been closer than now!
Inner tube Rafting 6 days/5 nights

This is the tour to feel the Jungle very close, no motor noise, just the Jungle and us floating downstream one of the major Amazon Rivers in Bolivia. Six days from La Paz or Coroico to finally end in Rurrenabaque. This first-hand experience in the tropics is just overwhelming. Never the Rainforest seems more beautiful than on this tour, every minute from the raft will be a picture you will not forget. Stunning scenery that will be inserted in your brains for ever. Madidi National Park in your hands from an area nobody else sees it!

Complete Jungle Tour for you to see all the layers of the Rainforest + sidewalks in the Jungle.

Dry season (June-Dec) expeditions implies waking up very early every day.

Definitely the wildest way to see the Amazon Rainforest! Come with us, check it out!

On this tour we show you a great way to be in contact with nature by navigating on a tube raft. On which most of the time it will be on your ears just the sound of the river or the birds.

You should be prepared to spend long hours (5-6 + hours) every day on our great raft. This tour is for navigating Amazon Rivers, however, it is not all the time navigating, we have included 2 day walks and 1 night walk in Madidi National Park, we will visit a couple of farms to get fresh seasonal fruits and the guide will try to fish for the group. You will also be able to swim at any time in the Amazon Rivers. Definitely a “ONCE IN A LIFE EXPERIENCE”

Due to the limited resources on the raft to keep meat fresh, we provide only vegetarian food on this trip.

Note that vegan food is not available nor gluten free meals, although our guide will do his best to catch a fish for the group. Fruit will be largely provided as a result of the agreement we have with the communities to take fruit from their properties.

Weather conditions or wind sometimes can make the navigation just impossible; these factors can delay dramatically arrival on the 6^th day so bookers must have a spare 7^th day in their schedule. It is not recommended to book a hotel for the 6^th day. We bring always more supplies if we have to face one of these problems.

SO COME WITH US AND ENJOY THE “NO NOISE EXPERIENCE”

1^st day

First day can be tiring because we go on a public bus from La Paz to the River, it is part of the agreement we have with the locals to use their transport. We normally arrive at the River between 22:00 & 23:00. Joining the group from Coroico means fewer hours on the Bus.

After pick up in La Paz between 12:00 & 12.30, we will only depart at 14:00 if not later. You must have had lunch by the time we pick you up as lunch is not included on the first day. Total bus ride takes 7.5 hrs but arrival is later than expected due to the 2 stops the bus makes before getting to our destiny, it will stop after 2.5 hrs at Yolosita for about 20 min (here is where we pick up bikers after the death road and those coming from Coroico)

FROM COROICO

15:15 to 15.30 pick up from Coroico’s main Plaza across from the Church. A transfer will be organised by us to take you from Coroico to Yolosita where you will join the group. You have to be very patient once you get dropped off at the crossroads Yolosita in order to wait for the Bus coming from La Paz. Details of the bus like driver’s name and phone number, plate number, colour of the bus and Bus Company Name will be provided to your whatsapp number for what you must access internet before getting picked up, so that you will get on the right bus.

PICK UP FROM YOLOSITA

Yolosita is where those who have started in Coroico will join the group. See picture on the left and wait where the arrow points, that is the Police Check Post. The bus has to stop there and that happens after 16:30. Once you get on the bus, it sets off again for 2 hours to Caranavi where the Bus stops for dinner for 30 min+. It is 19:30 when the bus starts again and now we have the last 3 hours to the river.

FIRST and ALL NIGHTS BY THE RIVER

So it will be around 22:30 more or less when the bus will arrive at the River. Our guide will be waiting for the bus. Once at the Jungle Rafting Starting Point you will be walked to the river to our traditional camp. Personal mosquito net, foam mattress and sleeping bag are provided. This type of camping will be provided for the entire tour. Next day starts the Experience of your lives. 

2^nd day.–

08:00 breakfast.
09:00 to 09:30 Start loading the tube raft, to start on the River as soon as we can.  Your electronics should be given to the guide so that he will put them in the dry barrel. On this day we will navigate one of the most beautiful Rivers in the Bolivian Amazon, on the way we will stop to get fresh fruits from the trees and also we will start jumping in the river to freshen up.  Make sure you wear sandals as your feet will get wet constantly

We can make campfire in the Dry season at the campsites (Total time on the Raft: approx. 6-7 hrs).

3^rd day.–

 We‘ll be during the whole day on the raft. We may stop at the last point of civilization to buy some extra supplies and you can also have your last cold beers.

Being on the raft is just a “ONCE IN A LIFE EXPERIENCE”. While we are on the Jungle Raft calm is just impressive, suddenly silence is broken by bird calls, incredibly, birds seem everywhere when, minutes ago, there were none to be found. Then we will spend some more hours on the raft even in the dark if needed in order to get as far as possible down river.

 All we want on this day is to get to the joint of Kaka & La Paz River, both will form the giant Beni River.

As we go deeper we will approach the two protected areas: Madidi National Park & Pilon Lajas Reserve.

Note that we can’t try to fish from the raft to prevent the tube to blow up with the contact with the hooks.

During the afternoon we will visit a farm to try some fruits straight from the tree.

Camp out by the beach. (Time on the Raft: approx 7-8 hrs).

4^th day.-

 It is on this day when we start navigating Beni River and we are already in Madidi National Park.

Beni River is one of the three major Amazon Rivers of Bolivia. We will sail around 150 k of this great River.  We will stop for lunch and also for a walk in the pristine Rainforest of Madidi National Park for about 3 hours to then continue to the next camp site.  

Night walk after dinner for you to feel the Jungle in the dark. This night walk can be done on any of the nights though. (Time on the raft 5-6 hrs)

5^th day.-

We will have our last walk in the Rainforest of Madidi. This day is mostly for navigating and we will have many chances to jump in the water, we will go through a Jungle Canyon that will simply blow out our minds.  The Jungle we see on both sides of the River are protected areas with pristine Rainforest. Clay cliffs where Macaws are frequently seen will be there, not disturbed by any noise, that is why we call this tour THE NO NOISE EXPERIENCE. If time allows we will visit a community lost in the Jungle. Despite the contact they have with civilization they still keep most of their customs.  (J Raft: approx 8 hrs)

6^th day.-

The last river canyon tells us we are close to Rurre. Morning mostly for navigating downstream, still with superb Rainforest on the sides of the River because we are still surrounded by two protected areas.

Arrive in Rurre 3 to 4 p.m. (Time on the raft: approx 4-5)

Once at the River banks, the guide walk you to a hostel where you can get wifi, beer or drinks or just relax in the hummocks until it is time to go to the Bus Terminal. We will send to your whatsapp the bus ticket to come back to La Paz.

18:00 (maybe later) Bus to La Paz. You can leave the hostel at 17:30 as the Bus terminal is just 10 min away. It is very easy to get a taxi (motor bikes) outside the hostel.

If the tour took one more day, your ticket back to La Paz can be used next day at same time.

Note that upon arrival in Rurrenabaque, if you decide to stay longer in Rurre, you will lose the bus ticket back to La Paz, no chance to change the bus tickets with last minute notice.

Remember that if the River is too slow or the group encounters strong winds arrival will be on the 7^th day.

* Programme above is just a reference. Times for departures, meals and activities may vary as they depend on different factors. The guide will tell the group every morning about the day programme.

DEPARTURES:

Scheduled once a week. Other days with 3 days notice. 2 persons min.

GROUP SIZE: 

10 people max per raft. 2 min for set departures. 

INCLUDING:

Transfer hotel/Bus terminal, Public Bus La Paz/Jungle Starting Point, 5 nights acc-camping (tent, mattress, sleeping bag), Jungle Tube Raft, Spanish speaking Local guide/cook, meals 5B–5L–4D. Extra meals if group has to spend one more night by the River. Bus ticket to La Paz.

NOT INCLUDED:

Water (bring purifying pills, pump or other purifying device, it is hard to get purifying pills in Bolivia), drinks, cigarettes, snacks, entrance fee to Madidi National Park 200 Bs, tips.

People from Coroico don’t get lunch on first day as they start at 15:30

BUS RURRE – LA PAZ

The bus provided is a public Semi Cama Bus, what does that mean? It means it is not full cama bus, although it has reclining seats. We don’t provide Full Cama Bus as this service is totally erratic (one day yes 6 days not) Ask your travel advisor at Deep Rainforest if by the time you arrive in Rurrenabaque there is a Full Cama Bus, if there is one, to upgrade it will cost you 7 usd additional. Don’t expect to have toilets on the bus, even on the full Cama Bus.

CAMPING EQUIPMENT?

We use the traditional camping gear, which is a plastic on the floor, a big plastic as a roof, foam mattress, boxed mosquito net and we provide a clean sleeping bag.

LUGGAGE?

You must bring all of your staff, especially your big rucksack as you will sit on it during the trip. We put your rucksack in dry plastic bags. Breakable stuff will be put in a dry barrel. Note that all your clothes must be in sealed plastic bags.

OUR GUIDES:

Guiding is in Spanish, we have local true Jungle Guides who were born in the Jungle with deep knowledge of the Rainforest. Explanations provided are absolutely understandable. However if your level of Spanish is not fairly decent, understanding can be a problem. Nevertheless scenery is unique so it makes the trip worthwhile doing it.

CAMERAS & POWER

You have no place with power access to recharge camera or batteries once the tour has started from La Paz, so please make sure your batteries are well charged or better yet bring an extra battery.

WATER

Streams can be dry during the dry season, we may have to purify the brown water of the main river. It is recommended to drink 2-3 lts of water per day. Note that the are 5 lt. containers available in La Paz. Ask the counter or the person who will pick you up to assist you on buying those containers.

SUNSTROKE

The Jungle raft has no roof so it is easy to get sunstroke. If you get sunstroke then the trip turns miserable. Bring a wide bring hat. If you bring a cap make sure you bring a bandana as well to cover your neck.

LONG PANTS & LONG SLEEVED SHIRTS

You need one set of pants and shirt to get wet on the Raft and for mosquitoes, these items are a must.

BUS TICKETS TO RETURN TO LA PAZ

We will send to your whatsapp a picture of the Bus ticket so that you can check in.