Marbán: River, Nature and Tradition

Marbán offers a variety of reasons to visit: sport fishing on the Río Pojige, observing the endemic blue-throated macaw, and religious and local festival traditions in Loreto. If you are looking for a hotel in Marbán, it is best to choose your dates based on your main reason for visiting. Sport fishing in Camiaco is tied to the dry season, the feast day of the Virgen de Loreto falls on October 7, and the Fish and Peta Fair lasts only a few days. These timeframes therefore play an important role in your planning.

Sport Fishing on the Río Pojige

Sport fishing takes place on the Río Pojige in Camiaco from May to October, during the dry season. A 2022 tourism plan estimates that about 2,000 sport fishers visit Camiaco during this period. This is an approximate figure for that year; visitor numbers and conditions may change.

Fishing also takes place on the Río Pojige and in the area around the Mamoré River. Visitors often bring their own boats and motors, and sometimes hire a local guide. The activity is not run by tour operators or accredited guides. This distinction is useful when planning: the seasonal sport fishing in Camiaco and the fishing practices described in the wider area are not the same. The operational information comes from a 2022 tourism plan; check current conditions before your trip.

Blue-Throated Macaws and Gran Mojos

In the Municipality of Loreto, visitors can observe the endemic blue-throated macaw (Ara glaucogularis) at five ranches. Two belong to NGOs involved in protecting the species. The other three are privately owned and organize the activity directly with the management of the Gran Mojos protected area. Since this information comes from a 2022 tourism plan and arrangements may change, check current availability and visiting conditions in advance.

Gran Mojos protects representative wetland and savanna ecosystems of Beni and contributes to the conservation of threatened, endemic and characteristic species of these ecosystems. These include the Bolivian river dolphin (Inia boliviensis), the jaguar (Panthera onca) and the blue-throated macaw. The protected area therefore provides an important ecological setting for the region’s nature-related attractions.

Pilgrimage and Events in Loreto

On October 7, the feast day of the Virgen de Loreto, major pilgrimages lead to her shrine in the municipal capital. During the rest of the year, believers from the surrounding area and other parts of the country visit the shrine in smaller numbers. The feast day is therefore the main date for the pilgrimage; specific annual arrangements may vary.

Loreto also hosts an annual Fish and Peta Fair. It lasts only a few days and attracts many people. If you would like to plan your trip around the fair, check the specific dates before making plans. The events are clearly distinct on the calendar: the pilgrimage is tied to October 7, while for the short fair you should check the date of the event in question.

Beni as a Broader Cultural Setting

The broader destination of Beni is home to handicrafts made from palm fibers and fine woods. Forty-eight groups take part in the main procession of the Ichapekene Piesta, wearing masks depicting ancestors and animals; the masks emphasize respect for nature. In Beni, the Gran Fiesta de la Santísima Trinidad is also called Chope Fiesta. Beni is also home to the bufeo and the blue-throated macaw. These regional cultural and natural themes complement the specific reasons to visit Marbán.

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

See the broader travel overview: Beni.