This trek will takes as through the heart of the Madidi national Park, following old Inca trails. The first part of our trip will start with a drive through the Altiplano before we cross the Apolobamba mountain range to drop down to the village of Pelechuco. We then head down through thick cloud forest to Apolo. In the second part we trek through dry forest and rain forest, all the time following the old trails from the Inca. Also on this trek we have de chance to see wildlife e.g. monkeys, Jaguars, bears etc. At the end of the trek we end up in the town of Rurrenabaque from where we take out flight back to La Paz.

TREK PELECHUCO Information »

Please check the gear list to see what you will need to bring for the trip.

For further general information on Bolivia please also look at our fact file.

Day 1: La Paz (3600m) – Pelechuco (3600m)

We will travel from La Paz up to El Alto and across the Altiplano, passing through the Area Protegida Apolobamba. We will drive through the Reserva Nacional de Funa Ulla Ulla a large Vicuna reserve. We cross a pass just after Lake Cololo (4700m) before arriving in the colonial village of Pelechuco, where the main economic activity is gold mining. We will spend the night in Pelechuco.
8 – 9 hours (LD) Hostal

Day 2: Pelechuco – Queara (3440m)

Today we leave Pelechuco to drive up to the Paso de Sanches (4840m) At the pass we meet the mules. Once we have loaded up we have a short walk down hill to the village of Queara were we will spend out first night camping.
4 – 5 hours (BLD) camping

Day 3: Queara – Cachimayu

We start our walking down the valley with the cloud forest down in the valley way in the distance. This is some of the largest virgin forests left in the world. The trail stays most of the time in the open.
6 – 7 hours (BLD) camping

Day 4: Chachimayu – Casiquebrado

We keep following the winding Inca trail. We still stay around 3000m mark. Looking back to the Apolobamba mountain range we have views of Chuapi Orco (6044m) the highest in the Apolobamba mountain range. We camp near an old Inca Tambo (road house)
6 – 7 hours (BLD) camping

Day 5: Casiquebrado – Chunkani

Today we start to walk in cloud forest. The forest is thick and wet. Here we have a change to the spectacle bear. The trail stays on top of a ridge and is steep in places. Our camp is in an open patch of the forest
6 – 7 hours (BLD) camping

Day 6: Chunkani – Mojos

Our walk continues along a ridge with clears of the forest along the way. Here the trail gets muddy in places and is almost a tunnel further down. The mules find it hard through this section. We cross a small bridge and see pineapple plantations as we start to get close by the village of Mojos Camping in the village.
6 – 7 hours (BLD) camping

Day 7: Mojos – Chaquisapa

In Mojos we change mules and have a long day following the river below . This trail is used more and the walking is a little easier. After a long day we come to a clearing were we set up camp.
7 – 8 hours (BLD) camping

Day 8: Chaquisapa – Virgen Del Rosario (Rio Tuichi)

We have a short day. We have a climb up to a great view point we can see the Rio Tuichi. Another hour and we reach the community of Virgin Del Rosario. Our transport will meet us at the river and we say goodbye to the mules.
4 – 5 hours (BLD) camping

Day 9: Virgen Del Rosario – Apolo (1700m)

We need to cross the Rio Tuichi by raft and all the gear. Our transport will be waiting on the other side. Once across we have a drive over a rough road. It takes us 4 hours to do only 50km. The road follows close by the old trail.
5 – 6 hours driving (BLD) Hostel

Day 10: Apolo

Rest day in Apolo (BLD) Hostel Note: Transport heads back to La Paz, at this point if anyone is feeling sick etc they can head back with transport to La Paz

Day 11: Apolo – San Antonio (1000m)

The trekking between Apolo and San Jose of Uchupiamonas takes place largely in deep forest in tropical cordilleras. The names of places are given for information only. The topography and the trails undergo deep modifications from one year to the other according to the tropical rains of the year and the length of the stages and the places of camp can be modified consequently. (These former tracks used the "Ganaderos"). The walk in the forest is of an altitude of 900m. We can see numerous birds, Mariomonos monkeys and feline jaguars. The equipment is carried by porters for the length of the trip.
5 – 6 hours walk (BLD) camping

Day 12: San Antonio – Paraíso (1400m)

Today's we walk through small tropical cordilleras covered in fog. Climate becomes hotter and vegetation changes to Palms trees, gigantic bamboos and we can see numerous traces of Jucumaris.
5 – 6 hours walk (BLD) camping

Day 13: Paraiso – Maipacama (1500m)

The Trail is very easy to find and the area still has some farms in the area. The go through small pockets of forest and climb hills with clearings. We make camp near the forest edge.
5 – 6 hours (BLD) camping

Day 14: Maipacama – Ipurama (1500m)

Today's walk is in very undulant country, crossing the Anuari cordillera. Rising then descending between 2000m and 1000m. This region is rich in wildlife and if lucky we can see bears, jaguars and ocelots. This whole reign is botanical gardens.
5 – 6 hours walk (BLD) camping

Day 15: Ipurama – Aguamilagro (1000m)

We continued to cross the Russians mountains range which rises and drops following each other. This stage is entirely in the forest.
6 – 7 hours walk (BLD) camping

Day 16: Aguamilagro – Bihua (700m)

Crossing of small rivers and going through "El Eslabón" fauna and flora are varied more and more. We will be able to see the first Cayman and other species of aquatic fauna.
6 – 7 hours walk (BLD) camping

Day 17: Bihua – San Jose de Uchupiamonas (600m)

Our last day of the trekking to San Jose de Uchupiamonas where we can visit the pretty Little Indian village of the Tacana tribe whose language is Quechua and Tacana.
3 – 4 hours walk (BLD) camping

Day 18: San Jose de Uchupiamonas – Rurrenbaque (400m)

In the morning we take the boat down river passing Chalalan and Laguna Santa Rosa. Later we meet up with the Rio Beni which is our final stretch to Rurrenbaque. Just before reaching Rurrenabaque we go through the Bala canyon were the Bolivar government has a project to build a dam for Hydro electricity. Let hope this never happenes.
4 – 5 hours by boat (BLD) hotel

Day 19: Rurrenabaque – La Paz

Flight back to La Paz (B)
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