260m
Another early morning wake up, but I got to call Sue as it was 6:30pm at home and hope that she enjoy her party tomorrow night. This is because we are off to the M/N Anakonda today, and we are unsure of having any contact for the next three days. Javier picked us up just after 6am and we travelled north east out of the city for about 45 minutes. The airport is relatively new and is hoping to open to more flights from around the world. We met the rep from Manatee who gave us our boarding cards and tags for our luggage and checked through security. Job done, it was time for coffee and to see what type of packed breakfast we were given. Satisfied on our breakfast of orange juice, ham and cheese sandwich and our coffee we boarded our plane to ‘hop’ over the Andes.
The flight only lasted about half an hour, with the only annoyance being as we were one of the last onto the plane, all of the passengers who were carrying multiple pieces of carry-on luggage had filled all of the holds. This meant that Fran had to find a place to store her Panama hat. Coca was a backwater place to land and we walked down the stairs, onto the tarmac and into the arrival hall to wait for our luggage to be unloaded. When we met our Manatee guide we found that we would be sharing the boat with 6 other people; a Canadian pair, a Swedish pair, one from the US and one from Ecuador. Everyone spoke English except the person from Ecuador.
The Canadian couple, Brian and Jen, attached themselves to us and we discussed our travels through South America until our speed boat was ready. Once done we boarded and scooted down the Napo River to meet the Anakonda, the sister ship to the Manatee which was having engine repairs. However, since the Anakonda is a better ship with bigger rooms, we didn’t complain. The speed boat had to weave past sandbars, zigging and zagging across the river, passing other tour boats heading for some eco resort in the jungle when…
…we hit a sandbank. With much revving of the engine in reverse and even all of us passengers rocking the boat from side to side, it was some time before we got free of it and continued on our voyage. Not before several other vessels had passed us.
The Anakonda is a 3 level (plus roof) ship, with the first floor being our meeting/disembarkation point, dining room and crew quarters. The second level is for most of the suites with the third floor being the executive suites, wheel house, bar and outside al fresco. The roof is for those wishing to lay back during the day or use the large jacuzzi.
We were given a short talk about rules and safety, got to practice an emergency drill and then have lunch, salad with local cheese and yoghurt, a choice of turkey or pasta and pannacotta for desert. The afternoon was for ourselves as we slowly moved along with the current and Fran and I sat outside, scanning the banks for anything interesting. Around 5pm we were given an overview of tonight’s jungle walk.
We kitted up and renovated the jet boat, moving upstream to watch the sunset and the lightning storm happening nearer the Andes. We killed the engine and drifted for a while, listening to the sounds of birds and frogs. When it was fully dark we docked at a local family pier and went trekking through the darkened rainforest with a couple of the kids in tow. Just as well because although we found a number of spiders and insects, the children found a toad and a sloth. Numerous photos taken of the sloth.
We slowly returned to our boat where a dinner of octopus, pepper steak and pumpkin cheesecake awaited.