May 2 2024

Up at 5 to get to the airport. Actually a decent latte at the airport. (Some may notice the beginnings of a theme here:). 

In Puerto Maldonado we were bussed to the “waterfront” and tentatively climbed aboard our mode of transport to the Inkaterra Eco Resort some 20-30 minutes downstream on the Rio Madre de Dios. Inkaterra is part research station, part holiday resort, the latter presumably funding the former. “Tentatively” as the long boats were quite narrow with a shallow draft and the weight had to be carefully balanced to keep us upright. 

We had a low key afternoon being shown the local gardens demonstrating some of the local flora and its uses. I didn’t volunteer to have my face painted. 

In the evening we tiptoed back onto our boat for a night boat tour. If cruising the river on a narrow shallow boat wasn’t hair raising enough? How about in the dark? 

Somehow the guide up the front was able to spot the wildlife on the shore or in the shadows. Caymans and capybaras. 

And when we got back to “glamp” a tarantula to help us settle for the night 🙃