Transport in Riberalta - Lonely Planet Travel Information

Getting there & away

Contents

Land
Boat
Air

Land

Bus & camión

During the soggy rainy season (November to at least March), the mucky Riberalta–Guayaramerín road opens sporadically but, at such times, the La Paz road is closed. The bus terminal is 3km east of the center, along the Guayaramerín road.

In the dry season, several flotas do daily runs to and from Guayaramerín (US$2.75, three hours). Alternatively, try hitchhiking or waiting for a camiónalong Av Héroes del Chaco. This typically dusty trip passes through diminishing rainforest. All flotas between Guayaramerín and Cobija (US$12, 12 hours), Rurrenabaque (US$18, 17 to 40 hours) and La Paz (US$28, 35 to 60 hours) stop at Riberalta. Several flotas also go to Trinidad (US$20 to US$25, 17 hours) daily.

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Boat

The Río Beni passes through countless twisting kilometers of virgin rainforest and provides Bolivia’s longest single-river trip. Unfortunately, boats upriver to Rurrenabaque are now rare and, in any case, they normally only run when the road becomes impassable (October to May). For information on departures, check the notice board at the Capitanía del Puerto at the northern end of Calle Guachalla. Budget US$20 to US$30 (including meals and hammock space) for the five- to eight-day trip. Lucky Peru-bound travelers may also find cargo boats to the frontier at Puerto Heath, which has onward boats to Puerto Maldonado.

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Air

The airport is a 15-minute stroll south of the main plaza. Departing flights are subject to an airport tax of US$1 and a US$0.60 municipal tax. In the rainy season, however, flights are often canceled and you may be stuck awhile.

AeroSur (852-2798) and AeroCon (852-2870; airport)fly several times weekly to Trinidad, with connections to La Paz, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba. TAM (852-2646) flies from La Paz to Riberalta (US$88) on Tuesday and Thursday, returning to La Paz on Wednesday and Saturday. Amaszonas (852-3933; Chuquisaca at Sucre) shuttles daily between La Paz, San Borja, Trinidad, Riberalta and Guayaramerín.