Rurrenabaque: History

Pre-20th-Century History

The Bolivian Amazon has always oozed mystery. The Inca believed that a powerful civilization lived in the great rainforest, and tried to conquer the area in the 15th century. The indigenous peoples of the western Bolivian Amazon, mainly the Moxos tribe, are said to have posed such a mighty resistance to the invading army, that once they realized they were unable to beat them, the Incas asked for an alliance and settled among the Moxos.

Spanish conquerors came a century later, looking for the mythical El Dorado (The Golden One). The Spanish spent the entire 16th century trying to discover the elusive kingdom, but, unfamiliar with the Amazonian rainforest environment, found nothing but death and disease. By the 17th century they moved their search elsewhere.

Though the Spanish were disappointed with their search in the Moxos region, the Jesuits saw their opportunity to 'spread the word' to the highly spiritual Moxeños. The tough missionaries were the first Europeans to significantly venture into the lowlands.

The original inhabitants of the Rurrenabaque area were the Tacana, one of the few lowland tribes that resisted Christianity. They are responsible for naming the Beni river, which means 'wind', as well as the curious name of 'Rurrenabaque', which is derived from 'Arroyo Inambaque', the Hispanicized version of the Tacana name 'Suse-Inambaque', the 'Ravine of Ducks'.

Modern History

The western Bolivian Amazon remained something of a backwater for a long time, but in the last few years a tourism boom in jungle tours has well and truly put it on the map. Although only a small town, Rurrenabaque has developed into the major traveler base here, with a growing number of tour agencies popping up to take you into the rainforest and pampas (wetland savannahs). Restaurants, cafes and hammock-laden hostels catering to Western tastes abound.

Recent History

With the rise in visitors to the region, ecotourism and sustainable travel have come into focus, but not all of the tour operators are genuinely environmentally responsible. Choose your operator carefully or opt for one of the community-run eco- and ethnotourism ventures which aim to help sustain indigenous village communities and preserve the rainforest and its wildlife for generations to come.

Other development in Rurrenabaque includes plans to build a bridge across the river to San Buenaventura, and to build a new all-weather airport.

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