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| We exchanged our skiffs for narrow village canoes to drift on the dark waters - beautiful |
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| We disembarked onto a very rickety jetty to walk in the jungle |
Something I hadn’t expected and which I approached with a little trepidation was walking through the jungle which we did on a couple of mornings. It was a bit tough going – hilly, slippery, muddy, very rough tracks – some barely visible. But it was extremely interesting, an experience not to be missed.
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| Fortunately they issued us with gumboots |
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| The trees towered above us |
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| Everywhere was green except for the brilliant flowers reaching for a bit of light |
Everywhere the trees towered above us hung with ropey vines. Our guides were very knowledgeable and told us a little about bush medicine and showed us the plants they used. And of course uncovered fascinating flora and fauna to show us.
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| Fungi of every colour and shape were in abundance |
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| These ants were about 3-4cm long |
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| A frog/toad pretending to be a leaf |
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| A wee Poison Dart frog only 2-3 cm long. Fantastic camoflage |
We saw a Yellow-spotted Poisonous Tree Frog, a couple of species of tiny Poison Dart frogs, a ‘horned toad’, various insects, and huge spiders and ants. On one of our walks our local guide found a young Green Anaconda to show us - it was completely harmless (but we kept our distance). It was a unique experience.
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T-B, L-R: Green Anaconda, Taratula, chameleon, ginger?,
stunningly camoflaged butterfly, miniscule Poison Dart frog |
Most of our food came from the jungle served with succulent fish from the river - it was all delicious (and washed down with Pisco sours and excellent Peruvian wine)! We also got to taste local village food when we visited a couple of riverside villages.
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| This pair had been out setting fish nets |
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| We didn't stop at this village but we drew the attention of the kids |
It was interesting to visit a couple of villages. One we visited cooked us some of their local dishes which they prepared over open fires - quite delicious. .
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| It was amazing what came off that little fire |
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| Fish, chicken, plantains, yams, lots of vegetables, a grain of some sort, jungle fruit - quite a feast! |
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| Happy Earth Day! |
The last village we visited gave a demonstrration of dying fibre for weaving using jungle fruits etc. Here the women were also very proud to tells about a wonderful community program that 1200 women from 50 rural communities are involved with. They work to promote human rights and educate their communities including working to reduce domestic violence. They are also involved in establiushing networks and leadersip programs. It was most impressive and they are right to be proud.
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| Such brilliant colours using what the jungle produces |
Each village had local handiwork to sell but we wouldn't have been able to bring them into Australia - seeds, woods, fibres and animal 'bits' including a number of items (jewellery, belts, skirts) made with the dried scales of the ginormous Arapaima, a massive, long freshwater fish native to the streams of the Amazon River Basin. We saw them at a rescue centre and they are quite spectacular. They can breathe air and that allows them to survive in pools with low water levels or in decaying vegetation.
Thus ended our rainforest trip it had been full of wonder and marvellous experiences but it was time to return to Lima. On the way we visited the Amazon rescue centre where we saw some of the same animals and birds we had seen along the river but we also saw tamarinds and the gentle, slow aquatic manatees. When we were leaving a group of scouts were just arriving. They were tickled pink to know that our grandaughter was also a scout - of course there were photos!
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| A local troop of scouts |
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| These lovely birds look as if they have been hand-painted |
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| As we got closer to Iquitos the traffic increased dramatically |
We arrived back in Lima rather wilted from the wilds of this amazing Amazonian jungle! It had been astonishing, amazing, exciting, hot - but wow what an experience. We travelled with Lindblad-National Geographic and were extremely well cared for. Great attention to every detail, spoilt everyday with delicious foods and wonderful excursions. To add a final cherry on the cake when we returned to Lima they had organised a private tour of the Larco Museum which is home to collection of Peruvian pre-Columbian archaeological artifacts dating back 5,000 years.
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