Chalalan Ecolodge
Madidi National Park, Bolivia
Latin American countries are responding to the
world’s call for destinations that respect the natural
environment and educate visitors. In Bolivia, an exist-ing
backpacker camp in the remote jungles of Chalalan is
being enhanced to accommodate ecotourists drawn to the
area’s stunning landscapes and biodiversity.
Conservation International funded this project for the
250 residents of San Jose, a village near Chalalan, to
own, manage and operate the ecolodge and
approximately 500 acres as part of a larger plan to build
a sustainable economy. The villagers’ participation was
essential to ensuring a realistic and relevant final master
plan, so Design Workshop conducted the planning
process on site. Local customs and building techniques
served as a framework for the plan, which calls for
additional dining, lodging and interpretive facilities, a
trail system, trained local guides, a biological research
station and an informal birding program.
DESIGNWORKSHOP
River Access to Chalalan
Chalalan Master Plan
The Ecolodge Village
Planning Charette With Local Residents
