Pando Region (Rio Orton) Bolivia - Amazon Lowlands, July/August 2012

The team will arrive in Bolivia at El Alto International Airport (La Paz) which is the second highest commercial airport in the world at 13, 615' elevation.  We will will then travel from La Paz to Cobija(Department of Pando) by plane or bus.  Once the team has had an opportunity to rest and organize the medical supplies they will begin their journey down the Rio Orton.  The majority of our time will be spent providing clinics and community education in multiple remote villages as we travel along the "Rio Orton" an Amazon Tributary.  The Primary mode of travel on the Orton will be large Riverboats (Houseboats).

This is considered an "Extreme Team".  The accomodations and travel conditions will be rugged. The team will need to hike into the Villages that we plan to serve carrying the Clinic/Medical supplies with them.  Each evening after the days Clinics the team will return to the Boats and continue on to the next clinic location down river. 

Department of Pando depicted in Red

 Sitting in the northwestern part of Bolivia is the Department of Pando that borders the countries of Brazil and Peru. It is one of the least discovered parts of the Bolivian Amazon with almost a non-existent tourist infrastructure that makes the area only for the most experienced travelers.

Pando, Bolivia is remote and the least populated departments in Bolivia. It has a hot humid climate, with temperatures commonly above 27 degrees Celsius (80 Fahrenheit) and is located in rain forest region of Bolivia, where the main economic activities are agriculture, timber and cattle.

The poverty level of its inhabitants is high, due largely to a lack of roads effectively linking the province to the rest of the country and the presence of tropical diseases typical of life in the Amazonian rain forest.

At the end of our river journey we will return to La Paz by bus or plane and will have an opportunity to do some sightseeing and souvenir shopping.