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Day 1:
A quick flight form Cusco to Puerto Maldondo - edge of the Amazon jungle. We were greeted in person by the owner of Ananconda lodge, Donald, and transfered to our accommodation by tok tok. Lunch was in the Thai Restaurant of the lodge and cooked by Donalds Thai wife Wadi. I never really new Thai food until that moment, it was delicious, a feast for the taste buds!
Eating fruit for desert outside the restaurant we were suddenly accosted by a variety of monkeys! Capuchin, Spider monkeys and what Donald called "emperor" monkeys. All came rushing over and climbed all over us and took our fruit. They would hang from us while eating and then would proceed to examine us - they loved Mary's bangles and would swing from them - Twice Serge had to snatch his new Oakleys back and that was the last time he wore them there! Anaconda Lodge is a monkey rescue centre and sanctuary - the monkeys are wild but tame and are all vaccinated so they are safe to handle and most importantly play with!
After a quick dip in the pool and a change of gear we transfered by car to the lake Tupac Amaru (40 minutes) for the start of our camping and kayaking Amazon adventure. Taking the kayaks (26 kg each) 150 m downhill to the lake Tupac Amaru. Setting up camp, pitching our tents and gathering fire wood, we then went Piraña fishing and birdwatching on the lake and other lagoons nearby. Dinner was suppossed to be what we caught - and it looked like we would be going hungry but Wadi had packed us a picnic and wine just in case - Thank goodness!
Day 2:
After an eventful night's camping - loads of noises, an animal crawling and hopping over our tent, something playing with the pegs, basically being woken up and seeking reassurance from each other on the hour every hour! A huge American style breakfast was delived to a pre arranged meeting point. Our stomachs full, we passed through a very narrow channel to reach another lake. We carried on piranha fishing here and we were much more successful. Mary was rewarded within the 1st 10 minutes and was squealing and yelping when landing her catch - "what if it bites me" - scramble, shuffle, whimper - "its ok, i've got it trapped under my foot" - Serge proceeded to catch 3 more and his last was the biggest of the day. In the afternoon we transport the kayaks 150 meters from the lake to the Madre de Dios river. Its the dry season and Mary was too busy taking pictures to help. The Kayak trip down the Madre de Dios took 3 to 4 hours and we stopped to do some goldmining on a beach along the way. When we got back we jumped in the pool and had another great meal and a large, well deserved beer to celebrate the expedition.
Day 3:
American breakfast once again! Quick play with the monkeys and then we were transfered to the port of Puerto Maldonado. We travelled downriver on the Madre de Dios by peque-pueque motorboat (8 km, 25 minutes) to the Tambopata reserve. After 1.5 hours of walking through the Tambopata Reserve Zone we got to the lake Sandoval. Along the way we snuck off the beaten track and spied some Macaws feeding on Palm Tree Bark. We arrived at Sandoval lake and we took a canoe trip to watch turtles, hoatzins, herons, rails, macaws, kingfisher and many other exotic birds. We also saw the elusive black Cayman - almost hunted to extinction - and howler monkeys, but unfortunately no giant river otters. We had lunch at a watch tower and 4 long hours later we were on our way back. Stopping off in town for ice creams we were joined by the cutest puppy. It was well versed in begging, and used its eyes and raised its front paws, so we eventually succombed and bought it a ham sandwich which it wolfed down with great satisfaction! Back at the lodge we had Pisco sours waiting and a choice of Thai meal.
Day 4
Time to say goodbye - Its off to Lima - 1 final play with the monkeys!
- comments
lisa Hi babe sounds like you having a awesome time i wish i was there rather than here.:).the monkeys sound like they would have been fun to play with.Pics are great to .Love lis riley and mark .