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Voykit pocket guide · Bolivia
Rurrenabaque
Allocate 2–3 days for jungle or pampas tours; one night only if just passing through.
Rurrenabaque is the gateway to Madidi National Park and the Beni pampas. A 2‑3‑day stay lets you do a jungle or pampas tour with a night in an eco‑lodge; a single night works if you only want the town, the riverfront and a quick boat ride.
- Country
- Bolivia
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Stay
- 2–3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- BOB
- Money
- Currency is the boliviano (BOB, Bs). Cash rules outside larger hotels and restaurants in La Paz and Santa Cruz.
- Daily spend
- Budget Bs 120–180 excl. bed · Mid Bs 200–350 excl. bed · High Bs 400+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Entel, Tigo and Viva sell SIMs with passport registration in their own shops.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 119
- Plugs
- Types A, C · 230 V · 50 Hz · Some La Paz buildings have 115 V — check.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: Round up; about 10% in tourist restaurants.; Uyuni driver and cook: Bs 50–100 per traveller for 3 days, shared.; Guides: Bs 30–70 a day.
- Water
- Not safe from the tap; bottled or filtered.
- Toilets
- Pay a boliviano or two; bring paper.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Water taxi across Río Beni | Bs 1.5 |
| Mototaxi to new bus terminal (≈2 km (1.2 mi))Mototaxi to new bus terminal (≈1.2 mi (2 km)) | Bs 7 |
| Jungle tour (community eco‑lodge, 1 day) | Bs 600 |
| Pampas boat tour (1 h) | Bs 250–400 |
| ATM withdrawal fee (foreign card) | Bs 5–10 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- RBQ · Rurrenabaque Airport
- —
Typical fares
- Mototaxi to new bus terminal
- about Bs 7, 2 km (1.2 mi) (check)about Bs 7, 1.2 mi (2 km) (check)
- Water taxi across Río Beni
- Bs 1.5 per crossing (check)
- Bus La Paz ↔ Rurrenabaque
- Bs 80 one way, 14–16 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Town is walkable; mototaxis and tuk‑tuks to the new bus terminal and airport; water taxis from Calle Santa Cruz across the Río Beni for Bs 1.5.
See and do
Known for
- Madidi National Park jungle tours
- Beni pampas wildlife trips
- River Beni waterfront
- Eco‑lodge community stays
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Madidi National Park (jungle tour) | Boat from Rurrenabaque, about 1–2 h | About 1–2 h |
| Beni pampas (wildlife boat tour) | Boat from Rurrenabaque, about 1 h | About 1 h |
| San Buenaventura | Water taxi across Río Beni, 5 min | About 10 min |
| Serere Sanctuary | Boat down the Beni river, about 3 h | About 3 h |
Sleep
- Hostel El Curichal
- Dorm beds Bs 50–60, breakfast included; central location.
- Hostal Oriental
- Single Bs 100, double Bs 150 (2022); breakfast, Wi‑Fi.
- Los Tucanes de Rurre Hotel
- Private rooms, hammocks, breakfast; mid‑range.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpe |
| Thank you | Gracias |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto cuesta? |
| Where is the bus terminal? | ¿Dónde está la terminal de buses? |
| I need a guide | Necesito un guía |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'buenos días'; avoid: Rushing into business
- Photos: Ask, and accept a no; avoid: Photographing rituals uninvited
- Sea question: Listen; avoid: Joking about Bolivia's lost coast
- Queues and blockades: Patience; avoid: Arguing with protesters
Scams and watch-outs
- Guides have been reported stealing or overcharging; choose community‑run operators.
- Long‑distance buses can be delayed by weather; buy tickets a day ahead.
- Flights may be postponed by low clouds or smoke in the rainy season.
Guides have been reported stealing or overcharging; choose community‑run operators. Avoid lending money or leaving valuables unattended. Single travellers should be cautious with guides who offer personal attention.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Rurrenabaque yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Madidi National Park jungle tours
- Beni pampas wildlife trips
- River Beni waterfront
- Eco‑lodge community stays
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Bolivia tourism board (local): www.boliviatourism.org/rurrenabaque
- Wikivoyage: Rurrenabaque, revision 5241242 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5241242
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/rurrenabaque). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.