by Marisol Mosquera Madidi National Park I last travelled to Chalalan Lodge about 12 years ago when it had just opened as an initiative of the US-based NGO Conservation International along with the community of San Jose de Uchupiamonas, located within Madidi National Park. I went by bus that time, 12 gruelling hours I would never repeat!! Chalalan Lodge is one of the handful of community run lodges in Madidi National Park to the north of La Paz, bordering the Tambopata National Reserve and Bahuaja Sonene in Peru . Since 2001, Chalalan has been self managed by the Community, Conservation International is no longer involved. There are several lodges in Madidi National Park, the 2m. hectare park on the watershed of the Madidi River, one of South America's most intact ecosystems. The park hosts 44% of all New World Mammal Species, and as many as 1000 bird species. This time, Simon, Nico and I took the 45 minute flight from La Paz on Amaszonas Airlines, on their 18-seater twin-engine propeller plane operating the route between La Paz and Rurrenabaque (the town in the Beni region where the vast majority of trips to Madidi begin, and from where you can also travel to the Pampas del Heath in Peru). This was the beginning of our 4 day, 3 night adventure in the rainforest. The first night was to be spent in Rurrenabaque (Rurre) and the following two nights at Chalalan lodge, the package that had been prepared for us. There are 3 daily flights from La Paz (morning, noon and evening), and the flight is pretty scary if you ask me; going from 4000m to 250m above sea level, crossing the majestic Andean  snow capped peaks in a little plane is absolutely awe inspiring and terrifying at the same time. Needless to say