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A natural Journey from the deep and complex forest in the Amazon Rainforest to the simplicity of the Andes and ancient Lake Titikaka...

Un viaje natural desde la complejidad de la Amazonía hasta la sencillez de los Andes y el ancestral lago Titikaka...

14 days throughout Bolivia starting in the amazonian lowlands,visiting ancient ruins, bathing in hotsprings and crystal clear rivers, bird and butterfly watching, quality food for body and soul, comfortable and high standard lodging (3*** and up), cleaning and renovating the spirit, dancing, sharing and enjoying life, own vehicles, wonderful guides, musicians and even a private cook when needed... a life time experience.

As we climb up from the complexity of the Amazon rainforest, we will also be leaving behind the complex lifestyles of modern civilization, to inmerse ourselves in the simplicity of the Andes mountains, the magic of Lake Titikaka and the wisdom of the Aymara and Quechua cultures...

Who are we?

The Latin American Permaculture Institute (ILP) and The Ecovillage Network of the Americas (ENA) are grassroot institutions working in the field of ecology and building ecovillages through careful ecological design (Permaculture) To know more about permaculture and ecovillages

See also: Permacultura: www.7generaciones.org

www.gaia.org / http://ena.ecovillage.org / www.ilpermacultura.org

What is an Ecovillage?

An ecovillage is a human-scale full-featured settlement in which human activities are harmlessly integrated into the natural world in a way that is supportive of healthy human development and can be successfully continued into the indefinite future.

¿Qué es una Ecoaldea?

Robert Gilman

"Una Ecoaldea es un asentamiento a escala humana de rasgos holísticos, donde las actividades humanas están integradas al mundo natural de manera no dañina, de tal forma que den apoyo al desarrollo humano saludable y que pueda continuarse indefinidamente en el futuro".

Why do we work with ECOTOURISM? Because building ecovillages cost time/money/creativity/human resources, etc.

Por qué trabajamos con ECOTURISMO? Porque construir ecoaldeas cuesta tiempo/dinero/creatividad/recursos humanos, etc.

Idealism must be met with realism. Building a better future, creating ecological job opportunities for natives and improving the environment to a healthy level, mean investments. In order to generate economical ressources to achieve these goals, we work with ecovillage tourism and ecotourism. By joinning any of our programs you become an active contributor / worker for the planets health. People travel anyway, why not travel making sense?

We can taylor your trip according to your needs and desires. These 4 options are just some of the many options you can get. We offer a wide variety of tours that follow the patern from the Amazon to the Andes for just about every budget... please contact us directly if you have some friends you may want to travel with. We can organize private trips too!!!!

Your Journey starts as follows:

Package 1

Day 1 - Airport welcome by our crew. Spending the day in Santa cruz 400m.o.s.l. We visit a 5,5 ha. botanic garden with an amazing variety of rainforest plants. welcome dinner in the evening, resting from a long trip at a beautiful hotel near Santa Cruz.
Day 2 - Traveling to Samaipata. A jewel village surrounded by Inka ruins. A paradise on earth 120 km from Sta.Cruz. Lodging in beautiful ecological cabins.
Day 3 - Visit to the ruins and outdoor activities.
Day 4 - Travel to the Amazon Rainforest - Chapare - Lodging in a beautiful hotel inside the jungle. Clear rivers with small fish, natural pools and lots of sun, great food from the rainforest.
Day 5 - Enjoying the Amazon and celebrating life. Jungle party at night.
Day 6 - Visiting a project based on rescueing captive jungle animals from hunters and zoos and trainning them to live in the rainforest again. We departure after lunch towards an Inka ritual site and continue traveling towards the Andes spending the night in cozy cabins and a fireplace at the Corani lagoon near the Cochabamba valley.
Day 7 - Leaving after breakfast and arrival to the city of Cochabamba 2800 m.o.s.l. Visiting "El Poncho Ecocenter" and the village of Marquina. Bathing in hotsprings and having a great time. Good hotel accomodation in the very center of Cochabamba.
Day 8 - Departure towards Lake Titikaka. We stop at Lahuachaca, visiting an ecological house project and an Pre Inka Cementery which no ordinary tourist would ever find. We spend the night at the Viscachani hotsprings in comfortable cabins with private hot pools and a taste of the Aymara culture.
Day 9 - Leaving after breakfast. Lake Titikaka, visit to the RA II and Tigris boat builders museum, with a little luck we may meet one of the Aymara natives that worked with Thor Heyerdhal, lunch at the Titikaka Hotel. Continue crossing by boat the titikaka "estrecho de Tiquina". Arrival at the Copacabana Village which has the only church built in arabian style in the whole Bolivia. We spend the night at a colonial style hotel.
Day 10 - Visiting the Sun and Moon Island. Spending the night inside the priestess ruins in tents (for those who want to spend the night in a highly energetic sacred ancient temple). Those who do not want to experience the temple so closely will travel back to the hotel in Copacabana.
Day 11 - Getting together after brunch and traveling to city La Paz. We just pass the city and head directly towards the highest point of the journey. The Andes mountains pass to the Subtropical rainforest. Bolivias toughest road will add excitement to your life. We arrive to Coroico, a heavenly little village inside the mountains, warm and exotic. At 1500 m.o.s.l. We stay the rest of the journey in a beautiful ecological hotel owned by a German lady. Ecological cabins with an amazing view of the mountains. Dinner at a French restaurant owned and runned by a french couple.
Day 12 - Relaxing in the sun, swimming pool, maybe getting a massage by the hotel owner, eating fresh fruit, horse ridding, doing exactly what you want.
Day 13 - A day trip to a beautiful little hideout by the river. Swim in the waters that run from the Andes towards the Amazon. Later at night Salsa party.
Day 14 - Leaving towards La Paz early in the morning. Handcraft shoping for the ones who may want to do that. Sleeping in the city for the last night.
Day 15 - Driving you to the Airport and saying good bye.

Cost per person $us 2.200.- + Air ticket

Note that ticket prices may vary from country to country.

Includes:

Transportation from/to the airport (arriving to Sta. cruz, departing from La Paz)
All ground transportation in own vehicles
14 nights of hotel accomodation (3 - 5*****)
3 daily meals
All events and surprises
All guides (at least one speaks your language)

Package 2

Day 1 - Airport welcome by our crew. Spending the day in Santa cruz 400m.o.s.l. We visit a 5,5 ha. botanic garden with an amazing variety of rainforest plants. welcome dinner in the evening, resting from a long trip at a beautiful hotel near Santa Cruz.
Day 2 - Traveling to Samaipata. A jewel village surrounded by Inka ruins. A paradise on earth 120 km from Sta.Cruz. Lodging in beautiful ecological cabins.
Day 3 - Visit to the ruins and outdoor activities.
Day 4 - Travel to the Amazon Rainforest - Chapare - Lodging in a beautiful hotel inside the jungle. Clear rivers with small fish, natural pools and lots of sun, great food from the rainforest.
Day 5 - Enjoying the Amazon and celebrating life. Jungle party at night.
Day 6 - Visiting a project based on rescueing captive jungle animals from hunters and zoos and trainning them to live in the rainforest again. We departure after lunch towards an Inka ritual site and continue traveling towards the Andes spending the night in cozy cabins and a fireplace at the Corani lagoon near the Cochabamba valley.
Day 7 - Leaving after breakfast and arrival to the city of Cochabamba 2800 m.o.s.l. Visiting "El Poncho Ecocenter" and the village of Marquina. Bathing in hotsprings and having a great time. Good hotel accomodation in the very center of Cochabamba.
Day 8 - Departure towards Lake Titikaka. We stop at Lahuachaca, visiting an ecological house project and an Pre Inka Cementery which no ordinary tourist would ever find. We spend the night at the Viscachani hotsprings in comfortable cabins with private hot pools and a taste of the Aymara culture.
Day 9 - Leaving after breakfast. Lake Titikaka, visit to the RA II and Tigris boat builders museum, with a little luck we may meet one of the Aymara natives that worked with Thor Heyerdhal, lunch at the Titikaka Hotel. Continue crossing by boat the titikaka "estrecho de Tiquina". Arrival at the Copacabana Village which has the only church built in arabian style in the whole Bolivia. We spend the night at a colonial style hotel.
Day 10 - Visiting the Sun and Moon Island. Spending the night inside the priestess ruins in tents (for those who want to spend the night in a highly energetic sacred ancient temple). Those who do not want to experience the temple so closely will travel back to the hotel in Copacabana.
Day 11 - Travel to Cuzco and Machupichu. Stay in Cuzco for the night. Dinner and peña
Day 12 - 13 visiting Aguas Calientes and Machupichu
Day 14 - Leaving towards La Paz early in the morning. Handcraft shoping for the ones who may want to do that. Sleeping in the city for the last night.
Day 15 - Driving you to the Airport and saying good bye.

Cost per person $us 2.400.- + Air ticket

Note that ticket prices may vary from country to country.

Includes:

Transportation from/to the airport (arriving to Sta. cruz, departing from La Paz)
All ground transportation in own vehicles
14 nights of hotel accomodation (3-5*****)
3 daily meals
All events and surprises
All guides (at least one speaks your language)

Package 3

Day 1 - Airport welcome by our crew. Spending the day in La Paz at 3600 m.o.s.l. We rest from a long trip at a nice little hotel in La Paz, get used to the high altitude and try the tasty bolivian cusine.
Day 2 - Traveling to the sub tropical rainforest. We take the Andes mountains pass to the Subtropical rainforest. Bolivias toughest road will add excitement to your life. We arrive to Coroico, a heavenly little village inside the mountains, warm and exotic. At 1500 m.o.s.l. We stay at a beautiful ecological hotel owned by a German lady. Ecological cabins with an amazing view of the mountains. Dinner at a French restaurant owned and runned by a french couple.
Day 3 - Visit to a village near Coroico with African heritage and outdoor activities during the day.
Day 4 - Relaxing in the sun, swimming pool, maybe getting a massage by the hotel owner, eating fresh fruit, horse ridding, doing exactly what you want.
Day 5 - A day trip to a beautiful little hideout by the river. Swim in the waters that run from the Andes towards the Amazon. Jungle party at night.
Day 6 - Trekking inside the subtropical rainforest.
Day 7 - Leaving after late breakfast towards Cochabamba. We spend the night at the Viscachani hotsprings in comfortable cabins with private hot pools and a taste of the Aymara culture.
Day 8 - Leaving after breakfast. We stop at Lahuachaca, visiting an ecological house project and an Pre Inka Cementery which no ordinary tourist would ever find. Arrival to the city of Cochabamba 2800 m.o.s.l. Visiting "El Poncho Ecocenter" and the village of Marquina. Bathing at night in hotsprings and having a great time under the stars.
Day 8 - Cochabamba city day, visiting important historical places and the Patiño mansion, dinner at a very special place, accomodation in a cozy hotel in the center of the city.
Day 9 - Leaving after breakfast. Lake Titikaka, visit to the RA II and Tigris boat builders museum, with a little luck we may meet one of the Aymara natives that worked with Thor Heyerdhal, dinner and spending the night at the Titikaka Hotel.
Day 10 - We continue traveling crossing by boat the titikaka "estrecho de Tiquina". Arrival at the Copacabana Village which has the only church built in arabian style in the whole Bolivia. We spend the night at a nice little hotel.
Day 11 - Visiting the Sun and Moon Island. Spending the night inside the priestess ruins in tents (for those who want to spend the night in a highly energetic sacred ancient temple). Those who do not want to experience the temple so closely will travel back to the hotel in Copacabana.
Day 12 - Getting together after breakfast and traveling to La Paz. Arriving to La Paz for lunch. Handcraft shoping for the ones who may want to do that. Sleeping in the city for the last night.
Day 13 - Driving you to the Airport and saying good bye.

Cost per person $us 1.500.- + Air ticket

Note that ticket prices may vary from country to country.

Includes:

Transportation from/to the airport (arriving/departing from La Paz)
All ground transportation in own vehicles
12 nights of hotel accomodation (2-4***)
3 daily meals
All events and surprises
All guides (at least one speaks your language)

Package 4 Backpackers tour - volunteers only

Cost per person $us 390.- you have to be a volunteer at "El Poncho Ecocenter" for a month before you can participate of this trip. Only groups of 6 - 10 people.

This pilgrimage from the Amazon to the Andes Includes:

Introduction to the Andes medicin wheel
All ground transportation
10 days of traveling through sacred places and working with the Andean medicin wheel. (basic standard and camping)
3 daily meals
All events and surprises
All guides (at least one speaks your language)

This type of pilgrimage is being developed all the time and our goal in the future, after finishing the building of the ecoenter at Marquina, is to travel from the Amazon to the Andes, planting trees and bringing the ecovillage and Permaculture strategies to the sacred places we visit. The andean Amazonic pilgrim tree planting brigades will join forces to bring life, love, healing and peace by planting trees. The light and rainbow warriors rerspons to corporate and industrialized world leader genocide in developing countries. A burning core of love mutating distorted energies into healing ones...

What do we recommend you to bring for the tour?

- Sleeping bag, an inflatable matress is a good idea, flashlight and mosquito repelent.

- Warm clothes - Mountain boots, wool socks, wool coat / pullover, Wind jacket and a wool hat.

- Summer clothes - bathing suit, T-shirts, shorts, sandals and jogging shoes.

- Innciense, music, walkman and a musical instrument. (optional)

- Sun cream # 15 - 50 depending on your skin type. Sun protection hat and sun glasses.

- Do not forget the necessary vaccines. Yellow fever, Hepatitis, Tifoid fever and Tetanus. Malaria pills are not necessary except for the trip to rainforest. Malaria pills give side effects like hair fall ,diziness and do not guarantee the traveler will not get Malaria. If someone takes Malaria pills and gets Malaria anyway, higher doses will be needed in order to cure the sickness and these pills do not guarantee to cure the individual at all. We advise you to use only mosquito repelent during the week in the jungle and a good mosquito net to sleep at night.

Facts about Bolivia

Bolivia is a beautiful country in the heart of South America. With only 7 million people and an area of 1.098.000 sq. km, is the least dense populated country in latin America. The vast majority (70%) of the population is from indigenous descent and mostly selfreliant living all over Bolivia in small villages.

Bolivia is a country of contrasts, one can find just about every ecosystem available, from the snow dressed mountains of the Andes, passing through fertile valleys and silty rivers, we find the subtropics and the tropical rainforest which is part of the Amazon basin.

Mighty rivers like the Beni which are afluents of the Amazonas are a part of the great water cycle starting at the top of the Andes and running down to the Atlantic ocean, the same water that goes back to the mountain chain in the form of snow.

Bolivia does not have an access to the sea, that is probably why culture has been kept alive, handcrafts and cultural inspiration have an unusual quality compared to neighboring countries. Bolivia has remained rich in natural resources and poor economically, a country that has kept its exotic beauty, maybe because it is less developed. In a time where development has proven to be very harmful for nature and the planet, we have in Bolivia a beautiful native jewel, wild and still undiscovered, with ancient history going back long before the Inkas, a history of wisdom and a heritage to be discovered.

Welcome to the ILP/ENA in Bolivia. We are here to do a little more than just ECOTOURISM we are here to start a sacred pilgrim journey ... which probably will last a life time... A journey like the ancient nations of the Andes traveled in time, traveling through the Inka roads with salt blocks and potatoes and exchanging them for musical pipe instruments and corn... from the Andes to the Amazon.