Rurrenabaque and Madidi at a glance
Rurrenabaque sits on the Río Beni and is the base for trips into Madidi National Park and the lowland forest of northern Bolivia. From here, boats go up the Beni and Tuichi rivers to the park. This page covers Madidi National Park, the Amazon jungle in Bolivia more broadly, and what to check before you go.
This is an independent guide, not run by the park authority, a lodge or an airline. Prices are those the operators list in 2026 and they change. The park fee below is a lodge's own statement, not a confirmed official 2026 tariff.
How to get to Rurrenabaque and Madidi
One flight route and one boat route are described below.
By air
The airline Ecojet lists Rurrenabaque as a destination and advertises La Paz to Rurrenabaque on its homepage. Whether a seat exists on your date is a separate question, so check the timetable and fare before you plan around it.
By boat into the park
The Chalalán lodge transfers guests on the Beni and Tuichi rivers. From Rurrenabaque it takes about 5.5 hours upstream and about 3 hours back. A walk of 2 km, about 25 minutes, links the river landing and the lodge.
Treat transfer time as travel time
Do not count the boat as a full hiking day. Ask your operator for the exact times and how river conditions on your dates affect them.
Bolivian Amazon tours and lodge stays
Jungle tours, lodge stays and river trips from Rurrenabaque, with live prices and availability.
What a Madidi lodge package covers
The Chalalán lodge sells a 3-day, 2-night Jochi program. It describes traditional cabins and a guide, and it includes a Uchupiamonas cultural program led by local guides. The package also covers boat and local airport transfers, meals depending on the program, and the activities.
| Included in the package | Not included |
|---|---|
| Accommodation, guide and activities | Madidi park fee (BOB 200 according to the lodge) |
| Meals depending on the program | Flight or bus tickets from La Paz to Rurrenabaque |
| Boat and local airport transfers | A hotel in town |
Confirm the current package price with the lodge, and always ask whether park fees, flights and town hotels are part of the quoted price.
Safety in Bolivia in 2026
Read the current advice for your passport. These notes are from the German Foreign Office, changed on 4 September 2026.
The advice strongly discourages travel to the Chapare region, including Villa Tunari and routes 4 and 24, and to the border region with Brazil in the department of Santa Cruz. It also describes a nationwide state of emergency since 20 June 2026. Those places are not on the Chalalán transfer route between Rurrenabaque and Madidi, so the advice does not mean all of Bolivia is closed. It also does not give an all-clear for Madidi. Ask your operator about the current situation and travel with insurance that covers your plans.
See the travel tips for boats, wildlife manners and swimming. The US CDC warns against swimming in untreated fresh water in Peru and Brazil, and a lodge that offers swimming is not a health clearance.
Entry rules and health for Bolivia
Rules change, so check with the embassy before you book.
| Passport | Visa for tourism |
|---|---|
| United States | Visa-free for tourist stays under 90 days a year, since 1 December 2025 |
| Germany | Visa-free for 90 days per calendar year |
| Austria | No visa; confirm the permitted length with the embassy |
| Switzerland | Listed by the Bolivian embassy among visa-free countries; confirm the permitted length with the embassy |
A passport valid for at least 6 months is advised. Germany and Austria both point out that travelers without a Bolivian residence permit need health insurance.
Yellow fever. The US CDC recommends vaccination from 9 months for designated lowland areas east of the Andes, including Beni, and states that all arrivals from age 1 need proof of vaccination (23 April 2025). The German Foreign Office instead describes a requirement for entry into Bolivian yellow fever areas, with the certificate valid from the 10th day after vaccination (4 September 2026). The Austrian ministry words it differently again. Because the agencies disagree, carry your vaccination certificate and ask a travel-medicine clinic.
Malaria. The CDC lists transmission in areas below 2,500 m, excluding La Paz city (23 April 2025). This site does not give medical advice or doses.
Keep planning
Other pages for choosing your Amazon route.
Rurrenabaque and Madidi: frequently asked questions
Do US citizens need a visa for Bolivia?
No, not for tourism. Bolivia dropped the visa for US citizens on 1 December 2025, and the current US travel notice confirms visa-free tourist stays of less than 90 days a year. Old visa fee lists are out of date.
How do I get to Rurrenabaque?
One airline lists La Paz to Rurrenabaque flights on its homepage. Check availability for your date, because a route on a homepage is not a seat on your day.
How long is the boat trip into Madidi?
For the Chalalán lodge, about 5.5 hours upstream from Rurrenabaque and about 3 hours back, plus a 2 km walk of about 25 minutes at the lodge landing.
Do I pay the park fee separately?
The Chalalán lodge states BOB 200 for Madidi on top of its package. That is the lodge's statement. Ask your operator what the quoted price covers.
Is Bolivia safe to visit right now?
The German Foreign Office strongly discourages travel to the Chapare region and the Brazilian border region of Santa Cruz, and it describes a nationwide state of emergency since 20 June 2026. Those areas differ from the Chalalán transfer route. Read the current advice and ask your operator.
When is the best time to visit Madidi?
River levels and seasons differ by sector, so ask your operator what to expect on your dates. See the best time to visit for the regions where seasons are described.