Bolivia - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 215

existing rooms give wonderful views of the steamy Río
Beni and San Buenaventura on the far bank - get one on
the first floor. Their open sides do n ot, sur prisingly, cause
problems with mosquitoes. Doubles B$60
Hotel Rurrenabaque Vaca Diez, at Bolívar T 03
8922481. This was the first two-storey building in Rurre
according to the friendly owners, but it's in good co ndition,
with breakfast and wi-fi included. Doubles B$110
Los Tucanes de Rurre Ancieto Arce, at Bolívar T 03
8922039, W hotel-tucanes.com. Popular and spacious
hostel with hammocks hung around the grounds, a huge
roof t errace, pool table, wi-fi and free breakfast. Doubles
B$80

Ì TREAT YOURSELF
A five-hour boat ride from Rurrenabaque
will bring you to the spectacular
Chalalán ecolodge in the heart of the
Madidi National Park. The Chalalán project
is run entirely by the rainforest community
of San José de Uchupiamonas and is
hailed as one of the world's greatest
conservation success stories. Trips to the
lodge don't come cheap, with a four-day
and three-night programme from La Paz
(one night in Rurrenabaque, two in the
lodge) costing about B$2500 per person,
but it is well worth the splurge. Go to
W chalalan.com for a full list of booking
agents. Or book direct at the ChalaIán
o ce in Rurrenabaque (Comercio;
T 03 8922419), or their o ce in La Paz
(Sagárnaga 189, 2nd floor; T 02 2311451).
Advance booking essential.

2

EATING AND DRINKING
A large number of restaurants have sprung up in
Rurrenabaque to cater to the ecotourism boom.
Café de la Jungla Comercio. It's all relative, but this
tiny place does the best coffee in town, even if the lattes
(B$10) come towering with bubbly froth. The strong
wi-fi is a boon, as are the B$3 cookies. Breakfasts (with

Airport & road to La Paz, Riberalta & Oscar's Butterfly Pool Mirador

RURRENABAQUE

Bus
Terminal

Migración

ATM

Garfield
Laundry

Río Beni

Mercado

ENTEL

Artesanía La Cambita

TAM

Bala Tours

Flecha

ACCOMMODATION
Hostal Beni
Hotel Lobo
Hotel Rurrenabaque
Los Tucanes de Rurre

Amaszonas
Madidi Travel

2
4
3
1

ATM

EATING AND DRINKING
Café de la Jungla
Juliano's
Moskkito Jungle
Bar & Lounge
Panadería Paris
La Pascana
La Perla de Rurre

3
1
4
2
6
5

Chalalán
Office

N

PLAZA
2 DE
FEBRERO

0 500

metres