CHALALAN
ECOLODGE
Chalalan EcoLodge, nestled in Madidi National Park,
was crafted with the ecotourist in mind, offering
comfortable accommodations in pristine tropical rainforest.
The EcoLodge sits on the edge of Chalalan Lake deep
in Madidi’s wilderness. Chalalan is accessed
by dugout canoe up the spectacular Beni and Tuichi
Rivers, 5 hours from the gateway community of Rurrenabaque.
Chalalan has been constructed with
respect for the natural surroundings, using forest materials,
solar energy, and intensive protection of the lake.
The cabins are surrounded by primary forest inhabited
by an astonishing variety of birds and mammals. The
lake is an ideal habitat for monkeys, caiman, turtles,
hoatzin and macaws that reverberates under a constant
symphony or birdsong, shouts off howler monkeys, and
barking toucans, particularly at dawn and dusk. We invite
you to experience Chalalan.
Facilities:
Traditional Amazon-style "cabañas"
(cabins) made from rain forest materials harvested in
a sustainable manner. Chalalán Ecolodge can accommodate
24 ecotourists in 3 stand-alone honeymoon cabanas with
queen-size beds, private balconies and mosquito nets,
as well as 3 bungalows each with 3 double rooms, 2 twin-size
beds in each room and shared verandas.
The ecolodge has four bathrooms and
four shower facilities. Running water is supplied by
a solar-powered plumbing system. There is a dining room
with capacity for 24 people and a library stocked with
field guides and reference materials on biodiversity
and its interpretation. The professional kitchen with
a water-purification system is run by women from the
community who cook traditional meals for visitors. A
fully stocked bar is available for the tourists staying
at Chalalán.
Twenty-five kilometers of trails within
Madidi National Park traverse the different forest habitats
that surround the ecolodge. Canoes are available for
the guests, and two motorized boats with capacity for
12 passengers each are used for transportation from
Rurrenabaque to the ecolodge. Handicraft items are sold
by the local community members.
Activities:
Trail system: There are over 25 Km of trails
to choose from including: The Chichilo with scenic overviews
of the Madidi Park; The Silbador for its medicinal,
fruit, and exotic plants; The Wichi and Jaguar are best
for birdwatching; plants typically used for local handicrafts
grow here; The Wabucuru and Marimono focus on Madidi’s
wildlife and ecology and also visit a recently discovered
archeological site. Enjoy the return via the Eslabon
River.
Birdwatching: Over 340 bird species live in
the vicinity of Chalalán including Macaws, Hoatzins,
Toucans, Tanagers, and Hummingbirds.
Wildlife: Frequent sitings of spider monkeys, capuchin
monkeys, howler monkeys, squirrel monkeys, tapirs, alligators,
wild pigs, and capybaras.
Canoe trips: on Chalalán Lake at dusk
when the birds and troops of monkeys are actively preparing
for the night and when caimans are easily spotted.
Swimming and relaxing: After
a day of hiking, a refreshing dip in the pristine Chalalán
Lake is always welcomed, or simply relax in a hammock
while listening to the symphony of the forest.
Folklore Tales and Cultural Interaction:
The tales and legends from the community of San Jose
de Uchupiamonas are prolific and intriguing. Learn the
legends of the forest animals, of how they have evolved
to their current state, and how they have figured in
the daily life of the community. Also, together with
your guide, experience a traditional Josesano evening.
Biodiversity Games: To reinforce
learning we’ve designed several fun and interactive
games which incorporate themes of Madidi’s biodiversity
and that which surrounds Chalalan.
THE CHALALAN
PROJECT
Chalalán Ecolodge is a joint
ecotourism initiative of the rainforest community of
San José de Uchupiamonas and Conservation International
(CI) in Bolivia. Created in 1995 by a visionary group
of San José villagers with a grant from the Inter-American
Development Bank, the ecolodge provides employment opportunities
through nature-based tourism, a much-needed economic
alternative to logging.
CI's goal at the outset of the Chalalán
project was to create a viable ecotourism lodge that
was wholly owned and operated by local managers and
staff. To accomplish this, CI trained villagers in a
broad range of activities, including marketing and management,
house keeping, food preparation and how to guide tours.
In February 2001, the community received full ownership
of the lodge from CI. Today, 74 families receive regular
direct economic benefits from employment and management
of the ecolodge. They also receive indirect benefits
from the sale of crafts that are made in a sustainable
matter.
Chalalán ecolodge allows villagers
to benefit economically from living in harmony with
the forest in many ways. In addition to lodge management,
for instance, villagers work in sustainable agriculture,
handicraft activities and sell non-timber forest products.
During their visit to Chalalán Ecolodge, ecotourists
will have the opportunity to discover Madidi National
Park through the eyes of the San José de Uchupiamonas
community. An experience worthwhile
MADIDI
NATIONAL PARK
was created in
1995 and covers 1,895,740 ha (4,5000,000 acres; 18,957
km2) from the Amazonian lowlands of the río
Heath, at 200 m altitud, to the mountains of the Apolobamba
Range at more than 6,000 m altitud. Madidi’s
vast wilderness encompasses unparalleled biodiversity
ranging from montain cloudforest to dry tropical forest,
humid lowland forest to savanna, wild rivers and lakes.
Madidi’s mountains, forests and river habitats
are home to more than 1,000 species of neotropical
birds, 5,000 - 6,000 superior plants, 44% of all new
world species of mammals, and an estimated 38% of
neotropical amphibians. The tropical Andes, where
Madidi is located, is also a globally critical hotspot
of plant endemism. Inside the park’s limits
is found the community of San Jose de Uchupiamonas,
of the Quechua-Tacana ethnic group.
