Amazon Rainforest - Day 3



Day 3, Amazon Rainforest, near Puerto Maldonado, Perú (5/16/2012)

[For an introduction to the rainforest, see Day 1.]

Today, our last day in the rainforest, was once again filled with lots of activities. Right after breakfast we headed into the forest in the pouring rain and did the 3.5-hour ceiba trail hike to the tip of the preserve to visit the giant ceiba tree (they're also known as Kapoks or Silk Cotton Trees). Photos can't capture the incredible grandness of this tree, but I tried. Thankfully the rain eventually stopped about half-way through the hike and I was able to take some photos, including a photo of a huge tarantula that our awesome guide Luis coaxed out of its hole.

After lunch we boarded a boat and headed to a jungle farm in the area known as "Infierno" (or Hell). There the farmer and guides introduced us to the many crops they grow there and the ways they harvest the crop. Night fell by the time we got back to the lodge.

Total distance hiked today was maybe 6-7 miles total in about 4 hours.

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The awesome Luis

Chicken tarantula


Mushrooms



 




Army ants
 


Approaching the ...

... giant ceiba tree


Mud!
 





Wellingtons came in handy
 


Wild turkey

Berries

Butterfly

 



Giant leaf (see my boot)

Howler ...

... monkeys
 


Various ...

... photos of ...

... Saddleback Tamarins

 


Back to the boat

Jungle farm

Luis

Laura with machete
 


Papaya trees

Banana trees

Luis cutting banana

Chickens
 


Piglets


Farm owner

Avocados
 

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