Tuichi River Expedition: Rafting and Hiking in Bolivia
If you want a multi-sport trip into the Bolivian jungle, this is it! Combine a beautiful four-wheel-drive out of La Paz through Madidi National Park with two days of hiking and four days of whitewater rafting on the Tuichi River in Bolivia!
Fly in to La Paz airport (the world’s highest international airport at 4018 meters) and spend the first day acclimating yourself to the rarefied air of this altitude. If flight arrival time permits, explore the old colonial centre of La Paz and some of its fascinating markets.
After breakfast the next morning, board 4-wheel drive vehicles for the spectacular drive out of La Paz, along the shores of Lake Titicaca with spectacular views of old Inca hill towns, llama herds and the snow-capped mountains of the Apolobamba Mountain range of the Andes. Descend into the Amazon Basin and arrive at the village of Charazani in time to visit the nearby hot springs.
The next day, continue by vehicle through pristine cloud forest, passing spectacular waterfalls and awesome scenery. At the small village of Santa Cruz del Valle Ameno, set up camp and meet up with muleteers for the next part of the adventure. Rising early, tie camp gear onto mules and begin the trek. Part of the trail is along a remarkably well-preserved Inca Trail with spectacular views of the surrounding mountain ranges. Camp that night high on a bluff overlooking the Tuichi River valley.
The second day of hiking brings you down to the Tuichi River itself at the small community of Virgin del Rosario, where you camp and begin a four-day rafting adventure.
After a hearty breakfast, set off down the fast flowing Rio Tuichi. For four whole days, travel down the river, mixing exciting rapids with relaxing calm stretches where silent rafts make perfect wildlife watching platforms. Camp on the banks of the river and make time to explore the surrounding area. The journey takes you through many varied types of forest. Near the small village of Asariamas, travel through the largest tropical dry forest in the entire Andes. This bizarre, deciduous valley, complete with cactuses and fabulous bird watching, is a uniquely intact rain shadow valley hiding behind the last ranges of the Bolivian Andes and precedes your entry to the vast, wet Amazonian lowlands of Northern Bolivia. Further downstream, enter a verdant gorge with exciting rapids and lush lowland rainforest where there are good opportunities to see monkeys, tamarinds, river otters and other mammals such as tapirs, capybaras, caiman and possibly the ultra-elusive jaguar. The river is unusual as the rapids continue to get bigger and better right up to the very end at Puerto del Sol, the most challenging rapid. After successfully maneuvering through this drop, continue down river by motor canoe to the renowned Chalalan jungle lodge.
The final day on the motor boat takes you to the confluence of the Rio Tuichi and the Rio Beni and the sleepy jungle town of Rurrenabaque. Here, celebrate your return to “civilization” with a night in a hotel, showers, swimming pool and plenty of cold drinks and fine food. The return flight from Rurrenabaque to La Paz is the last adventure on this extraordinary trip as you rise from deep jungle to stark, Andean Altiplano.
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