Travel day to the jungle. Sadly we left Banos and caught a four hour bus to Tena. Should I mention that these long, bumpy bus rides are torture when you can't stop to go to the bathroom. I am usually spending these days not drinking a drop of water. When I noticed he was taking a particularly long break in Puyo, I ran out to the high grass beside the bus stop to take a pee! We arrived in Tena which is already at a much lower elevation and immediately felt we weren't in the mountains anymore. Very hot and humid, lush and green. We bought our tickets to Puerto Barantilla and had lunch in the bus station. About 15 minutes before the bus was supposed to leave I looked out the door and saw a crowd of people around a bus loading all kinds if things underneath and pushing into the bus. We made a mad dash to the bus so we could find room for our bags. Interestingly enough even though the bus was packed with everybody standing, nobody had sat in our booked seats. Once settled in and sweating like crazy in the humid heat and sun we started on our way. The bus was packed with people going back into the jungle villages with their supplies. Omer was lucky enough to sit beside a box of chicks that chirped the whole way. The travel time was one and a half hours to our destination. About half an hour into the trip the little girl that was half sitting on Sivanne started desperately trying to open a plastic bag. Just as I thought Sivanne was a goner the girl turned to the aisle and threw up all over. Poor thing. She looked green for the rest of the trip but never left Sivanne's side. Made us a little nervous. Finally we arrived at our destination; a little hut and a dock on the river Arajuno, which leads into the Rio Napa, which leads into the Amazon. We are really in the jungle! Our boatman was waiting for us and immediately grabbed my way too big and heavy suitcase and put it in the canoe. After a 15 minute, beautiful ride down the river, we arrived at Liana Lodge. The lodge was so much nicer than what I expected. A volunteer from Switzerland met us and explained their project and gave us an orientation. This place was originally created by a Swiss/Ecuadorean couple that wanted to save and rehabilitate jungle animals that were confiscated by the government, such as exotic pets, smuggled animals and injured and abandoned animals. Eventually they created the lodge as a way to generate income for their project as they get no funding from the Ecuadorean government. They employ only people from the local Quechua tribe and volunteers from overseas so everything we contribute by staying here goes right back to the indigenous people and the rescue center. Sadly the Swiss woman was killed in a car accident 2 years ago but her husband keeps the project going.
We climbed up the hill to our hut. Totally secluded in the middle of nowhere with an amazing view over the treetops and river. The huts are made of bamboo and thatched roofs with only mosquito netting for windows and a beautiful porch. And best of all - no electricity! Only candles to give us light. Glad we brought out headlamps or we would have been lost (literally, as we were expected to navigate our way down a jungle path to the main common area at night for dinner).
Since it was so hot we grabbed our bathing suits and an inner tube and went for a swim in the river. It was amazing. The river is big but the current is relaxed so we floated back and forth until we had refreshed and recovered from our adventurous bus ride. Lucky for us no piranhas in this river - only caimans (a small crocodile). Didn't see any though!
Later after hot showers in the almost dark we went down for a delicious dinner (all meals are included) and planned our next day's excursions. Early to bed (what else is there to do with no electricity).