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Chalalan Ecolodge in Madidi National Park

COUNTRY:
Bolivia
DEPARTURES:
Daily departures throughout the year
PRICE:
From US $390 (4 days) excluding flights
MORE INFO:
Price as per itinerary. Optional hotel upgrade available for US $40. We are a UK based company and prices are also available in GB pounds.
VOUCHERS:
Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
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Chalalan Ecolodge in Madidi National Park

Chalalan Ecolodge in Madidi National Park

How this holiday makes a difference

The Chalalán Eco-Lodge is a project, designed to benefit the local community of Quetchua-Tacana Indians by creating a sustainable and viable alternative economic activity while preserving the resources of the park, thus preventing destructive logging and hunting. Chalalan is now completely administered by the local community and all of the personnel, from cooks and boatmen to guides and office personnel are fully trained local community members

The lodge is built with the almost exclusive use of materials that could be sustainably harvested in the surrounding forest, solar panels were set up throughout the complex to provide adequate electricity and an ecological sewage disposal system was created. All profits go straight back into the community.

There is a professionally trained team of local guides, rainforest experts who know the wilderness terrain, the behavior and ecology of local wildlife and the use of plants in their daily lives for sustenance, construction, art and medicine. They will introduce you to the subtle and intricate beauty within Madidi's forest.

We are also now supporting the UK registered chairty Amantani. As this charity is very much in keeping with our ethos of small scale, targetted help which is educational & sustainabale. HuchuyYachaq is the other main Peruvian charity we support by paying a for a full time teacher. A % of all our income goes to support those projects.

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Story of the holiday provider

The founder of this tour operator set up 12 years ago after working as a trek leader and writing guidebooks in South America. She decided to offer alternative track routes that no one else was doing, where you’re more likely to cross paths with local people. She maintains close personal relationships with her suppliers and is godmother to several of their children. Her small specialised team have really walked the walks and so know exactly what they’re talking about; they familiarise themselves with the hiking trails every year and believe the Andean way of life is well worth sharing.

Listen to the podcast below:

Holiday provider no: 139

Chalalan Ecolodge in Madidi National Park

Reviewed 28 Jan 2009 by Harriet Holloway4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


The number of different animals we saw or heard was amazing, from being woken up by howler monkeys just outside our lodge; to seeing Capuchin monkeys eating berries by the lake. From floating past a huge black Caiman in the dead of night to seeing a black Tarantula running from our torch lights; it was amazing.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Make sure you book at least 3 nights there; you then don't have to hurry your stay and can appreciate everything there is to see at a slower pace and you have time to relax in the surroundings of the jungle!

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


The local guides told us about the way the Chalalan Ecolodge was run; how the local community benefited 100%; none of the profits went to any organisation or government. They told us what impacts the lodges and mini-resort had on the local environment which seemed to be minimal. Despite there being electricity, it was solar-powered. Members from the local community prepared all the food, looked after the lodges and were the guides taking us on the walks around the jungle. They had all grown up in the forest and therefore were very knowledgeable and experienced.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


Brilliant, would definitely recommend it anyone, out of the two months I had in South America, this was the most memorable experience by far.
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Holiday Reviews

We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!

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