Skip to content
Pampas del Yacuma Bolivia — praderas inundables, delfines rosados y caimanes. Foto: Un Mundo por Recorrer
capibara
— Flooded grasslands · Beni, Bolivia3h · Rurrenabaque

Pampas del
Yacuma.

Pink dolphins alongside the boat. Anacondas on the banks. Caimans at eye level. Bolivia's highest wildlife density, three hours from Rurrenabaque.

What you'll see ↓When to go ↓Gallery ↓
From Rurrenabaque
3h by boat
Altitude
~180m
Pink dolphins
Daily sightings
Anacondas
High probability
Best season
May – Oct
Min. duration
2 nights / 3 days
— How long you need

Three itineraries. One living ecosystem.

2 nights / 3 days
  • Day 1: Rurrenabaque → 3h boat → pampas lodge arrival at noon
  • Afternoon: first boat excursion — pink dolphins, first wildlife contact
  • Day 2: Dawn excursion + morning + afternoon + night caiman tour
  • Day 3: Final dawn + return boat → Rurrenabaque → La Paz flight

The minimum viable. 4–5 boat excursions. Enough to see the main species. Adding 1 more night changes everything.

3 nights / 4 days
  • Days 1–3: Pampas — 6+ boat excursions · dawn · dusk · night tour
  • Extra day allows exploring more remote channels and increasing species count
  • Day 4: Return to Rurrenabaque · free afternoon · flight or continue to Madidi

The ideal pampas itinerary. Enough time to feel the ecosystem's rhythm and see virtually everything.

5 nights (combo)
  • Days 1–2: Pampas del Yacuma (flooded grassland wildlife)
  • Day 3: Transit — night in Rurrenabaque
  • Days 4–5: Serere Sanctuary or lower Madidi jungle

The perfect combination for maximum distinct habitats in one week. Pampas + jungle = two completely different Bolivias.

— What to see in Pampas del Yacuma

Six encounters you won\'t forget.

🐬
Yacuma river channels · daily

Pink River Dolphins

Bolivia's endemic freshwater dolphin

The bufeo colorado (Inia boliviensis) is Bolivia's endemic pink river dolphin — distinct from the Peruvian/Brazilian boto. Adults reach 2.5m and 180kg. They travel in family groups and approach boats voluntarily out of curiosity. On most tours in dry season, dolphins surface within the first hour. Some operators offer a supervised swimming interaction in a calm canal — dolphins choose whether to approach.

Local tip
Only swim with dolphins through operators who follow non-disturbance protocols: no chasing, no feeding, no blocking escape routes. The dolphins come to you — or they don't. Forced encounters stress the animals and damage the population over time.
🐍
Riverbanks · morning

Anaconda Tracking

Green anaconda — world's heaviest snake

The green anaconda (Eunectes murinus) can reach 8m and 250kg — the world's heaviest snake. In dry season, anacondas bask on the riverbanks to regulate body temperature. Your guide spots them from the boat, then approaches on foot for a closer look. Responsible operators observe without handling. An anaconda basking at full length on a riverbank — sometimes multiple metres from the bow — is one of the most primal encounters available.

Local tip
The pampas are the easiest place on earth to see wild anacondas. In dry season (May–Oct), riverbank sightings are near-daily. Never let anyone pick up or restrain an anaconda for a photo — it stresses the animal and signals a low-quality operator.
🐊
Yacuma channels · 8pm

Night Caiman Tour

Two species at eye level in the dark

Every pampas programme includes a night spotlight boat tour: black caimans (up to 6m) and spectacled caimans, their eyes reflecting the guide's light in bright orange dots across the surface. At night the channels feel entirely different — the sheer number of crocodilians visible within 100m of the boat is unlike anything you'll experience in a zoo or any other ecosystem on earth.

Local tip
Bring your own headlamp as backup. The guide's spotlight is powerful enough to reveal caimans 50m away. Do not shine lights into caimans' eyes for extended periods — it stresses them. The night sounds — frogs, insects, nightbirds — are worth recording.
🦔
Riverbanks · dawn and dusk

Capybara Watching

World's largest rodent — in herds of 20+

The capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is the world's largest rodent — up to 1.3m and 65kg. In the pampas they live in family groups of 10–30 on the riverbank, entering the water when threatened. Dawn and dusk are the best times to see them in large numbers, often sharing the bank with caimans in striking proximity.

Local tip
Capybaras and caimans coexist on the same banks in the pampas — sometimes separated by a few metres. The caimans take young capybaras but leave adults largely alone. This predator-prey coexistence, visible from the boat in the first light, is one of the most compelling sights in the pampas.
🦦
Remote channels · morning

Giant River Otter

Critically endangered — highly vocal

The giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is critically endangered globally with fewer than 5,000 individuals estimated in the wild. The pampas channels host family groups of 4–8. They are intensely vocal — their caterwauling alarm call carries across the water — and very territorial. A family at close range, standing upright on a bank to assess the boat, is one of Bolivia's top wildlife moments.

Local tip
Giant otters require patience and a guide who knows their territories. The best sightings happen when the guide cuts the motor early and drifts in silence. Don't attempt to follow or cut off their movement — they have young to protect.
🦅
All channels · dawn

Pampas Birding

100+ species in a single morning

The pampas are not just about mammals. The bird diversity is extraordinary: jabiru storks (the largest flying bird in the Americas, up to 1.4m wingspan), roseate spoonbills, sunbittern, sungrebe, a dozen kingfisher species, macaws flying overhead, herons in eight species, and the extraordinary capped heron. A serious birder can count 100+ species in a single dawn excursion.

Local tip
If birding is your priority, ask your pampas operator for a birding-specific guide (not all wildlife guides are trained ornithologists). The difference in species count is dramatic. Bring 8x42 binoculars minimum — the pampas offer open sightlines that the jungle doesn't.
— A day in the pampas

Six excursions a day. None the same.

05:00🌅
Dawn boat excursion
The richest hour of the day. Anacondas on the banks, birds in full activity, pink dolphins active. The horizontal light makes photography extraordinary.
08:30🍳
Breakfast at the lodge
Return to camp. Full breakfast. Time to review photos and talk through identified species with your guide.
10:00🛶
Morning boat excursion
Anaconda search on riverbanks. Exploration of secondary channels. Caimans are more visible with the sun high.
13:00🌿
Lunch and rest
Midday heat is intense. Wildlife also rests. It's the only low-activity window of the day.
16:00🦜
Sunset excursion
Capybaras emerge in herds on the banks. Birds return to roosts. The sunset light over the grasslands is spectacular.
20:00🔦
Night caiman tour
Spotlight boat tour. Caiman eyes reflected in the darkness. Frogs, insects and nightbirds. One of the most intense pampas experiences.
— Travel logistics

Getting there and what to bring.

✈️

How to get to the Pampas del Yacuma

  • Step 1: Fly La Paz to Rurrenabaque (25 min, ~$60–100 USD, TAM or Amaszonas)
  • Step 2: Evening before: briefing with your operator in Rurrenabaque
  • Step 3: Early morning (7am): motorised boat 3h down the Beni River to the Yacuma tributary
  • Step 4: Additional 1h through the Yacuma channels to the pampas lodge
  • Always book return flight with a 1-day buffer before any international connection
  • Access also possible from Trinidad (Beni capital) — 4h by boat on the Mamoré and Yacuma rivers
🎒

What to bring to the pampas

  • DEET 30%+ repellent — essential. Apply before each excursion and every 3h
  • SPF 50+ sunscreen (sun reflects off the water — burns twice as fast)
  • Wide-brim hat
  • Light long-sleeved top and trousers (sun protection + insects)
  • 8x42 binoculars minimum — pampas is open terrain, distances are long
  • Camera with telephoto or powerful zoom — 200mm minimum for dolphins and birds
  • Ziplock bags to protect equipment from boat spray
— Climate and seasons

When to visit the pampas.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
May – October
Dry season — maximum sightings
Water levels drop in the Yacuma channels, concentrating wildlife in smaller areas. Anacondas emerge on the banks. Pink dolphins gather in narrower pools. July and August are peak season — book 3–4 weeks ahead.
November – April
Wet season — still excellent
Pink dolphins are more active and move more freely at high water. Birdlife doesn't decrease — rain brings more water birds. Some pampas zones partially flood. Avoid February: peak flood, limited channel access.
Year-round
The pampas operate all 12 months
Unlike other Bolivia zones, the Yacuma pampas are accessible and productive year-round. Wildlife is always present. The difference between seasons is sighting density — not presence or absence.
— From the Pampas del Yacuma

Connected routes and ecosystems.

Ecosystems
bufeo
Amazonia
Madidi · Pampas · Delfines rosados
→
capibara
Llanos
Trinidad · Capibaras · Sabanas
→
Love Bolivia Routes
bufeo
02 · Amazon
El Bufeo
The Amazon river journey — navigate alongside pink dolphins from Rurrenabaque into primary jungle.
7–10 daysfrom €1,650
tapir
07 · Madidi
El Tapir
From La Paz to Rurrenabaque, pampas and then deep into Madidi by canoe up the Tuichi.
8–12 daysfrom €2,020
capibara
08 · Beni Pampas
La Capibara
The grand Beni pampas circuit — Rurrenabaque, Trinidad and the vast Llanos de Mojos.
6–9 daysfrom €1,470
FAQ

Questions about the Pampas.

Everything you need to know before you go.

Plan your trip →

The Pampas del Yacuma are tropical flooded grasslands in Bolivia's Beni department, 3 hours by motorised boat from Rurrenabaque. The flooded savanna ecosystem concentrates aquatic and terrestrial wildlife in navigable channels — producing near-guaranteed sightings of pink dolphins, anacondas, black caimans, capybaras, giant otters and hundreds of bird species.

In dry season (May–October), pink river dolphin (bufeo colorado, Inia boliviensis) sightings are near-guaranteed on every boat excursion. The dolphins surface spontaneously alongside the boat. Swimming interaction is possible in designated calm canals — dolphins approach voluntarily. Only do this with operators who don't chase or feed the dolphins.

Near-guaranteed in dry season: pink river dolphins, anacondas basking on banks, black and spectacled caimans, capybaras in herds, giant river otters, river turtles, jabiru storks, kingfishers, dozens of heron species and macaws. Night spotlight tours add caimans' glowing eyes and a remarkable chorus of frogs and insects.

From La Paz: fly to Rurrenabaque (25 min, ~$60–100 USD, TAM or Amaszonas), then motorised boat 3h+ to the pampas lodges. All logistics are managed by your pampas operator — they arrange the boat, guide, accommodation and meals. Always confirm your return flight the night before (weather cancellations are common) and build a 1-day buffer before international connections.

Minimum 2 nights (3 days): 4–5 boat excursions and one night tour. Ideal: 3 nights (4 days) — one extra day significantly increases species variety and the feeling of the place. To combine with jungle (Madidi or Chalalan): 2–3 nights pampas + 3 nights jungle = 7 nights total from Rurrenabaque.

May to October (dry season) is best: water levels drop in the Yacuma channels, concentrating wildlife and maximising sighting frequency. July and August are peak season — book 3–4 weeks ahead. November to April (wet season) still offers excellent wildlife — pink dolphins are more active at high water — but some channels flood. Avoid February: peak flooding season.

The bufeo colorado (Inia boliviensis) is Bolivia's endemic pink river dolphin — a species distinct from the Peruvian/Brazilian boto. Adults reach 2.5m and 180kg; the pink colour comes from blood vessels near the skin surface. They travel in family groups and are intensely curious about boats. In Amazonian cosmology they are considered shapeshifters. Daily sightings are standard on Yacuma pampas tours.

— Your Pampas del Yacuma trip

The dolphins are waiting.
Start here.

45 minutes. We design your pampas and Bolivian Amazon itinerary with responsible operators and a realistic budget.

$90 · €85 · Bs. 623

Book consultation → $90 · €85 · Bs. 623Rurrenabaque guide →