Introduction to today's journey
Today's journey takes us from the Tambopata Ecolodge a little further upstream where we hike through the jungle to an oxbow lake. After exploring the lake we return along the river making a couple of stops until returning to the ecolodge for lunch. We later head along the river for a late afternoon tour of the jungle passing many herbal remedy plants and trees.
Today's Journey
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We leave the ecolodge at first light, taking the longboat upstream through the silent wisps of mist hovering over the water. |
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Stopping at a track entrance just after sunrise we follow it through the dense jungle. |
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The path continues for about half an hour before suddenly terminating at an oxbow lake. This was once the main channel of the river, but at some point two bends in the river joined separating this area into its own lake. |
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A local takes us across the lake in a small boat which he powers by moving the tiller from side to side. |
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Slowly crossing the still waters of the lake, the mirror smooth surface is broken only by the occasional giant otter hunting for fish in its murky depths. |
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We reach the other side and catch a few piranha. They are vicious so we let the locals hold them as they show them to us. |
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Returning across the lake, we follow the track back to the boat, with our guides showing us jungle survival skills. Here one guide shows us a blow dart used for hunting. |
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We return to the river. The water level is lower than usual exposing large rocky outcrops. The river is navigable only for a couple of kilometres upstream before dividing into two smaller rivers which flow down rapids from the Andes hidden in the thick haze. |
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Returning to the ecolodge after more hiking through the jungle. Here we relax in our jungle habitat for a few hours. |
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In the late afternoon we cruise to another base along the river where we learn about all the medicinal plants growing here in the jungle. |
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