We'd been recommended to go to Rurrenabaque by some friends. Going there is either a 20 hour bus drive on some very interesting mountain roads or its a flight lasting about some 35 minutes. Amaszonas being the only company operating the route. But they has several departures daily. And new CRJ200 jet engine planes. We chose a departure that meant we had time to have breakfast at the hotel and then we headed to the airport.
First mission - check in. Done. Then head to the other end of the airport and try to get our big back packs stored. No need to bring everything there and back again for four nights. No problem. Luggage stored for 25 Bolivianos per day.
Through security and then we realised that El Alto is a quite nice airport. We started boarding on time and the nice lady at the counter told us to turn right and "head for the small airplane". So we did. And found the presumably oldest and smallest aircraft we have flown with on this trip. A Fairchild Metroliner 23. We got row 9 - all of it - also the last row of the plane. And then we crossed our fingers when the voice prompt started by greeting us to "Lone Star Airlines" - a company from Texas that seized operations around 20 years ago. Well, we only had to cross the Andes mountains and land in the jungle.
Anyway, we made it. Sometimes flying a bit more sideways than forward but we couched down on time in Rurrenabaque airport. The runway recently being upgraded from gravel to tarmac. The only plane in the airport there was a distinct fit between the size of the aircraft and the airport .... shed.
Taxi to our hostel - which turned out to be with a pool - and also turned out to be the party hostel. Malene and Jes wanted to go for a walk in town and have lunch. Mikkel felt a bit like the flu so he stayed in bed.
Malene and Jes returned later in the afternoon having booked a three day trip to "the pampas" as planned. Mikkel still not feeling well stayed in bed while Jes and Malene checked out the pool, the cold beer, the food in town and some more cold beers.
First mission - check in. Done. Then head to the other end of the airport and try to get our big back packs stored. No need to bring everything there and back again for four nights. No problem. Luggage stored for 25 Bolivianos per day.
Through security and then we realised that El Alto is a quite nice airport. We started boarding on time and the nice lady at the counter told us to turn right and "head for the small airplane". So we did. And found the presumably oldest and smallest aircraft we have flown with on this trip. A Fairchild Metroliner 23. We got row 9 - all of it - also the last row of the plane. And then we crossed our fingers when the voice prompt started by greeting us to "Lone Star Airlines" - a company from Texas that seized operations around 20 years ago. Well, we only had to cross the Andes mountains and land in the jungle.
Anyway, we made it. Sometimes flying a bit more sideways than forward but we couched down on time in Rurrenabaque airport. The runway recently being upgraded from gravel to tarmac. The only plane in the airport there was a distinct fit between the size of the aircraft and the airport .... shed.
Taxi to our hostel - which turned out to be with a pool - and also turned out to be the party hostel. Malene and Jes wanted to go for a walk in town and have lunch. Mikkel felt a bit like the flu so he stayed in bed.
Malene and Jes returned later in the afternoon having booked a three day trip to "the pampas" as planned. Mikkel still not feeling well stayed in bed while Jes and Malene checked out the pool, the cold beer, the food in town and some more cold beers.
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| All packed and ready for one more travel day |
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| Waiting in El Alto Airport |
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| Tiny plane |
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| Row 9 |
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| The other side of row 9 |
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| Business class leg room |
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| Flying over El Alto |
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| Crossing the Andes |
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| Tiny plane |
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| Tiny airport |
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| Waiting for luggage |
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| Pool at the party hostel |
