Rurrenabaque is a smaller town in the North of Bolivia, on the Beni River. It has in recent years become popular with international tourism as it is an easy gateway for visits to Madidi National Park (within the Bolivian rainforest), as well as the surrounding pampas. Locals commonly refer to the town by its shortened nickname, "Rurre".
Rurrenabaque is in the José Ballivián Province of the Beni Department, Bolivia. The Rurrenabaque municipio (Cuarta sección de José Ballivián) has 14,000 inhabitants out of which 8,000 live in Rurrenabaque itself. (Censo 2001, according to http://www.ine.gov.bo Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Bolivia).
Rurrenabaque is reached by bus, 410 km from La Paz (18 hours), or by airplane (1 hour). Two airlines have flights to Rurrenabaque: Amaszonas (Línea Aérea Amaszonas) and TAM - Transporte Aéreo Militar. The bus from La Paz pass through Coroico, 70 km from La Paz. On a part of the road from La Paz to Coroico a new highway has been opened at the end of 2006, and the old 'death road' is now only for bikers. This 'death road' is also called the Yungas Road.
Rurrenabaque is on the east bank of the Beni River. It is expected that a bridge will be built over the river to connect with the town San Buenaventura on the west bank. The coming bridge is a part of a road project that is expected to be carried out in the years from 2008. It will considerably broaden the economic relationship between the two towns, which has been traditionally stunted by limited and expensive transport by boat. Since the river simultaneously widens and shallows at the San Buenaventura section, the top current becomes much stronger than on many sections of the river. Most boats and motors capable of crossing the stretch of river represent an investment beyond the means of most individual Bolivian families, but a bridge will allow San Buenaventura to enjoy the same accessibility as that enjoyed between Rurrenabaque and the neighboring town of Reyes. (...)
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