RAIN FOREST

The Madidi National Park was established as a National Park by the Bolivian Government (DS#24123) on September 21, 1995. This Park has been classified by the National Geographic Magazine (“National Geographic Expedition to the Madidi”, March 2000) as one of the world’s largest bio-diversity reserves in Bolivia ranging from mountain cloud forest (rainforest) to dry tropical forest (pampas). The humid, tropical climate of this park spreads out to the lowland forest, wild rivers and lakes—there is an unimaginable floodplain forest within the Madidi mosaic of eco-systems varying from humid sub tropical forest to savannahs (pampas) wetlands, river basins and beautiful lakes like Lago Gringo, Lago Isla, Lago Negro and San Fernando that are surrounded by thousand of hectares of the most under populated forest in the world. The Madidi National Park, commands 11% of the world’s species of flora and fauna (BBC News Article, “Ecotourism on the rise in Bolivia”, by David Atkinson). The Madidi region is considered one of the richest forest in Bolivia because of its flora, (mahogany trees are abundant) and also is the home of variety of autochthonous groups like the Chimane, Moseten, Tacana and Quechua. These indigenous communities can be accessed by Rurrenabaque one of the banks of Beni River.

LOCATION

The Madidi Park covers 1,895,740 hectares = 18,957 km2. This region is the transition zone between Amazonian tropical Rainforest (west of Rio Beni) (Tour #1) and Amazonian Savannah or Pampas (east of Rio Beni) (Tour #2). The tropical Andes is indeed, one of the most impressive places to visit in South America because of its diversified location; mountains, forest and river habitats. There are more than 1000 species of neo-tropical birds (guans, curassows, harpy eagles, hawks, cormorant, herons) (85% of the Bolivia’s fauna); 300 species of mammals (44% of the tropical forest) like pink river dolphins, difficult to see or rare in other Amazon’s environment and other countless variety of fish that inhibit in a class five river also world class fly fish along the Tuichi, a major tributary to the Amazon river. Other mammals are the primates such as red howler, brown capuchin and many more; 200 species of reptiles and amphibians (black caimans, anacondas, snakes, lizards, etc) and more than 6000 plant species of vegetables and plants (33% of the flora) that grow in the wilderness of the Amazon.

This national park is located in the Northern part of the Department of La Paz between the provinces of Abel Iturralde and Franz Tamayo (30 Km2 west of Rurrenabaque). At the western hedge is the Peruvian border that extends eastwards along the Andes Cordillera branches, plunging deeply into the Amazon area. It is the origin of important rivers such as Tuichi, Madidi, Heath and Quendeque whose waters work their way down to the Amazons River. If you travel by bus to the Madidi Park, you will be exposed to tremendous natural features from the snow covered Apolobamba Mountain with its 6,999 meters to the 150 meters above the sea level of the lowlands that forms the Amazonic basin (Heath River), a navigable river that facilitates access to the tropical forest. Powerful waterfalls with an average precipitation that fluctuates from 4000mm to 800 m.m. This trip is going to be for you an unforgettable experience!

ACCESS TO THE MADIDI NATIONAL PARK

From La Paz up to the city of Rurrenabaque by air transport (Amazons) and afterwards along gravel roadway up to Rurrenabaque. Bear in mind you have to spend one night in the city and leave early the next day for to go in one of the two tours. Both of them are three-day tours.

CLIMATE/TEMPERATURE

The weather is hot and humid throughout the year; rainfall varies from 700 mm in the driest to almost 5000 mm in the wettest. January through March is the rainy season June through August (winter) occasional cold periods – exceptional clear sky, but it can be very cold. Cold fronts or “surazos” are common in the western lowlands. April through October is the dry season - the best for outdoors, December through February (summer) is the rainy season

ATTRACTIONS

Flora and fauna. A diversity of habitats, river, mountains and native communities.

ACTIVITIES

• Wildlife encounters
• Bird watching, fishing, canoeing and trekking, sailing, eco-tourism and biological
• Research, nature photography.

PROGRAM 2 DAYS FOREST (PARK NACIONAL MADIDI)

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