In search of Eldorado

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  El Alto Airport - La Paz

  

  We arrive in La Paz via El Alto. The change of scenery and immersion are immediate! We jump into a taxi to cross this giant market and stop at the first cable car station. We gain altitude to realize what La Paz really looks like, this city spread out in a kind of immense crater. A city nestled at the foot of the Andes, with the snow-capped peaks of Huayna Potosi and Illimani as a backdrop (iconic glaciers of Bolivia, over 6000 m in altitude). On the other side of the peaks lies the Amazon basin. As for the conquistadors, "only" the 6000-meter-high peaks of the sublime and imposing Cordillera Real separate us from the Amazon, from the quest for El Dorado. Night at the Naira*** hotel. Included: bus ticket, taxi, buffet breakfast, room

• day 2

  La Paz

  

  Today, we set out to discover the "paceñas" traditions: a unique walk at the heart of the daily life of the inhabitants of the capital. We begin by entering the covered market Mercado Lanza, where we mingle with the workers who have their breakfast here. We then take the cable car up to El Alto to enjoy a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding peaks. We fly over the general cemetery, which we are going to enter. This is how we discover the Andean post-mortem traditions: on the graves, families do not only leave flowers, but much more elaborate offerings. We then immerse ourselves in the clothing and festive traditions of La Paz by walking down from the cemetery to the center. You have surely already come across many "cholitas", these women in traditional Andean dress. Here, each street corresponds to a garment or accessory: skirts, shoes, top hats, earrings, etc. On Los Andes street, it is the folk dances that are in the spotlight: we discover a multitude of colorful costumes and masks. We end the day at the "witches' market". This is where the "paceños" buy the necessary materials for the offering ceremonies to Pachamama (Mother Earth): coca leaves and other medicinal plants, sugar miniatures and llama fetuses in particular. Night at the Naira*** hotel. Included: entry(ies) to site(s) mentioned in the program, French-speaking guide, lunch (excluding drinks), buffet breakfast, room.

• day 3

  La Paz - Copacabana - Yumani

  

  Meet at the general cemetery early; rather than a private transfer, we suggest you take a collective bus towards Copacabana. The journey thus takes on a new dimension, the trip itself becomes an excursion. After the traffic jams leaving La Paz and El Alto, we set off on a bumpy road, Andean music blasting in our ears, the smell of chewed coca leaves in our nostrils. On our left, in clear weather, the Sajama, the highest point in Bolivia at 6542 meters above sea level; on our right, the Andes Cordillera. Halfway, the lake begins to reveal itself. We arrive at Tiquina, where we get off the bus to cross the mouth by boat. On the dock, we are tempted by small fried ispis from the lake, spiced with aji (spicy sauce). Be careful not to lose sight of our bus which crosses on its own; if we get carried away, it could leave without us. Just under an hour left before arriving in Copacabana. On the main square, we can choose for lunch between lake trout with butter, garlic, tomato, or llajwa – the essential spicy sauce of the Andes... or even a fresh fish ceviche with tiger's milk and sautéed corn. We then board a lancha to the village of Yampupata. From there, we set off on a hike to the village of Sampaia (3-4 h maximum), along the ridge, passing through small villages and with breathtaking views of the lake, the hinterland, the Andes, and Peru. We then reach the Island of the Sun. It is the largest island in the lake. It is also the one with the most temples and sacred sites. Finally, it is a place steeped in legends, still very much alive in the minds of its inhabitants. You spend the night at the Ecolodge La Estancia hotel. Included: bus ticket, entrance(s) to site(s) mentioned in the program, French-speaking guide, guide fees, boat ticket, dinner (excluding drinks), room & breakfast.

• day 4

  Yumani - Chuquinapi - Copacabana - Huatajata - La Paz

  

  We set sail aboard a catamaran, built by young people from the local community of Santiago de Huata, on the other side of the lake. The crossing of the lake is peaceful, at the rhythm of the wind, giving us time to admire the Island of the Moon and the Royal Cordillera in the background. We arrive at Chuquiñapi, a small, quiet village, far from the crowds. We leave Chuquiñapi heading towards Huatajata, where we discover the famous totora reed boats. We take the road to La Paz. Night at the Naira*** hotel. Included: dinner (excluding drinks), entrance(s) to site(s) mentioned in the program, excursion (private), French-speaking guide, guide fees, lunch (excluding drinks), room & breakfast, private transport, buffet breakfast, room.

• day 5

  La Paz - Coroico

  

  We descend from our heights towards the pre-tropical region of the Yungas. Here, we find warmth and lush green vegetation. We leave La Paz and climb up to nearly 4,600 meters in altitude, to La Cumbre. This is where the mountain bike descent begins. From there, we leave the Altiplano to enter the Amazon basin. From now on, we will lose 100 meters in altitude and gain 1.6 degrees every 10 minutes. We leave behind the llamas, the snow, the rocks, to reach Yolossa, the water, the mangoes, the coffee, the parrots, the monkeys, at 1,200 meters in altitude. Green replaces gray, it’s an explosion of colors, scents, and oxygen. This road is the only one linking the Andean capital to the Amazonian producers. In case of social conflict, blocking it with a few trucks means stopping the transport of goods (meat, citrus fruits, coca, coffee) to the capital. Control of this route is essential. Note: the descent is done in a group service / English-speaking guide. Night at the Viejo Molino**** hotel. Included: entrance(s) to site(s) mentioned in the program, French-speaking guide, lunch (excluding drinks), private transport, room & breakfast.

• day 6

  Coroico - Guanay

  

  We venture out to meet the coca producers of the Yungas. We get our hands into the fields and on this emblem of the country, which today faces contradictions. Its consumption is a millennial tradition on the Altiplano. The coca leaf is sacred and, since always, valued for its virtues. The production of coca is subject to quotas corresponding to traditional consumption (for chewing or as an infusion). We follow the Rio Coroico, soon joined by the Rio Zongo, to arrive at Guanay, a village of gold fever. While history places the beginnings of the search for El Dorado towards Colombia, the whole Amazon is the exploration ground for seekers of the city of gold. The Incas are said to have hidden their riches at Moxos, under the name Païti, at the border between Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru. Beyond this myth of the great El Dorado, gold prospectors continue to roam the rivers in search of a few nuggets. You spend the night at the Los Pinos inn. Included: lunch (excluding drinks), private transport, dinner (excluding drinks), room & breakfast.

• day 7

  Guanay - Kaka River

  

  We embark on a gold prospector's canoe for 3 days of crossing the forest, following the course of the Rio Riviere Kaka which winds between the last "serranías", small mountain ranges a few hundred meters high, the last traces of the Andes Cordillera. We sleep on the banks of the river, in communities that take us to discover the riches that make up their daily lives. We come across waterfalls with crystal-clear water, monkeys, and thousands of birds. Included: dinner (excluding drinks), Spanish-speaking local guide, lunch (excluding drinks), room & breakfast, private transport.

• day 8

  Kaka River

  

  The river is now joined by the waters of the Río La Paz, which have skirted the entire Illimani massif before plunging in turn into the Amazon basin. On the right bank is the Pilón Lajas Biosphere Reserve, while on the left bank stretches the Upper Madidi National Park. We are truly in the heart of a pristine and perfectly preserved nature. A jewel of our planet. Every day, we venture into the heart of the forest, meeting communities and discovering the exuberant Amazonian flora and its more than surprising fauna: capybaras, monkeys, thousands of birds with strange calls... We sleep in a bivouac (in case of rain, it is possible to take shelter under thatched roofs). Included: dinner (excluding drinks), Spanish-speaking local guide, lunch (excluding drinks), room & breakfast, private transport.

• day 9

  Kaka River - Asuncion del Quiquibey

  

  We continue our journey. We fish in the rio for our lunch of the day. We enter Madidi Park. A mix of wonder at this untouched tropical forest, a concentration of biodiversity, and mystery at this cradle of many legends about the seekers of El Dorado. It feels like the end of the world as we cross the park by canoe. We leave the Beni River for the Quiquibey River and enter the Pilon Lajas Biosphere Reserve to reach Mapajo. Our friends from Mapajo are of Moseten and T’simane ethnicities, and are among the true guardians of the Amazon rainforest. They grew up in the forest and know it like no one else. It is this unique wealth that they invite us to share with them. After navigating the Quiquibey River, we arrive at Asuncion del Quiquibey, one of the indigenous communities living inside the Pilon Lajas Reserve, a protected natural area in one of the richest spaces in biodiversity in all of the Amazon. Welcomed by a few words of Moseten, we head to our bungalows, rustic but perfectly adapted to this very special environment. In the afternoon, our local guide takes us on the community's gathering and hunting trails. He teaches us the secrets of the forest and especially the countless medicinal plants whose properties the Moseten know like no one else. The Moseten consider themselves children of the tropical forest, which will become our universe for a few days. After dinner, we spend the night in our candle-lit bungalows, lulled by the concert of nocturnal animals in the forest. Included: Spanish-speaking local guide, lunch (excluding drinks), private transport, all inclusive, dinner (excluding drinks), local guide, room & breakfast.

• day 10

  Asuncion del Quiquibey

  

  The most common family name in Asuncion is Caimani, and it’s easy to understand why when you go up the Quiquibey river. Indeed, these friendly reptiles can be found almost everywhere, but fortunately, we are not part of their menu. We travel up the river by canoe, which gives us the opportunity to observe the incredibly rich wildlife of the region: birds of all kinds, parrots, monkeys, capybaras (rodents that can weigh more than 50 kg)... It is not uncommon to spot jaguar tracks. After fishing for a few fish with our guide, we return to the lodge. In the afternoon, we can go and meet the Mapajo, one of the largest trees in the forest, which gave its name to the community organization. It is a sacred tree that protects the fauna and flora of the Amazon. Dinner and overnight in the bungalows. Included: all inclusive, dinner (excluding drinks), local guide, lunch (excluding drinks), room & breakfast, private transport.

• day 11

  Asuncion del Quiquibey - Rurrenabaque

  

  We will visit the Asuncion community and discover the traditional indigenous way of life: pounding rice, harvesting coconuts, archery, and weaving natural fibers are some of the skills that the Moseten will share with us. We enter a Moseten house and can simply share a moment with our hosts from the forest. It is then time to get back into the canoe to head towards Rurrenabaque. We remain attentive during the journey, as it is a special time to observe animals along the river. Included: local guide, room & breakfast

• day 12

  Rurrenabaque

  

  We are enjoying a few hours in Rurrenabaque, this small town at the foot of mountains covered in jungle, with its peaceful atmosphere. You can stroll around on foot or by moto-taxi, watch the activity of the dugout canoes and the markets, all in this Amazonian port ambiance. You spend the night at the Maya hotel. Included: room & breakfast.

• day 13

  Rurrenabaque - Trinidad

  

  Domestic flight Rurrenabaque - Trinidad We continue our search for Eldorado and venture even deeper into the jungle, flying to Trinidad, this Jesuit religious mission in Moxos territory. The Mojeño people set an example with their land works dating from the pre-colonial period, notably thanks to a sophisticated hydraulic control system, which allowed them to regulate seasonal floods and manage the nutrient poverty of the soils. It was the expeditions for the conquest of the Mojos and the search for the riches of the region that led the Spanish to this remote civilization. You spend the night at the Aguahi hotel. Included: domestic flight, room & breakfast

• day 14

  Trinidad - Flotel

  

  We board the Flotel "Reina De Enín," which we have all to ourselves. One imagines an early 20th-century boat, made of wood, with an English empire atmosphere. It feels like a cruise on the Nile, an Agatha Christie book in hand, but with the Amazon rainforest stretching as far as the eye can see instead of pyramids. Included: dinner (excluding drinks), lunch (excluding drinks), room & breakfast, arrival transfer.

• day 15

  Flotel

  

  We navigate north on the waters of the Mamoré River and its tributary, the Ibarré River, at the crossroads of several ecosystems: riparian forests, Moxos pampas, and palm savannas interspersed with marshes and islands of humid forests. Our itinerary varies depending on the season and the course of the rivers. As the days go by, we venture deeper into one of the most inaccessible areas on the planet. The forest is less and less affected by human activity, the territory is intact. Included: all inclusive

• day 16

  Flotel

  

  We explore the selva to discover its natural flora and get to know the largest trees in the forest, such as the Mapajo, the Huit, or the Bibosi. We are constantly on the lookout and follow the tracks of the animals that live near us. Some of them may let themselves be seen, perhaps a tapir, an anaconda, or even a jaguar? Included: all inclusive

• day 17

  Flotel - Trinidad

  

  Going up these rivers also means going back in time. We are navigating in Moxos territory, meeting its peoples, discovering their ancestral know-how and ways of life as a source of inspiration. Recent discoveries about the many mounds identified in the region have shaken the vision of pre-Columbian Amazonian cultures. Beneath the vegetation lie immense agricultural terraces crossed by canals, artificial embankments capable of hosting real cities, and even a mysterious pyramid identified only last year… You spend the night at the Aguahi hotel. Included: room & breakfast, departure transfer.

• day 18

  Trinidad - La Paz - El Alto Airport - La Paz

  

  Domestic flight Trinidad - La Paz. Your driver will pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel. We arrive in La Paz via El Alto, enough to immerse ourselves in the crowd and experience an immediate change of scenery! Night at the Naira*** hotel. Included: domestic flight, arrival transfer, buffet breakfast, room.

• day 19

  La Paz

  

  You are enjoying a free day in La Paz today. You can take advantage of it to stroll through the historic center, do some shopping on Sagárnaga street, known for its many local craft shops, discover the objects needed for offerings to Pachamama (Mother Earth) at the "witches' market," or visit one of the many museums in the city… And why not gain some height and take a cable car ride? Night at the Naira*** hotel. Included: buffet breakfast, room.

• day 20

  La Paz - El Alto Airport

  

  Your driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the airport. Included: departure transfer.