The Amazon Rainforest covers one-third of South America so no visit to the continent is complete without a stop in the Amazon. We spent four days in the Peruvian portion of the Amazon. There was lots of heat and humidity but also lots of great sights and fun.
Our home base was along the Madre de Dios River in the southeast portion of Peru. We were a 45 minute boat ride south of the town of Puerto Maldonado.
We did day trips into the rainforest. Our first trip was one that tested our nerves - a night walk in the jungle. It started with a walk on wood and rope bridges that were 30 metres (100 feet) above the jungle floor. We finished with a 2 km walk along the jungle floor. It was very nerve-racking with lots of things rustling, grunting and carrying on in the jungle and we couldn't see further than the end of the flashlight.
Our guide Moises made sure to point out lots of poisonous creepy crawlies during our walk.
Our next trip was more relaxing - a morning canoe ride on Lake Sandoval. We hiked 2 km through the rainforest to the lake and we were happy to find that the rainforest was much more peaceful and less scary during the day than it was at night.
The best part of our trip on Lake Sandoval was seeing a group of red howler monkeys. They were easy to spot along the shoreline as their 1 metre (3 feet) long, rust-colored bodies stood out against the green foliage. There were at least six monkeys in the group including a couple females who were carrying babies.
More to come from the Amazon including more monkeys!
Vanessa and Blake
Our home base was along the Madre de Dios River in the southeast portion of Peru. We were a 45 minute boat ride south of the town of Puerto Maldonado.
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| Madre de Dios River |
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| The resort |
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| Our place |
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| Everything you need - comfy bed, mosquito net, shower and only a few bugs! |
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| We even had hammocks in our room |
We did day trips into the rainforest. Our first trip was one that tested our nerves - a night walk in the jungle. It started with a walk on wood and rope bridges that were 30 metres (100 feet) above the jungle floor. We finished with a 2 km walk along the jungle floor. It was very nerve-racking with lots of things rustling, grunting and carrying on in the jungle and we couldn't see further than the end of the flashlight.
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| Climbing this tower took us into the jungle canopy |
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| Walking on bridges through the jungle canopy at night |
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| After the canopy walk, we were down onto the jungle floor |
Our guide Moises made sure to point out lots of poisonous creepy crawlies during our walk.
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| Chicken spider - about the size of your hand |
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| Tarantula - smaller than the chicken spider but just as scary |
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| Scorpion |
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| Grasshopper - no he's not poisonous |
Our next trip was more relaxing - a morning canoe ride on Lake Sandoval. We hiked 2 km through the rainforest to the lake and we were happy to find that the rainforest was much more peaceful and less scary during the day than it was at night.
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| Enjoying the walk |
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| Vanessa relaxing in a nature-made swing |
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| Our ride |
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| Lake Sandoval |
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| The shoreline |
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| Bats sleeping on a tree |
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| Name that bird? We can't remember what it is - maybe you know? |
The best part of our trip on Lake Sandoval was seeing a group of red howler monkeys. They were easy to spot along the shoreline as their 1 metre (3 feet) long, rust-colored bodies stood out against the green foliage. There were at least six monkeys in the group including a couple females who were carrying babies.
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| Female red howler monkey with baby |
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| Mom again with better view of the baby |
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| One last photo before they headed back into the jungle |
More to come from the Amazon including more monkeys!
Vanessa and Blake
