Wednesday, 18 April 2012

Jungle Fever

The flight time to Puerto Maldonaldo, known as the gateway to the Amazon, was just a 1 1/2 hour flight.

We then took a boat along the Madre de Dios River for our two nights at the jungle lodge.

The Inkaterra Hacienda hotel has 25 individual cabins on stilts set amongst the grounds.

I loved the wooden boot book holder on our little veranda.


Despite being in the middle of the jungle the food and accommodation was fantastic.  The main dining area and one of the lovely staff.


Our first day involved a 3 mile trek through thick gloopy mud (and I mean mud, deeper than you can imagine) to get to a lake, where we were rowed around for 2 hours looking for wildlife by our local guide and Derek.  Our guide was tiny and both she and Derek were clearly tiring yet only Ian and I offered to take a turn at rowing - not impressed!

Ian, standing next to an Ellie Trap (one of the group was quite short of stature (and, as we discovered as the trip progressed, not a well lady) but nevertheless game for anything and the huge pools of mud quickly became known as Ellie Traps as she floundered her way along with no help whatsoever from her very self absorbed husband).

All along we were buzzed by blue morpho butterflies, which shut their wings almost immediately they landed.

All we saw was one monkey, a river otter, several birds and a splash made by a 10ft paiche fish.  We then had a very muddy hike back.  It was really good fun actually.

The next day we went on a tree canopy walk which was amazing, we were 100ft up in the tree canopy walking along rope bridges.  Rather scary actually as they did sway around a lot.  Ian coped brilliantly and thinks he may be over his vertigo problem.



The computer I´m using is very slow uploading pics and I have a glass of Sauvignon waiting, so I´m sorry followers - no contest.  More later.