Today we fly to the jungle – or rather Peurto Maldonado. A passenger jet (737) climbs away down the valley. The runway is at about 12,500 feet and so the planes need a faster and longer take-of and landing, which makes them very susceptible to sidewinds, which in turn means long delays unless the weather is perfect. We spent quite a long time waiting at the airport for favourable conditions.Peurto Maldonado. Winter and it was 80 odd degrees and very humid. Our transport seemed to be a dumper truck that had been converted into a ‘bus’.After shedding our big cases at an office in the town, and just keeping overnight bags, we set off in a longboat down the river Madre de Dios. Though a tributary of the Amazon and being low because it was the dry season, the river was still a lot bigger than the Thames.On the river Madre de Dios, heading to our camp for the next three nights.Our arrival at the ‘Eco Amazonia Lodge’ and a bamboo ‘mug’ full of nice tasting alcohol. That evening we went cayman spotting as it grew dark. The boat had a powerful searchlight which picked up the glow of their eyes.Early the next morning we took a pre breakfast stroll through the rainforest.We walked to a swamp, where we watched the sun climb above trees and start to burn off the early morning mists.Some of the group went to a small jetty and took to a canoe to see if they could see any anacondas. I stayed on the viewing platform.At the swamp we were joined by Lola – a semi-tame peccary. I am sure she thought she was a dog.Victor providing a drink from one of the vines.Karon stood outside our ‘hut’. There were netted ‘airlocks’ to keep the worst of the bugs out but each end was open with loo and shower to the rear. We were advised to give our clothes a good shake and check our shoes before putting them on. There were plenty of big spiders, snakes and scorpions.Our guide Victor teasing a tarantula out of its burrow.One of the local tarantulas.On the way back we met up with the canoe and stopped at a small pool in a stream, to swim. No skinny dipping as there are small fish that will ‘invade’ crevices and latch on. The water was like soup, but with so much humidity, it was still refreshing.Small cayman hiding on the bank.Butterflies after moisture and salts.Back at camp, this bird was fascinated with Karon’s boots.There were quite a few birds at the camp that were tame.The Macaw was a bully to the green parrot.Lola making friends with Karon. She was sweet, but her mate, Sampson was huge and not so friendly.Our final trip – to Monkey Island, and a brief respite from the jungle before we took to the pathways again.Victor feeding a little marmoset. As we walked through the rainforest, he would point to plants and bushes etc. and tell us about them. His favourite expression was “That will kill you”.Crazee Monkee (as Victor described him) – a Spider Monkey and his small troop pay us a visit. Victor had a blunt spear as the big males can be aggressive, but just him having the spear was enough to stop them coming too close.I think this is a golden tamarind.Female spider monkey – she had a baby clinging to her front.The matriarch of a troop of Coatimundys – members of the Racoon family – pays us a visit. All the others stayed well back, but she was very forward and actually jumped onto our laps to check out out pockets.Heading back to the canoe.One of those small stones came back to the UK with us, along with one from Machu Picchu. We had a fish tank for years where stones from all our trips ended up.The Madre de Dios.Karon – our trip was coming to an end and we didn’t want it to.A large cayman near the camp.From our camp in the rainforest we travelled by canoe back to Puerto Maldonado, then flew back to Cusco, then on to Lima. In the bar in our Lima hotel we had a finger puppet show! We displayed all the little knitted finger puppets we’ve collected during the trip.Our last full day and we take a trip into the center of Lima. The Cathedral looking across the main square from a side street.This group of school kids pleaded with us to take their photo. I wonder what they are doing now.Our last lunch together.
