Bolivia Travel Forum

Hello,
I am heading into Bolivia for a month and want to do the jungle trip based out of Rurrenabaque but I am a bit concerned about safety. I recently read a couple of books ( one by a Canadian guy and the other by an Israeli) and they both seem to have barely escaped their trips alive. Is it really that dangerous or are these guys drumming it up a bit to sell copies of their books?
I am going with my girlfriend and she is quite new to the travel thing.

A versão em inglês deste guia aponta para a necessidade de cuidados extras que as mulheres devem ter nessa viagem. Segundo depoimentos, várias turistas foram drogadas e abusadas nas excursões pela floresta. O site ainda salienta a necessidade de escolher cuidadosamente o guia de viagem e a recusa de qualquer tipo de medicamento de procedência desconhecida.
I will translate from portuguese do english. The upper text pasted was in Wikitravel site for tourists. The translation I will do below:
"The english version of this note points out to extra watch out for women at a
journey like that. According some past testimonies several tourists had been
druged and raped at Rurrenabaque jungle arounds. Wikitravel site notes the tourists shall choose a distinguished guide before starting the trip and refuse any kind of medicine without proved good origin."
It's not a good new for you...
Cassiovieggore

My girlfriend and I went alone on a 10 day jungle trek with our guide and cook/porter. We all carried full packs and trekked along the Rio Araña until it met up with the Rio Tuichi where we were picked up by boat for the trip back to Rurre. It was the best jungle trip we did in 2.5 years of traveling from Argentina to Mexico! I would do it again if given the chance. We were a bit hesitant being just the two of us but it turned out to make the trip. These trips are very inexpensive, include basic food, a tent, great guiding (not a word of English but also very accommodating when you don't understand) and your boat trip. Park entry is separate. My recommendation is to check out Jaguar Tours but ask for Rene as your guide (Floriam was our cook) – he is fantastic! He was also doing trips out of another office in Rurre that I think he was part owner of. Whichever company you go with try to go by the advice of other travelers and I think you will be fine – of course there is always the risk that you will get on a tour with a less than reputable guide so get names of guides too not just companies.

Just my two cents –

Scott

Ok. Thanks. I will be sure to do some more homework.

Aside from the risks of less than honest guides, did anyone have trouble with the elements of nature - ie. bot flies, spiders, malaria???

Thanks,
redant

Girlfriend got a bot fly on her rear end. No real biggie, though we did let it go a bit long before 'ass'essing it properly (a month if you can believe that). Got it out by suffocating it with vaseline overnight and then popping it out like a ripe pimple. Disgusting but cool! Don't worry too much about crazy things that are beyond your control. Go man go!

Scott

Hi I am currently volunteering in Rurrenabaque with an excellent eco-conservation agency called Madidi Travel, they operate in Serere, part of the Madidi Mosaic. From my experience the Jungle is not a dangerous place at all provided you have a good experienced guide, careful as some of the cheaper companies dont use very muich discretion when hiring guides and there are plenty of fakes out there. Id also highly recommend going with one of the conservation companies as many of the others damage the environments they visit and the animals.