We leave every day from Rurrenabaque; the meeting time and place are confirmed when you book.
The Yacuma Pampas in 2 days and 1 night leave every day from Rurrenabaque, in the Beni department. You travel along the Yacuma River, where birds, reptiles, dolphins, primates and felines can be seen, spend one night at the Acuario eco-lodge and, the next morning, go to a place where you can swim with dolphins. You are back in Rurrenabaque at 2:00 pm. It costs 122 USD per person, in a shared room, with buffet-style meals and round-trip transport. A private room with a shower adds 60 USD for the stay, for 2 people. It does not include the park entrance fee, the municipal tax or the trip from La Paz to Rurrenabaque.
Highlights
- Boat trip on the Yacuma River. On the first day you travel along the river to watch birds, reptiles, dolphins, primates, felines and other animals.
- Sunset from a viewpoint. You walk up to a viewpoint to watch the sun go down, then return to the lodge for the group dinner.
- Night boat trip. After dinner you head out by boat again, once night has fallen.
- Sunrise with birds. On the second day you set out early to watch birds and the sunrise, before breakfast.
- Swimming with dolphins. In the morning you go to places where you can swim with dolphins, before the buffet lunch at the lodge.
Lodging: shared or private room
The price of USD 122 per person includes lodging in a shared room at the Acuario eco-lodge.
Supplement of USD 60 for the stay, for 2 people. Tell us when you book.
Prices are per person and apply to the shared room. The private room supplement is added to the booking total.
What does the itinerary look like?
Day 1
- Road trip and lunchWe leave Rurrenabaque by road for Santa Rosa del Yacuma, where you have lunch.
See the details
The drive is along a dusty road and usually takes about 3 hours. The exact departure time and meeting point are confirmed when you book.
- Boat trip on the Yacuma RiverYou travel along the river to watch birds, reptiles, dolphins, primates, felines and other animals.
See the details
The wildlife you see changes from one day to the next, and seeing a particular species is not guaranteed.
- Sunset viewpointYou walk up to a viewpoint to watch the sun go down.
- Dinner and night boat tripYou return to the lodge for the group dinner with local cuisine, then head out on the water at night.
See the details
You sleep at the Acuario eco-lodge, in shared accommodation. Bring a headlamp and insect repellent.
Day 2
- Sunrise and birdsYou set out early to watch birds and the sunrise, then have breakfast at the lodge.
- Swimming with dolphinsYou go to places where you can swim with dolphins, then return to the lodge.
See the details
Bring a swimsuit and a change of clothes.
- Lunch and return at 2:00 pmYou have lunch at the lodge (buffet) and at 2:00 pm you head back to Rurrenabaque.
See the details
If you have a flight or a bus that afternoon, tell us when you book.
Differences between the 2-day and the 3-day programs
Both programs start the same way: departure by road, lunch in Santa Rosa del Yacuma, a boat trip on the Yacuma River, a night at the Acuario eco-lodge, a sunset viewpoint, group dinner and a night boat trip. The last day is also the same: sunrise with birds, breakfast, a trip to the places where you can swim with dolphins and a buffet lunch at the lodge. The difference is the middle day.
One night at the lodge. The second day closes the program with the sunrise, the dolphin swim and lunch, and at 2:00 pm you head back to Rurrenabaque.
Adds a full day and a second night at the lodge. It includes a walk in search of the anaconda and the wildlife of the pampa, with no capture or contact with the animals, a buffet lunch, rest in the hammocks, piranha fishing with a hook and a buffet dinner. The return time to Rurrenabaque is confirmed when you book.
If you have little time or arrive in Rurrenabaque just before the tour, the 2-day program includes the boat trips, the night at the lodge and the dolphin swim. If you prefer a calmer pace and a whole day in the pampa, choose the 3-day program.
What is included in this tour?
Included
- Accommodation in a shared room (one night)
- Buffet-style meals, as per the itinerary
- Round-trip transport: Rurrenabaque, Santa Rosa del Yacuma and back
- Boat trips on the Yacuma River, by day and by night
- Walk to the sunset viewpoint
- Sunrise bird-watching outing and trip to the dolphin swimming spots
Not included
- Private room with a shower (optional): 60 USD supplement for the stay, for 2 people
- Park entrance fee: Bs 200 for foreign tourists, Bs 50 for national tourists (paid on site, in cash)
- Municipal tax of Bs 10, paid before the tour begins (on site, in cash)
- Trip from La Paz to Rurrenabaque (flight or bus)
- Tips
- Travel insurance
What do you need to know before booking?
When to go and climate
The climate is tropical, with an annual average of about 26 °C and extremes ranging from 7 to 38 °C. Rain is concentrated from December to March, and December and January are the wettest months.
May to October is the driest season and the one with the most visitors: wildlife tends to gather near the rivers, but that does not guarantee seeing any particular animal. From November to March there is more rain and more mosquitoes, some roads can be cut off and there are fewer people.
How to get to Rurrenabaque
The tour leaves from Rurrenabaque, in the Beni department, at 274 m above sea level. The trip from La Paz to Rurrenabaque is not included in the price. You have two options: a flight of about 40 minutes, or a bus of 14 to 20 hours through the Yungas.
As of September 2026, the flight depends on a few flights per week and cancellations due to bad weather are frequent. For that reason we recommend arriving a day early before the tour begins. More details in our guide to the Bolivian Amazon.
What to bring
- Lightweight long-sleeved clothing. Protects you from the sun and mosquitoes.
- Quick-dry long pants. In case you get wet.
- Closed shoes that can get wet. For the boat and for walking.
- Light rain jacket. In case it rains.
- Insect repellent with DEET, sunscreen and a hat. For the day and the sunrise.
- Headlamp. For the nights at the lodge and the night boat trip.
- Cash in bolivianos. There are no ATMs at the lodges.
- Small backpack. To carry what you need during the day.
Entrance fees and payments on site
The park entrance fee is Bs 200 for foreign tourists and Bs 50 for national tourists. There is also a municipal tax of Bs 10, paid before the tour begins.
These amounts are not included in the price, and they are paid in cash. Since there are no ATMs at the lodges, withdraw money in Rurrenabaque before you leave. Tips and travel insurance are not included either.
Health: yellow fever, malaria and dengue
The CDC recommends the yellow fever vaccine for areas below 2,300 m east of the Andes, which include the Beni. It is best to get it at least about 10 days before the trip, and Bolivia may ask for the certificate at some entry points, so carry it with you. There is also a risk of malaria and dengue below 2,500 m, including the Rurrenabaque area.
To prevent illness, see a travel doctor before the trip, use insect repellent with DEET, wear long clothing at dawn and dusk and sleep under a mosquito net. If you have a fever during the trip or after returning, see a doctor and say where you traveled. Informational only, not medical advice. You will find more about vaccines and insurance in our guide to preparing your trip to Bolivia.
Before you book: payment, cancellation and the unexpected
Payment and booking
When you book, you pay 30% of the total: 15% as a booking payment (arras, non-refundable) and 15% as a deposit. Then a second deposit of 20% 30 days before departure and the remaining 50% 7 days before departure. If you book 15 days or less before departure, you pay 100% of the total when you book and it is non-refundable. If a payment does not arrive by its due date, the booking is cancelled automatically. You can pay in foreign currency with Libélula, RedEnlace and Revolut, or by bank card, QR code or bank transfer; the payment provider may charge transaction fees.
Cancellation and date changes
More than 45 days before departure: 100% of the deposit (15%) is refunded, less bank fees for the money transfer; the booking payment (arras) is not refunded. From 45 to 31 days: 50% of the deposit is retained, which corresponds to the pre-payment of lodging, transfers or others. From 30 to 8 days: 100% of what you paid is retained. From 7 days to 24 hours: everything you paid is retained. Less than 24 hours, and in case of a no-show: the full price is due. Date change: possible depending on the availability of the company and of our providers, with a new quote; sums already paid to providers are not refundable and must be paid again. If Terra Alta cancels or postpones the trip, you choose a new date at no extra cost or a refund of what you paid, except costs already paid to providers that cannot be recovered.
Prices
Prices are in US dollars per person, based on a group of 6 people, in a shared departure.
Blockades, closed roads and weather
A flooded salt flat (roughly December to April) is not a reason to cancel: the tour goes ahead with an itinerary adapted by the guide, with the mirror effect, and Incahuasi island may not be reachable; no refund is due for the visits that change. If a dangerous external event (a storm, heavy snowfall or another natural event) or social unrest or a blockade requires it, Terra Alta may modify, postpone or cancel the trip to protect travellers; what applies is what is provided for a cancellation by Terra Alta.
Tips and expenses
Tips are not included and are voluntary. Entrance fees listed in bolivianos are approximate and may change; they are paid on site, in cash.
Insurance
Terra Alta does not include travel insurance. If you wish, we recommend taking out a policy with medical assistance and repatriation from high altitude.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pace of a 2-day, 1-night tour?
It is a short program with almost continuous activity. On the first day you travel by road, take a boat trip by day, walk to a viewpoint and go out on the water again at night. On the second day you get up early to see the sunrise and the birds, go to the dolphin swimming spots and return to Rurrenabaque at 2:00 pm. Apart from the road trip, the activity is by boat, plus one walk to the viewpoint.
What does the 122 USD price include?
It includes accommodation in a shared room, buffet-style meals and round-trip transport between Rurrenabaque and Santa Rosa del Yacuma. It does not include the park entrance fee (Bs 200 foreign, Bs 50 national), the municipal tax of Bs 10, the trip from La Paz to Rurrenabaque, tips or travel insurance. The entrance fee and the tax are paid on site and in cash, so bring bolivianos. If you prefer a private room with a shower, the supplement is 60 USD for the stay, for 2 people.
What animals can be seen on this program?
On the Yacuma River you can see birds, reptiles, dolphins, primates, felines and other animals. Seeing any particular species is not guaranteed, because the animals live in the wild. Do not expect to see a jaguar: it is very hard to spot. Wildlife is watched from the boat or on foot.
What is the dolphin swim like, and who can do it?
On the second day the program includes a visit to places where you can swim with dolphins, following the guide's instructions. The minimum age and the group size are confirmed when you book. If you have health concerns or are traveling with children, tell us before you book.
What should I bring?
Bring lightweight long-sleeved clothing, quick-dry long pants, closed shoes that can get wet, a light rain jacket and a swimsuit. Add insect repellent with DEET, sunscreen, a hat, a headlamp and a small backpack. Also bring cash in bolivianos: there are no ATMs at the lodges. Ask a travel doctor about the yellow fever vaccine and about preventing dengue and malaria.
Guides to prepare your trip: The Bolivian Amazon: Rurrenabaque, Madidi and the pampas · preparing a trip to Bolivia: visa, vaccines and money
From USD 122 / person
If you pass through La Paz before or after the pampas, also see our one-day city tour: La Paz in a Day
