A visit to the Ecuadorean Amazon Jungle

A visit to the Ecuadorean Amazon Jungle

Freshly back from the Galapagos Islands, and having had Big Bertha’s oil changed at MAN Quito, we drove east of Quito towards the Amazon. A day later we arrived in Lago Agrio, where we joined our tour to Waita Lodge, deep in the Amazon jungle . We were first bussed to the town Tierras Orientales, where the roads finish, and where we boarded a canoe for a three and a half hour journey to the lodge. We were given ponchos, which came in very handy when the skies opened and the rain poured down, but luckily only for a few short downbursts.

On reaching the mouth of the tributary to the main river on which the lodge was located, we stopped for a little while to watch the pink dolphins fishing in the calm water, while Carlos, our guide, gave us an introductory talk.

Shortly afterwards we reached the lodge. Because it was the low season, there were only the six of us staying which meant there was ample room.

We spent three nights and two full days at the lodge, which works closely with the local communities. We met at 6am each morning for a canoe ride before breakfast. After having returned for breakfast, we had a short rest before heading out on a jungle walk and then returning for lunch and another short rest before heading out in the canoe again at 4pm returning for a short night walk before dinner. It was hard work!! On one of our dusktime canoe trips, we tried fishing for piranha. Francine eventually caught one, but having seen how it’s sharp little teeth cut through a wooden stem (see the video below), refused to get too near to pose for a photo!