21/02/2020
Visiting the Amazon rainforest in Bolivia was the most memorable experience of this trip. This rainforest covers 9 countries of which Bolivia offers one of the least touristy (and inexpensive) experiences.
A word of warning before attempting this - there is no Internet or electricity, no emergency medical care within a 4-hour radius, and there is the ever-present danger of a bite or sting from one of the many dangerous creatures here.
To get to this lodge, you have to fly or drive into the town of Rurrenabaque, from where you commence a 3-hour boat ride down the Amazon river. From the disembarkation point, you have to trek for another 30 minutes to reach your cabin.
As you'd expect, the amenities are basic and you are basically isolated from the forest by a thin strip of mosquito netting. To add to the adventure, we visited right after the military coup and were the only tourists there. When night falls and you blow out the last candle, the symphony of the rainforest reaches a crescendo which lasts till sunrise.
Despite all the dangers, our guide ensured that we saw the forest up-close without getting into any trouble. The persistant thought we had throughout this was that if we stayed any longer, we would not want to return to civilization for a long time.
@ Madidi Jungle Ecolodge
