What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Rurrenabaque, Bolivia.
Photo: Carlillasa / Wikimedia Commons
Rurrenabaque is a small town of about 21,240 people on the Beni River in Bolivia. Most visitors come for the nature around it rather than the town itself. It is the starting point for trips upriver into Madidi National Park and for Pampas Tours near Santa Rosa del Yacuma. In town, you can walk the Beni River waterfront or climb to Mirador La Cruz in 1–2 hours. June and July are the best months to go.
Plan your stay around the tours. Madidi National Park and the Pampas del Yacuma each take several days, so doing both means a long stay. Add a full day for Pilón Lajas or San Miguel del Bala, and half a day for San Buenaventura.
Upriver from Rurrenabaque
A huge protected area of rainforest that climbs from the Amazon lowlands toward the Andes. Most visitors take a guided tour up the Beni and Tuichi rivers to stay at a jungle lodge or camp. Expect forest walks, monkeys, macaws and night hikes.
Near Santa Rosa del Yacuma
Open wetlands and slow rivers where wildlife is easy to see from a boat. Tours usually look for pink river dolphins, caimans, capybaras and many birds. It is often the easier choice for people who want lots of animal sightings in a short time.
Madidi National Park
A lodge on a lake deep in Madidi, run by the Indigenous community of San José de Uchupiamonas. Guests take guided forest walks and canoe trips with local guides. Money from stays supports the community.
Upriver on the Beni River
A Tacana community lodge a short boat ride from town, at the edge of Madidi. It works well as a day trip if you have limited time, with forest trails and a visit to the community.
South of Rurrenabaque
A protected forest that is also an Indigenous territory, across the river from Madidi. Visits are often arranged through the community-run Mapajo Ecolodge, with walks and time with Tsimane and Mosetén families.
Hill above town
A viewpoint with a cross on the hill behind Rurrenabaque. The walk up is short but steep and hot. From the top you see the Beni River, the town and the forested hills, and many people go for sunset.
Town centre
The riverbank is where boats leave for jungle tours and where local life happens. It is a good place for an evening walk and to watch canoes come and go.
Across the Beni River
A quiet town on the opposite bank, reached by a short boat crossing. It feels more local than Rurrenabaque and is home to the Madidi park office. Go for a slower look at river-town life.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°C / 23°C | 24 days (289 mm) | 9.2 h/day | 2.6/10 |
| February | 30°C / 23°C | 23 days (347 mm) | 8.1 h/day | 2.8/10 |
| March | 30°C / 23°C | 22 days (297 mm) | 8.4 h/day | 2.8/10 |
| April | 30°C / 22°C | 18 days (179 mm) | 9.0 h/day | 3.0/10 |
| May | 28°C / 21°C | 12 days (96 mm) | 8.5 h/day | 5.6/10 |
| Best month: June | 27°C / 19°C | 9 days (80 mm) | 9.1 h/day | 6.5/10 |
| Best month: July | 28°C / 19°C | 6 days (46 mm) | 9.4 h/day | 6.8/10 |
| August | 30°C / 20°C | 8 days (54 mm) | 9.9 h/day | 4.4/10 |
| September | 32°C / 22°C | 9 days (78 mm) | 9.9 h/day | 1.7/10 |
| October | 33°C / 23°C | 14 days (148 mm) | 9.8 h/day | 0.3/10 |
| November | 32°C / 23°C | 17 days (214 mm) | 9.4 h/day | 2.0/10 |
| December | 31°C / 23°C | 23 days (293 mm) | 9.0 h/day | 2.4/10 |
High 30.5°C, with rain on 24 days and 289 mm. This is the most rain days of the year, so it scores just 2.6. Heavy rain falls almost daily.
High 30.1°C, 22.6 rain days and 347 mm, the most rain of any month. It scores 2.8 because of frequent downpours and humid heat.
High 30.1°C, 22.4 rain days and 297 mm. This is still the deep wet season and scores 2.8. Expect heavy rain most days and warm 23°C nights.
High 29.5°C, with rain days dropping to 18.1 and 179 mm. It scores 3: the rain eases but still falls on more than half the days.
High 27.7°C, with 11.7 rain days and 96 mm. It scores 5.6, an OK month, as the drier season starts and nights cool to 20.7°C.
High 27.1°C, the coolest of the year, with 9.1 rain days and 80 mm. A good month that scores 6.5, with lows near 19.4°C.
High 28°C, just 6.2 rain days and 46 mm, the driest month. This is the best score of the year at 6.8, with the coolest nights at 19°C.
High 30.3°C, 7.5 rain days and 54 mm, with 9.9 sun hours a day. It scores 4.4, an OK month, as the heat starts to build again.
High 32.4°C, 9.9 sun hours and 8.7 rain days. It scores 1.7: rain stays light, but the strong heat makes days hard work.
The hottest month, with highs of 32.8°C and lows of 23°C. Rain returns on 14.1 days. It has the lowest score of the year, 0.3, because of heat and more rain.
High 31.8°C, 17 rain days and 214 mm. It scores 2 because the weather is hot and humid as the wet season takes hold.
High 30.8°C, 22.6 rain days and 293 mm. It scores 2.4: the wet season is in full swing, with rain on most days and warm 23.3°C nights.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Bolivia →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for couples, sunset views, short stays
The streets along the Beni River give views of the water and the forested hills on the far bank, with a cooling breeze in the evening. Boats to the national park and to San Buenaventura leave from here, and the centre is a short walk away. Low-lying spots can be damp and buggy, especially in the rainy season.
Good for nature lovers, quiet, longer stays
Lodgings on the green slopes at the edge of town feel closer to the forest, with birdsong, gardens and hammocks instead of street noise. It suits travellers who want to rest between jungle and pampas trips. Expect steep walks back from town in the heat, and more insects than in the centre.
Good for slow travellers, local life, quiet
This small town across the Beni River is quieter and more local than Rurrenabaque, with a relaxed plaza and few visitors. Staying here gives a calmer, more everyday view of the region. You depend on the small boats across the river to reach tour agencies, restaurants and the airport road.
River fish wrapped in leaves and cooked over a fire, a dish from the local Tacana people. You often find it in riverside restaurants and on jungle or pampas tours.
Fresh fish from the Beni River, such as surubí or pacú, grilled or fried and served with rice, plantain and cassava. It is a common lunch in town.
Rice cooked with dried beef or chicken, often topped with a fried egg and fried plantain. It is everyday home cooking across the Beni lowlands.
Green plantain or cassava mashed with dried meat or cheese. Locals eat it for breakfast, often with coffee.
Large skewers of grilled beef, a speciality of Beni cattle country. It is usually served with cassava, rice and salad, often for a long weekend meal.
Mashed cassava mixed with cheese, then grilled or baked until golden. It is a popular snack from street stalls in the afternoon.
Best: May, Jun, Jul, Aug
Best: May, Jun, Jul, Aug
Best: Jun, Jul, Aug
June and July are the best months to visit Rurrenabaque. They are the driest and mildest time of year. July has about 6 rain days and 46 mm of rain, with highs of 28°C and lows of 19°C. June is similar, with about 9 rain days, 80 mm of rain and highs of 27.1°C. Both months get over 9 hours of sun a day.
August is a fair month for Rurrenabaque, but it is not as good as June or July. It stays dry, with 54 mm of rain over about 7.5 days, and it is one of the sunniest months at 9.9 hours a day. The heat builds, though. Highs reach 30.3°C, compared with 28°C in July.
The rainy season runs from December to March, and it is warm and very wet. Each of these months gets 289 to 347 mm of rain and 22 to 24 rain days. February is the wettest month at 347 mm. Highs stay around 30°C and lows around 23°C, so it feels humid. There are still 8 to 9 hours of sun a day.
October is the hottest month in Rurrenabaque, with average highs of 32.8°C. September is close behind at 32.4°C. Nights stay warm too, with lows of 22–23°C. In October the rain also returns, with about 14 rain days and 148 mm. This mix of heat and rain gives October the lowest weather score of the year.
Plan for several days, because the main trips from Rurrenabaque take time. Tours into Madidi National Park, stays at Chalalán Ecolodge and Pampas del Yacuma trips each take several days. San Miguel del Bala Ecolodge and Pilón Lajas Biosphere Reserve need a full day each. In town, Mirador La Cruz and the Beni River waterfront take 1–2 hours, and San Buenaventura takes half a day.
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