[Tres Gringos Blancos] Everything here can kill you (but it probably won't)

[Robert]

We are back, now, in La Paz, after our week in and around Rurrenabaque ('Rurre'). It's a pretty little town on the banks of the Beni River, a major tributary of what will eventually become the mighty Amazon. We initially went upriver by boat to Chalalan EcoLodge, a journey of some 6 or 7 hours (we have no real method of measuring the time) by canoe, dodging floating logs and other debris unleashed by the recent rains.
The set-up there is fantastic - a number of small, palmwood cabins built on the edge of a beautiful, expansive lagoon (which despite the presence of cayman, was perfectly safe for swimming, and very refreshing at that). The entire place is owned and run by the local village, so all profits stay not only in Bolivia but within the Chalalan community. While there we saw many monkeys, insects (especially mosquitos), amazing plants, boa constrictors, tarantulas and wild pigs - which are apparently the most dangerous animal in the jungle.

After leaving Chalalan we then headed into the Pampas, the extensive swamp and grasslands bordering the jungle's edge. Here we saw many fantastic birds and animals, most intriguingly the Pink River Dolphin, which is as advertised pink, and lives in the river. Best of all, we were able to swim with them on christmas morning, right before going piraña fishing a few hundred metres down stream! Apparently the presence of the dolphins keeps the alligators at bay while you swim, though this didn't reassure the two french girls we were there with. We went on an extensive, exhausting hike in sweltering conditions looking for anaconda on boxing day, but I guess the blighters had a big night previous and were laying in - we didn't see a one.

Two more things - nobody is allowed to complain about the heat, humidity or quality of Autralian Air Travel ever again.
So much nausea.

chao

P.S will attempt to add more images as a gallery - have to sort them a bit though.
P.P.S. there was 3 awesome kittens at our Pampas lodged. Their epic battles across the dining room will not soon be forgotten.

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Posted By Robert to Tres Gringos Blancos at 12/28/2007 04:34:00 AM