Now returned to La Paz (again) after 5 days in a place called Rurrenabaque, in northern Bolivia, which forms part of the Amazonian basin. After the smallest commercial plane Ive ever been on touched down on a grass airfield I knew we were in for a treat.

It was extremely hot and humid, but a welcome temperature increase nonetheless after three weeks at altitude in the andes where its mainly cold and wet. The first 3 days was a trip to a place called Las Pampas- a place absolutely swarming with rare wildlife from eagles, sloths, tucans and tortoises to monkeys, aligators, pink dolphins and cayman crocodiles. True to form our jeep was horrendous and got stuck in deep mud on the way to the river, which resulted in a good twenty people having to push us out a few times but we eventually got to the river two hours later than expected. We stayed in small huts above shallow aligator infested water which was quite amusing since everytime you walked somewhere (all raised above the water with connecting walkways) you were aware of them watching you. Swimming with the pink dolphins was probably the highlight here, although the generally chilled out atmosphere of the place was hugely welcomed. Siestas in hammocks with wildlife,beers in the local river bars and sunset volleyball will be sorely missed.

The two days in the jungle were an okay supplement but it all just seemed an anti climax after Las Pampas since you dont see much wildlife, or anything else in thick jungle apart from thousands insects. It was also a minor hindrance that the guide didnt speak a word of english so my limited spanish failed to translate much of what the indigenous people did in the surroundings. I knew enough, however, not to mess with the snakes and spiders we found on a night time trek which the guide described them as "muy toxico".

After a very very shaky flight back to La Paz last night in which our 18 seater plane was thrown all round in the wind and rain we head to Santa Cruz tonight on a mere 16 hour bus ride.