We didn't have to leave the hotel room until 10am and so it was a good opportunity for an unhurried start - refreshing shower, suitcases sorted, relaxed breakfast = organised and ready for the last leg of our trip.
Cusco airport was pandemonium. In the event we were only delayed by half an hour, but the terminal was full to bursting, no seats, our flight didn't appear on any of the departure boards and the attendant at the gate had no information for us. Ian posted on fb that we were on our way to the Amazon rainforest and someone replied 'Glad to hear your take-off was ok as its more risky at altitude'. 'Thanks for that,' Ian posted, 'but we haven't actually taken off yet'.
Puerto Maldonado airport was a tin-shack-and-tarmac job. We were greeted by 2 lovely girls and a hot sunny day, and immediately slathered on the sun screen and insect repellant. Located 25 minutes down river from Puerto Maldonado, our eco-lodge
Hacienda Concepción can only be reached by taking a scenic canoe ride from the town along the Madre De Dios River. I am astonished by the size of the coffee-coloured river, which from Peru winds through Bolivia and Brazil before it flows into the Amazon. The Amazon basin, which includes over 1000 tributaries, reaches into 9 countries (Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Guyana, French Guyana and Suriname). The brochure says that 'if you are in the Amazon Rainforest you can legitimately say that you have sailed the Amazon River'. That's good enough for me.
At the lodge our accommodation was individual 'cabanas' - thatched-cottage type structures, which were basic but functional with fan-cooling, en suite facilities and mosquito nets. The Casa Grande was a large communal area, serving as a meeting place, bar, relaxation area and restaurant. Nestled in tropical gardens, all buildings were open air i.e. no windows, just mosquito-proof netting so that we had a constant surround-sound of jungle noises. Dinner was rather impressive, with unexpected touches of fine dining. The first night I had a local dish called Juane. This was rice and cheese wrapped in a bijao leaf, which we had seen on our jungle tour earlier in the day. Quite delicious.
Late that afternoon Indira, our guide, gave us a 2 hour guided tour inside the grounds of the lodge, to begin to familiarise ourselves with the tropical rainforest. Wow - hot and steamy or what! After dinner we were out again, looking for caiman in the dark. We found some too. By the time we retired to our cabana I was pooped, but I showered and raced into bed, hopefully beating the mozzies. It was sheer luxury to be rid of the sticky, smelly Deet and sun protection cream.
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Madre De Dios River |
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The last stage of our journey by boat |
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Our private cabana (hut/shack/cabin) in the jungle |
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Casa Grande - the centre of Hacienda Concepcion Lodge |
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Buffet Lunch in Casa Grande |
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The path to our cabana |
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Our guide, Indira, discussing the walking palm |
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Kapok tree, the tallest species in Amazonia |