El Camino del Oro will take you from Sorata, a high altitude Yungas village to Chusi in the cloud forest. You will follow a pre-Inca path for much of the trek and then take a boat for 3 days down the Rio Mapiri and the Rio Beni to Rurrenabaque. During the boat trip we will be in the Madidi National Park, one of the most biologically diverse areas on the planet. An amazing opportunity to see diverse flora and fauna such as jaguars, giant anteaters and anacondas, before arriving in Rurrenabaque in the heart of the Bolivian Amazon.

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: Sorata (2700m) – Lachathiya (4200m)

From Sorata we start our first day of trekking, following the small tracks and passing the campesinos (farmers) as they work in the fields, up to Lachathiya along the way we can see Illampu (6368m), Ancohuma (6472m) and Nevada Piramide (5097m). Near Lachathiya we will set up camp.
5 to 7 hours (LD)

Day 2: Lachathiya – Ecia Utana Pampa, Ancoma (3800m)

In the morning we will have a 2 hour climb up to the pass of Abra Illampu (4749m), from where we will have our last good views of the north face of Illampu. Then we will have a long walk down to the old village of Ecia Utana Pampa, where we can see them growing potatoes. We will set up camp near this village.
5 to 6 hours (BLD)

Day 3: Ancoma – Minascape (2900m)

We will pack up camp and meet the porters early in the morning , to carry all the equipment and personal gear. We pass the village of Ancoma and follow the road down to the end, where the cloud forest starts. We drop onto a small trail where the forest gets thicker as we follow the river down on our right. After two hours we come out into a clearing where we set up camp, we will be deep in the valley surrounded by the forest. If we look carefully we can see the humming bird and if lucky the shy spectacle bear.
5 to 6 hours (BLD)

Day 4: Minascape – Joya (1700m)

We will follow the valley down, passing lots of gold mining towns and finally meeting the Rio Tipuani. Even before the Incas, people have been mining in this area for more then 1000 years. We will start to feel the heat from the jungle, 1 hour before camp we need to cross a large swinging bridge and then at camp cool down in the river.
5 to 6 hours (BLD)

Day 5: Joya – Chusi – Tipuani (500m)

Our last day of walking, but not without a steep climb first in the morning. The valley will open up and we will feel the heat. After 3 hours of walking we arrive in the village of Chusi where the national pass time is killing horse flies. From here the road starts, we meet up with our 4WD and say good bye to the porters. It’s a 3 to 4 hour drive over rough roads, and we will see the destruction of the vegetation left by the miners. In Tipuani we stay in a hotel where we can shower.
4 to 5 hours walking, 3 hours by driving (BLD) Hotel

Day 6: Tipuani – Guanay (600m)

We load up the 4WD’s for a 3 hour driver to Guanay, passing more gold mines. Arriving in the small village of Guanay which is along the Rio Mapiri we will do our shopping for the next few days.
3 hours driving (BLD) Hotel

Day 7: Guanay – Rio Mapiri camp (550m)

We will meet up with the boats and float down the river into the jungle. Passing more gold camps and people panning in the river for gold. We will have lunch along the river and then camping further down.
12 hours with 4-5 hours on the boat (BLD)

Day 8: Rio Mapiri camp – Rio Beni camp (500m)

We continue down into the wilds of the Amazon, with side trips to a piranha filled lake, ancient Inca ruins and a refreshing swimming hole. We will spend the night with the park rangers at the entrance of the Madidi national park.
12 hours with 4-5 hours on the boat (BLD)

Day 9: Rio Beni camp – Rurrenabaque (400m)

The final day on the river takes you from the Madidi, past ancient rock art sites and the infamous Rio Tuchi, to the happening town of Rurrenabaque.
12 hours with 4-5 hours on the boat (BL)
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