Fly from Cuzco to Puerto Maldonado with LAN Airlines.

Met at airport by guide, Victor Huinga, and taken to  the WASAI Maldonado Ecolodge.

Took 3 hour motorboat trip up the Tambopata River to WASAI Tambopata Lodge (box lunch enroute). During the trip we saw alligator, birds and locals going about their lives on the river.

Reception at the lodge and a chance to get settled into our huts.

After dinner in the lodge Victor took us on a night walk in the jungle where we encountered nocturnal life.

Fell asleep to the sounds of the jungle.

Early wake up at 4:30 am; on the river by 5:30 for our 40-minute journey upstream to the Macaw Clay Lick “El Chuncho” in the Bahuaja-Sonene National Park.

As the sun rose the natural scenery was enchanting as flocks of birds flew overhead and a capybara (the world's largest rodent) seen on the riverbank. At the clay lick parrots and different species of macaws flew overhead and landed on the trees above the clay lick.  Cautiously they began to fly down the the steep clay walls to eat. Macaws and parrots not only come to the clay lick to obtain hard-to-find minerals that are only present in high concentrations in the lick's soil, but scientists also believe that parrots eat the clay to neutralize the effects of toxic fruits and seeds they eat.   We sat in silence and in awe. 

Returned to lodge for breakfast and rest before taking a boat to “Cascadas del Gato” where Sherrie swam in the 'black water' below a waterfall.

In the afternoon Victor took us on an ethno botanical walk into the rainforest by the lodge to learn about plants and medicinal trees of the area including the 'walking palm' and giant lupuna trees.

At nightfall Victor showed us his "new toy" through which we could identify stars and constellations.  We thought we were done for the night but, oh no, Victor then took us on a nocturnal river safari.

After an early breakfast we returned to WASAI Maldonado Ecolodge in Puerto Maldonado by boat.  After checking into our bungalows and enjoying a tasty lunch on the open deck, we travelled for thirty minutes on the Madre de Dios River to the access trail for Lake Sandoval.  During the 3 km hike through the tropical rainforest Victor pointed out insects and other sights of interest.  It was hot and we wished we had brought more water with us. At the edge of Sandoval Lake we boarded a canoe.  Passing through a narrow swamp, Victor spotted a black caiman. 

Out on the lake with its cooling breezes, Victor paddled close to the forest line so that we could observe bird life, bats and monkeys.  We were lucky when Victor spotted the lake's family of giant otters eating piranha and we paddled to a non-intrusive distance to view.  It was ... an unforgettable experience.    

Our return walk to the river was cool  and again Victor pointed out birds and insects, including a owl butterfly which seemed as curious about us as we were of it.   The sun set as we boated back on the Madre de Dios River to Puerto Maldonado.

Under the protection of darkness, monkeys played in the trees around the dining deck at the ecolodge. 

Breakfast and transportation to the airport for our LAN flight from Puerto Maldonado to Cuzco to Lima to Quito, Ecuador.