Discover Marbán: Wetlands, Rivers and Culture

Marbán offers a range of reasons to discover nature and culture: sport fishing on the Río Pojige near Camiaco, opportunities to observe the endemic blue-throated macaw in the Municipality of Loreto, and a pilgrimage tradition centred on the Virgen de Loreto. The Gran Mojos protected area also safeguards representative wetland and savanna ecosystems of Beni. For planning your trip, the different rhythms are particularly relevant: some activities are seasonal or tied to a specific holiday, while others have their own organisational requirements.

Wetlands and Blue-Throated Macaws

The Gran Mojos protected area safeguards representative wetland and savanna ecosystems of Beni. It contributes to the conservation of threatened, endemic and ecosystem-specific species, including Bolivian river dolphins, jaguars and blue-throated macaws.

In 2022, opportunities to observe the endemic blue-throated macaw were offered at five estancias in the Municipality of Loreto. Two belong to NGOs working to protect the species. Three others are privately owned and organise the activity directly with the management of the Gran Mojos protected area. If this observation is important to your trip, check current availability and arrangements in advance.

River Activities with a Seasonal Focus

As of 2022, sport fishing took place on the Río Pojige near Camiaco from May to October, during the dry season. Around 2,000 sport fishers visited Camiaco during this period. If fishing is the main reason for your trip, check the current conditions in advance.

Fishing also takes place in the wider area around the destination, on the Río Pojige and around the Mamoré. As of 2022, visitors often brought their own boats and engines when fishing, and occasionally hired a local guide; tour operators and accredited guides did not organise this activity. If you plan to fish in these areas, check the current arrangements in advance.

Pilgrimage and Fair in Loreto

October 7 is the feast day of the Virgen de Loreto. On this day, major pilgrimages travel to her sanctuary in the municipal capital. During the rest of the year, the sanctuary receives smaller numbers of worshippers from the surrounding area and other parts of the country. The pilgrimage therefore offers a clear annual cultural date alongside the seasonal river activities.

As of 2022, the Fish and Peta Fair in Loreto lasted only a few days each year and attracted many people. If you would like to plan your trip around the fair, check the current dates. This lets you plan a visit centred on culture and local tradition without conflating it with the dry season for sport fishing.

Beni as the Broader Context

The wider destination of Beni offers another perspective on nature and culture. Handicrafts are made there from palm fibres and fine woods. Beni is also home to the bufeo, a freshwater dolphin, and the blue-throated macaw. These regional themes complement Loreto’s specific natural attractions without implying that they represent all of Beni.

Beni’s cultural history also encompasses diverse forms of expression. Forty-eight groups take part in the main procession of the Ichapekene Piesta, wearing masks depicting ancestors and animals; the masks emphasise the importance of respecting nature. The Gran Fiesta de la Santísima Trinidad is also known in Beni as the Chope Fiesta. The region’s character is also shaped by the Mamoré, the Beni and the Iténez, which also serve as transport routes.

Choose Your Accommodation Based on Your Reason for Travelling

When looking for a holiday apartment or house in Marbán, you can start by choosing your focus: the dry season and fishing, observing the blue-throated macaw, or a visit around the pilgrimage or the fair. This way, you can choose your location based on your planned itinerary, without any single occasion needing to shape every stay.

Discover more destinations: José Ballivián, Vaca Diez, Moxos, Cercado.

Return to the broader travel overview: Beni.