Having selected a town name on a map at random my memory of our start point is a little hazy. I seem to think it was Iquitos. We arrived in the very wee hours of the morning and it was obvious straight away we were in the middle of nowhere , it was looking grim!!
Found a place to sleep for a couple hours before getting on the hunt in the morning for how we would make into the amazon. We knew we were in a good start location for some tour groups but had our hearts set on something a little more personal and adventurous. Given mine and Andy's prolific jungle trekking back groups Ofcourse our confidence was justified ... NOT!!!
Andy's idea was to just buy a canoe and start paddling it down stream
And see what happened ! Come off it mate
Once we woke and bounced around a few hotels where we knew tour groups would start from and a few travel agencies we were beginning to compile a bit of info to what we wanted to do. For me time was a factor. I was meeting niggz in Cali in Columbia in less than a week and didn't want him waiting around for me too long !
"Hey you guys want to go the jungle !?" We turn around and a faced by a middle a local guy Jorge who claims to be the man to talk to. He had a lodge in cuyabeno national park and said he could take us in there for a few days (4 I think it was). He took us to an Internet cafe and and showed us some pictures and spoke of what we could expect to see and gave a very reasonable price. I was convinced .. Andy didn't know if we should trust him but Jorge managed to tick all the necessary boxes.
We went to Jorge's apartment where we repacked our bags with only the essentials and left all valuables including our passports behind !! Ridiculous when you think about it but we where guaranteed an adventure like we were after and Jorge seemed awesome. We piled into the truck with Jorge's Columbian counterpart who held onto the food water and beers in the tray while a young kid drove us for two hours to the start point. We stopped for a great feed at little Road side shack and we were beginning to take a liking to Jorge, still testing the waters but.
Next leg over an hour and a half by motor canoe to Jorge's lodge. Oh yeah , this is it ! We were in the amazon alright ! Powering up narrow canals having to duck under over hanging vines and branches from surrounding trees. Smiling from ear to ear me and Andy were basking in some of mother natures most beautifully untouched creations.
Jorge's lodge was spectacular and hidden away so well. Only possible to be accessed by motor canoe. The lodge was occupied by only one couple of travelers. A French chick and Dutch guy who were lovely but leaving the next day. We were going to have this amazing slice of the amazon for the next few days all too ourselves!
That afternoon we went for a motor around some of the close lakes and had a swim in piranha infested waters. The waters too deep for the piranhas to feed to apparently we had nothing to worry about there. Watching the sunset over the jungle and adoring it deep burnt colors is something ill never ever forget !!
Back to the lodge where the Dutch lad played some songs on his ukulele before we had an delicious fresh dinner by candle light. Shortly after we left for a nocturnal walk to explore close by animal activity at night. The sounds from birds, monkeys and insects was near deafening as we walked through. It was pitch black and we all needed torches. Jorge lead the way and stopped us at different points to inspect plants and and small insects. His knowledge was fascinating. I tried at all times to keep as close as possible to the rest of the guys - it wouldn't be hard to find yourself off track in complete darkness.
We got back a shared a beer before wandering off to our hut for some shut eye. We slept in a little two man room made pretty much entirely from raw materials. It had a little ensuite adjoined that was hooked up to the rain water catchment system.
Wrapped our mosquito nets Around us and let the sounds of the amazon rock is into a deep slumber