The indigenous people of San José de Uchupiamonas are Quechua-Tacana. 20 years ago we realized that we had to do something to protect our environment from the threat of deforestation of our tropical rainforest and our people leaving the area taking with them our ancient culture based on living in harmony with nature. Ecotourism was and still is the best option to keep our culture alive. The Chalalán project is the most successful effort made by indigenous people in Bolivia and Latin America to continue living in harmony with our environment as our ancestors have done for centuries. We are very proud that the Chalalán Ecolodge is 100% run and owned by our indigenous community.

Because of the Chalalán ecotourism project, our community now has the titles to our land, clean drinking water, and health and education services. Ecotourism has given us the chance to train our people to internationally-recognized standards. Everyone employed in Chalalán comes from our community and 100% of the profits made by the Chalalán Ecolodge go back to our community.
Thanks to our recognition of the importance of conservation and the support of all our visitors who have enjoyed and seen the value of Chalalán, our community has set up important links with the rest of the world.

Visitors to Chalalán are immediately struck by the fact that in our forests no species is in danger of extinction. Because our community wisely manages our resources and how far we are from mass tourism, we are one of the last remaining tracts of intact forest in the world.
Scientific knowledge and the ancestral wisdom of our indigenous guides trained in the last years come together to give you a fresh look at the most complex, delicate and diverse ecosystem in the world.
This is where we have our roots and why we are committed to protecting and conserving the tropical rainforest of the Madidi National Park and its innumerable species.

One of our goals is to ensure that our visitors are welcomed into a warm, family atmosphere where our traditional style melds with your requests for comfort and security. This is why Chalalán uses safe, comfortable means of transport, has an international menu with traditional touches, comfortable, clean cabins and rooms made from local materials designed to blend in with the surrounding primary forest. We are especially interested in your interests so at Chalalán we offer programs that can be changed at your request (bird watching, medicinal plants, wildlife watching, cultural exchange, canoe rides, etc.).
By offering you our hospitality we hope that you will share our dedication to conservation and pass it on to others who in turn will become committed to protecting and conserving nature and cultures.

Because we are located right in the center of the park with the most biodiversity in Latin America and the world, coming to Chalalán is the best way to learn about the isolated culture of the Uchupiamonas indigenous people. Madidi has an area of 1,895,750 hectares ranging from 6,000 to 200 meters above sea level. It is home to an overwhelming biodiversity of flora and fauna; over 1000 bird species, 44% of all neotropical mammals, 38% of amphibians and over 6,000 higher plant species– more than any other park in the world. We recognize the beauty that surrounds it and how much it is worth to the world and the need to preserve it.
Your trip to Chalalán is a chance to ensure the future of the Madidi National Park. For us, the people of San José de Uchupiamonas, Chalalán is our greatest commitment to nature and future generations.