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4th July 2013 - delicious buffet breakfast before heading out on our 8 km jungle hike. We were fitted out with rubber boots and then into the canoe for a short ride downstream. We hiked for a couple hours in the very hot and humid conditions. We were able to see many different types of plants and animals. There are walking palm trees with roots above ground that move the tree meters. Justice tree in which the fire ants make there home and were used by the Inca as a form of punishment tieing criminals to the tree for a period of time. There were large palms with long spike that were used for blow gun spears. Hardwood trees with wood that when dried is as strong as steel. We were on the hunt for the jungle puma... Saw lots of paw print but didn't the see the animal. There were lots of birds and bright coloured butterflies. Watched as these leaf cutter ants made them selves busy carry leaves to the nest. Giant termite nest half way up the trees. There are four different types of tranchulars in the jungle. And you could see some enormous holes in the ground where the bird eating ones lived, they are night time hunters so didn't see them, which is am ok with. We did see one of the smaller black varieties. Even it was so gross with legs spread to just bigger than your hand. They have very powerful jaws and they broke a stick with them. This was a female with a smaller baby was also in the nest. Walked till we reached a swap area where it was time to get into a canoe and row for 3km. The canoe was very unstable and it made for some very interesting moments when the canoe was rocking from side to side. It took around an hour and we went through this swap with hundreds of date palms. When then hiked for another couple of hours through the jungle till we reached lago apuavictor. It was a small lake with several different birds. We climbed up to a lookup and watched the birds, gulls, herons. It was then time for the final 2km walk back to the lodge. It started raining slightly on the way but under the canopy cover of the jungle we didnt really get wet. Back at the lodge gumboots off and straight to the pool. After walking so far in such hot humid conditions we went straight to the pool. Was nice to cool off your body and then change before lunch. After lunch time for a quick rest beforing headed out to go fishing. We went up upstream for around 45 mins and then turned off into a small steam and put our lines in. They were very basic fish rods, just a stick with some fishing line stuck to the end with a weight and hock. No real or anything fancy. Monkey meat was the bait. After around 20 mins one girl caught a small fish that was related to the parana family. Then we moved back out to the river and just put our lines in and floated back down the river. Maybe 15 or so minutes later mum caught a fish... It was very exciting. It was a small fish related to catfish. We then released the fish back and only a few minutes later I caught a Fish! I think this might be the first I have ever caught. Was very exciting. It was the same fish as mum but bigger. Took some pictures and when I pulled it into the boat it fell off the hock so had to pick up it slimy body and put it back in the river. We contained for fish for maybe another 20 or so mintues before heading back to the lodge. Had some free time before dinner at 7pm and spent some time playing pool and pingpong before just dinner and bed early.
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