Woke up today excited for our 3 day Jungle adventure however it didn't get off to a good start the taxi was late to take us to the airport so we were running through check in and boarding so we didn't miss our flight!

The flight went smoothly and only took 40mins opposed to the 10hr bus journey it would have taken from Cusco.

Once we arrived in Puerto Maldonado we were hit by the humidity and glorious sunshine, then greeted by our guide, Victor. The three of us squeezed into a tuk tuk and we were on our way to the jungle!

First we stopped off at his house and that was when I realised I had lost the first item of my trip, my cardigan. Luckily I won't be needing it in the Jungle and means more space for another cool Peruvian jumper.

The river boat took 45mins giving us enough time to eat our lunch, this consisted of rice and chicken cooked in a banana leaf - now we know we were entering the Jungle!

As we disembarked the boat we met Lily and William, a French couple that were joining us for most of the trip. We walked 3km and Victor pointed out different jungle plants and painted us in henna. We arrived at the canoe boat and after navigating the small river we went through the tree to reach S.... Lake. The view was breath taking and I couldn't quite believe we were there!

Our lodge was on the other side of the lake and once we arrived we took a natural fresh water shower which was the coldest shower I have ever taken! Liz and I relaxed in the hammocks that looked out onto the lake before taken back in the canoe to watch the sunset.

At 7pm we ventured back on the lake this time it was dark so we could gaze at the thousands of stars and watch out for the caiman because their eyes glowed when the torch was shone in them. We counted 18 caiman just on one side of the lake. Minding my own business, slightly scared because we were in complete darkness surrounded by caiman a fish jumped out of the water and slapped me round the face! At first I thought it was Victor hitting me with the boat paddle! We then went hunting for a baby caiman and our guide managed to catch one.

After saying good night to Victor and getting into bed, I realised I wasn't alone! I had a ginormous spider on my bed, I had to call Victor to the rescue - even Victor wouldn't touch the spider with his hands so it must have be a dangerous one, I think I had a lucky escape!

Day 2 started at 4am because there was lots to see before breakfast! We watched the sunrise on the lake while listening to the roar of the howler monkeys. We also saw a huge tarantula in its burrow, monkeys at the top of a tree, and lots if exotic birds including; macaws, Toucans and parrots. Finally before breakfast we saw a family of giant otters chasing a caiman.

We took a 3hr walk through the jungle while Victor pointed out all the plants and told us about each of their functions and purpose within the jungle. We got to try Brazil nuts and water from the inside of the tree. Along with a witchty grub looking worm if we were brave enough!

The best part of the walk was when we got to see a family of brown capuchin and yellow squirrel monkeys swinging from the treetops around us.

We had a relaxing couple of hours in the afternoon and once Victor had returned from taking Lily and William back to Puerto Maldonado, we went searching for the sloths but instead we came across the monkeys again while watching another magnificent sunset.

After dinner we took the scary option if taking a night time walk through the jungle, at the time I don't know if I was more scared of following Victor at night with a machete or the fact we could come across a jaguar. Even the tiniest things made me jump out my skin. Don't worry I did make it out with only a few mosquito bites! We ended up in the middle if the lake gazing at the stars while victor fell asleep!

The final day in the jungle

We saw many more species of birds, insects and monkeys and saw a 4m caiman metres away from the boat! We were both sad to be leaving but looking forward to a nice warm shower when we got back to Cusco.

Thinking we were going to be taking a tuk tuk again to the airport, Victor showed up on his motor bike (don't worry mum I survived!) I was careful because I had heard a story from a girl I met at Machu Picchu who burnt her leg on the exhaust pipe of a motor bike. Just as I was thinking this I forgot to warn Liz and she burnt her leg :( and being in Peru they had no first aid kit or ice at the airport and we had to buy ice lollies to sooth the burn until we got in the aircraft. Fingers crossed it won't scar because at the moment Liz seems to be ok.