Madidi

Be wary of what you read in guidebooks as the prices are often wrong (and often the info is also). The current minimum price set by the authorities in Rurre for a pampas tours is 600bs (200bs per person per day) and agencies are not allowed to sell for less. Now there are some agencies that try to get round this by including entrances fees or simply charging less but the customers is then at risk of not being allowed to go on the tour if they cannot prove they paid 600bs. People get away with it but it is not recommended , Sooner or later these agencies will be stopped from doing this. I know of at least two groups that have been stopped from going because of this and they had real trouble getting money back from the agency.
Of course Madidi is not the pampas and the services there can vary greatly.The budget level tours are currently ranging from around 35/40us per day up to 150us$ per day depending on the service level you choose.

What Authorities with what authority are enforcing the 600 Bolivano minimum for Pampas tours?

Cheers for the replies.

I had heard about the price of the tours not only from guide books but from people i have met and on the internet too so i am not sure what to think now.

"What Authorities with what authority are enforcing the 600 Bolivano minimum for Pampas tours? "
ASOPTUR (Asociación de Operadores de Turismo de Rurrenabaque) and the Alcaldia of Rurre are the two authorities that have introduced the rule from the April 2009.

Tunabagel:
Do you have links or other information about ASOPTUR and the Alcaldia of Rurre ?

PJMccartney:
In your question I 'translate' the 'Madidi national park' into the rainforest = the jungle, south and west of Rurrenabaque, where the tours go by boat and foot. Contrary to the pampas where the tours start with a long drive on a bumpy road to the area of the Yacuma River, north east of Rurrenabaque and Reyes.

The jungle and the pampas are entirely different ecosystems, and the tours are entirely different experiences.
A tour in the jungle is absolutely recommendable, but the benefit depends a lot on your expectations. What each individual person regards as a good experience is different. All people are not alike.
See the thread Parque Manu or Parque Manini (= Madidi), 24-Oct-2008.

About prices for jungle tours I will recommend you to send mails to some of the tour operators. Updating websites and especially tour prices at the websites is not always easy for the local operators. And if you are able to write in Spanish, you may receive a quicker reply.

The prices will reflect the kind of tour, so investigate the websites and other information, and when you arrive at Rurrenabaque check with the tour operator before you decide. But remember that just now is the peak season, and if you have made up your mind beforehand then a reservation may be an advantage.

Some jungle tour operators (in alphabetical order):
Bala Tours
Chalalán Ecolodge
Mapajo Lodge (in the Pilon Lajas Reserve)
Mashaquipe Ethno-Eco Tourism
San Miguel del Bala Community Eco-Lodge

To learn more about jungle tours and tour operators search for: Rurrenabaque + tours jungle (with plus signs).

In the thread Animal friendly pampas tour?, 25-May-2009, I have written more about search technique and links about Rurrenabaque.

The Rough Guide about Ecotourism in Rurrenabaque.

WikiTravel at http://wikitravel.org/en/Rurrenabaque may also be of interest, but check the information elsewhere.

It would be nice, if you could come back here in the Bolivia forum and tell about your experiences.

I just booked a Pampas tour and it cost 600 Bolivians for three days. There are some that are less. You can book them for example at the hostel el viajero at Calle Illampu in La Paz. But I think its better to pay a little more and be sure you get a tour that really enters the Madidi and is not just telling you to do so and go into the other direction as it is common...there are only five agencies that have the authorization to enter the park.

I would also make sure you get a tour where they care for the environment and communities. Maybe you wont see that much animals, but you will do a favor to the nature and the animals.

to misarita:
We just arrived in Rurrenabaque and are looking for a tour into the Madidi. Could you name us the five agencies that "have the authorization to enter the park"?
to all:
Can anybody recommend a trip/tour into the jungle/pampa/a village?

Thankx

My recommendation to #7, Babeintheworld:
A tour to the jungle and a village: San Miguel del Bala Community Eco-Lodge
(San Miguel del Bala has authorization to enter the Madidi National Park)
A tour to the pampas: Bala Tours

to #8
Thanks for your recommendation! We got the same recommendation today at breakfast :-)
Did you do one of the recommended tours yourself?
Do you know Chalalan Ecolodge, Mapajo Lodge or Madidi Travel too?