Ride and River

Starting from 4,800 m up on the shoulder of Illampu, we descend on the bikes 120 kms over two days down a two track mining road to the tropical riverside village of Mapiri at 700 m.  From there the ride becomes the river, 3 days down in a motorized dugout canoe to Rurrenabaque, on the banks of the mighty Beni. We do lots of side hikes and camp out on the beach in the jungle.  


The trip is always an adventure, you never know what you're going to get as far as the weather. The road between Conzata and Mapiri is constantly changing due to cooperativas strip mining for gold in the canyons. The river is contantly fluctuating, it gets pretty low towards the end of the dry season in September. The group as well is always different. We get pretty lucky by only running trips from April to December, and by attracting the type of traveler that likes the sound of a 4,000 m downhill and camping in the jungle.   We also limit group size to 12.


It has been a bit of a process over the years getting the logistics dialed in, and we are still trying to polish off some of the rough edges. It's still not too well known that the route even exists, which is good in a way.

Taking it from the top, at over 4,800 m, and straight into the steepest, loosest section,

 and from there to the rockiest part.

Smooth road from there though, and the jeep is always there for support.

Group's feeling good, still a ways to go to hotel in Conzata,

 behind the last ridge from the left. 

Arriving to the bottom of the downhill. From here there are 15 kms of cross-country riding down the canyon to the hotel, at 1,100 m.

Day two starts with a jeep ride up to a high point(1,700 m) where we start the ride. 

A particularly soupy crossing of the runoff from a gold mine. This is the main road of the Larecaja province. 

Not far to go to the hotel in Mapiri (770 m), on the rise above the river.

Day three and we're off down the river.

Arriving to the first river camp. 

Nice overlook above the camp.

A family of owls made their home up at the overlook this year. They didn't seem to mind our weekly visits. 

On day four we do a couple hikes in the jungle. 

Arriving to the final night´s camp.

On our last day we do a pretty long hike in Madidi. Last year this nocturnal esmerald boa was seen sleeping the day away on several trips in a row. We then got startled when we were looking for it in its usual haunt, and came across instead a big curled up rattler, buzzing and irate.  Gotta keep your eyes open in the jungle.

From there a mellow cruise takes us down the Rio Beni to the steamy river town of Rurrenabaque.

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