Amazon: The Trip

Our first night was a bit of shocker, when we realized that our accommodation for the entirety of expedition would be rustic shacks with mesh screen walls that didn't entirely close bugs out, cold water and bathrooms a hundred yards from our room. We weren't expecting the Marriott and obviously mosquito nets would be needed, but knowing we had five days of minimalist living ahead of us was still daunting.

Our first night at the Rainforest Lodge...

The lodge ensures you're always close to nature on the trip, with state of the art windowless showers...

After the first night in the Rainforest Lodge we drove an hour to the Amazon port town of Atalaya on the Madre de Dios River and boarded for our ride another four hours to our first night at Bonanza Lodge.

 

After a night in the Bonanza Lodge, which only had limited solar power in the dining room, we hiked 20 minutes through the jungle back to our boat for another nine hours into the deepest part of our journey, our only stop at a natural hot springs for a quick dip.

The deepest lodge is owned and operated by the Matsigenka tribe, a formerly uncontacted peoples that now lives in relative modernity in small towns a few days boat ride further into the Amazon. While the tribe runs the lodge in partnership with several tour operators, most of its people have little knowledge of the outside world, live without electricity and plumbing and speak only their native language, no Spanish. 

Checking in at the new the Manu ranger station several hours downriver from the lodge.

During our time here, the weather was cold and cloudy, meaning no solar power, so we ate only by candlelight and needed flashlights to get to and from the bathroom after dark. You would think sleeping in complete darkness to the sounds of the jungle would be peaceful, but every noise outside sounded like footsteps, until Brit and I were sure our isolated bungalow was completely surrounded... 

Fortunately, the local tribe showed us how to shoot a bow and arrow... My shot went straight into the ground three feet away...

Brit was a better shot than me, and here she displays her impressive technique...

While we roughed it in our rustic cabins, our cook, Cesario whipped up excellent meals armed with only a camping stove and headlamp. Dinner included soup, a huge buffet style entree and dessert accompanied by hot tea and homemade juice.

We agreed the most unique meal was a chicken, rice and guacamole dish wrappd and steamed in huge banana leaves. So good!

Chocolate crepes and tea on board the boat!

After five nights in the jungle, we were both ready for a hot shower and electricity!