Rurrenabaque: The Jungle

We had THE most incredible five days in the Amazon Jungle joined by three funny, interesting and wonderful people. We have done so many amazing things over the past few months but for both of us this was a real highlight.

After 6.5 hours travelling up river we arrived at our ecolodge and it was stunning. In the middle of the jungle we each had a tent on a raised platform with a hammock and a big dining area where we could spend time together. The food was amazing, genuinely some of the best we’ve had. Our cook Rosita also brought her two year old Naomi who was super cute and fun to play with.

We had a phenomenal guide called Pedro who’d grown up in an indigenous community (we later visited) in the jungle and dreamed of opening his own ecolodge. After being a guide for another lodge he moved to Spain to work as a waiter to save enough to buy and build his lodge. He was so knowledgeable and despite living in the jungle all his life, was still so excited every time we saw an animal!

Highlights included seeing a huge tarantula, tree frogs, parrots, macaws, paraqueets, turtles, snakes, four types of monkey, capybara, caiman, wild pig and catching a 35k catfish (and then eating it!)

Visiting the indigenous community where Pedro’s family live was fascinating. It completely challenged our expectations of a community in the middle of the jungle and we were really humbled to share lunch with his parents.

To end our trip we went white water rafting and it’s fair to say that on reflection we don’t think Pedro is a qualified guide! We got trapped in many a hole but laughed constantly and made it out alive!

I am, at this stage, in the middle of the boat!

To return to La Paz we had booked the larger plane, only to find out it had been swapped for a 17 seater with nothing between you and the pilots and propellers. Not the most fun, though watching Chris try to get in his seat was quite something!

Smith