Hello All,

Just a few quick words to let you know what we´ve been upto.

After the Inca trail we had an afternoons horse riding. This was pretty cool in some beautiful Andean countryside and seeing lots of ruins. It even included a bit of caving which was fun but that I couldn´t persuade Gemma to join in!

After our horse riding it was our last night in Cusco, party capital of South America, there is som much to do there. As you can guess we were out till the small hours following a fantastic meal but had to be up at 8am for our transfer into the jungle on the Rio Tambopata!

Getting to the jungle lodge was an experience itself. First by dodgy wobbly plane over it, then clapped out old bus down a dirt track for an hour and then an hour and a half on a canoe up the river to the lodge! Good fun though. We had to get checked into the National Park as well so thas an another passport stamp for the collection!

The lodge itself was fantastic on arrival and almost immediately we saw wildlife up close. The first spotting being a tarantula!!!! After getting settled in and greeted by Willie the Macaw, he was huge, it was pretty much straight into it by heading back onto the river to go Caimen spotting, we saw a few but it was a little difficult to get any decent photos of them. They are so easy to spot at night, all you need to do is shine a torch on the bank and their eyes reflect.

Next morning we were woken at 5am for breakfast and then set off on a 5km trek through the jungle to Lago Cocococha to see the giant otters. Now, 5k isnt really that far but in 36 degree temperatures and 85% humidity it was an absolute killer! We had a few casualities along the way but fortunately Gemma and I were ok. We did get to see the otters through binoculars and they we were pretty inpressive but as they are a protected species its not possible to get to close to get decent pictures. After the lake it was back to the lodge were there were a few optional activities and visits but we decided to spend the afternoon taking it easy in the hammocks and surrounded by jungle with a few beers. We were quite lucky cos we ended up having a visit to the camp by two type of monkey, one tiny one that kept sitting outside teh kitchen asking for fruit and by a large group of Great Howler Monkeys!!! And yes they howl, normally at 4am when your trying to get the last few hours kip and the noise that one monkey manages to make is incredible!

In the evening it was back into the jungle proper for a night walk where all the creepy crawlies come out and we saw some great things. I don´t think I can do them justice on here so you´ll have to look at the photos but I must tell you about the snake I found. Our guide could not identify its species in the jungle so it was taken back to the lodge to see if any of the research naturalists knew what it was. This caused quite a stir, firstly becuase they was a snake in the lodge and secondly no one knew what it was!! They could confirm that it was not poisonous but not its species. Currently the lodge have email and they still haven´t let me know what it is yet! Ill call Serpentina Drapious.........

One thing I will say is that it has prompted us to purchse a new camera with x 12 zoom and 8 megapixels and 200 quid cheaper than the UK retail price.

And that was the tour pretty much done, we flew back to Lima and had a day there where we did a lot of shopping for the camera and generally strolled around and ate some great meals.

We are now in Arequipa after a 14 hour overnight bus journey! It wasn´t so bad because the seats were full recliners and there was a lights out time policy. Arequipa is pretty cool, quite similar to Cusco where it is all centred on the main square bu t not quite as busy. Today we went around the Santa Catalina convent which is like a city inside the city and caught up we a few of the guys from the Inca trail and jungle. Tonight we are out for a meal with them and then tomorrow its down to Chile.

We have timed it so we do the border crossing during the day and have accommodation in Arica all sorted. One night in Arica and then on to San Pedro De Atacama and the salt flats, Flamingos and the driest desert in the world!

Adios Peru! Hola Chile!

Take care everyone and keep us posted on all back there......

Leigh & Gemma