Description

The Chalalán Eco-touristic Lodge, in the Madidi Park, is the oldest and best-known community-owned enterprise in Bolivia. The San José de Uchupiamonas community is made up of Tacana ethnic-origin members and some Quechua migrants who live about three hours away (by motor-boat) upriver on the banks of the Tuichi tributary, initiated this enterprise with the desire of being pioneers in community-based tourism in Bolivia.

Chalalán is the result of a dream come true; a dream that was born in the Bolivian Amazon, in our community, San José de Uchupiamonas.
We have lived surrounded by magic and beauty in the Madidi National Park jungle for over 300 years. This jungle sustains us and our families.
Now, we invite you to become part of this incredible story at our Ecolodge, built on the shores of the magnificent Chalalán Lagoon ready to welcome you, our guests.

The Chalalán Ecolodge stands on the shore of the magnificent Chalalán Lagoon and combines elegance and comfort while using local materials to respect the traditional building styles of our community, San José de Uchupiamonas.

We, the Uchupiamonas, planned the design and layout of the different rooms of the Ecolodge down to the very last detail, making full advantage of our knowledge of what the jungle provides. The walls are made from the Copa Palm (Iriartea Deltoidea) and covered with matting, the roofs are woven with Asaí palm leaves (Geonoma Deversa) and the floors made of fine hardwood. This type of attention to detail and materials make the Chalalán Ecolodge one of the most luxurious places to stay in this part of the world.

Accommodation

Our luxurious accommodation in traditional Tacana-style cabins can, in total, lodge up to 30 people. The cabins are surrounded by virgin forest which resonates with birdsong and the cries of howler monkeys, especially at dawn and dusk, making Chalalán a place of incomparable beauty.

The Ecolodge offers three types of accommodation; luxurious cabins with double beds and private bathrooms (3 in total), twin/triples rooms with private bathroom (7 in total), and twin rooms with shared bathroom facilities (4 of them). All of our accommodation is equipped with mosquito nets, bedside tables, wardrobes, comfortable armchairs, verandas, balconies and hammocks where you can relax and read.

At Chalalán the standards of hygiene in our bathrooms and shower areas are of utmost importance to us. All of our bathrooms are unisex and are regularly cleaned without disturbing our guests. The bathrooms are either tiled or clad with stones for your comfort and as another elegant detail.

Transport

We have 3 comfortable, safe boats to take you by river to the Chalalán Ecolodge, navigating the majestic River Beni (Bala canyon) and River Tuíchi. Each of our boats is equipped with: a roof, comfortable seats, life jackets, raincoats and a first-aid kit, and each one seats up to ten people. During the trip you will be served a packed lunch.

For our activities on the Lagoon we have five traditional dug-out canoes made by our community’s artisans. Their solid structure can comfortably seat up to six people and provides you with the perfect vantage point to appreciate the abundant nature that will surround you.

Our Staff

The administrative and operative staff at the Chalalán Ecolodge are all native to San José de Uchupiamonas. Chalalán has professionally trained staff to provide ecological tourism services to satisfy even the most demanding tourists.

Sights

The Madidi National Park, is located in the northeast of the country in the department of La Paz, and comprises an incomparably beautiful and diverse natural area bordered by the towering Andes in the south-west, cloud forests and impenetrable Amazon lowland jungle further to the north. The Madidi National Park extends over an area of ​​18,900 km2, with heights between 5,600 meters and 180 meters. The park is home of an enormous number of only partly documented animal and plant species that live here in harmony with indigenous tribes and communities. Madidi National Park is the world's most biodiverse sanctuary according to the WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society), with an overwhelming 1250 species of birds, 270 mammals, 213 amphibians, 204 reptiles, and 496 species of fish, and it is believed that dozens of species in the park are not yet discovered and are still unknown to science. The Madidi is home to various ethnic groups such as the Chimanes, Tacanas and Mosetenes, indigenous communities that have largely preserved their way of life, their culture and traditions. Some of these indigenous communities have started socially and ecologically compatible tourism projects to ensure the sustainable management of the natural resources of the park, and to share their knowledge of fauna and flora as well as ancient techniques of the survival in the jungle to it´s visitors. The Madidi is a fantastic place for nature and outdoor lovers, as well as adventurer and scientists.

For information about tours to the Madidi National Park and the Chalalan Ecolodge, please click here.