Amazonia

We packed up our many bags and headed out to Tena! The main road into Pintag is currently closed, and apparently will be for another 2 months. This has meant some businesses aren’t receiving water and it’s much harder to get in and out of the town. Maddie walked the few blocks from our Airbnb into town to flag down a truck taxi and asked if he’d come to pick up our bags. She’s gotten so comfortable and resourceful!

After a taxi ride into Pita, and another quick taxi ride to the bus station after a bit of confusion about where we were going, we got on the bus for the 3+ hour ride to Tena.

It was mostly uneventful and a gorgeous drive as we descended into the rainforest. Tena sits on the edge of the Amazon. So we aren’t deep in the rainforest, but close enough that it’s hot, humid, rainy and there are monkeys!! The ride here was through thick vegetation, lots of valleys and cliffs and we followed a river for much of the time. There were absolutely gorgeous, huge waterfalls and we gradually started to spot banana, cacao and papaya trees. If any of this had been in the States it would have been overrun with traffic and tourists. The road was bumpy (my watch seemed to think I was moving the whole time and I closed my exercise ring from the comfort of my bus seat!) and it’s not easily accessible. I couldn’t help but think I hope it stays that way. Thinking of this stunning part of the world being overrun with tourists is hard to stomach.

We got settled in, found a great taco place in the park across the street, and tried to adjust to the heat!

On Saturday we had a great breakfast nearby and walked a bit as we waited because some of Maddie’s friends from Mushullakta came to visit!

This is no small thing. It’s a 3 hour bus ride to Mushullakta one way! So they spent considerable time on the bus to come see us for a few hours. It was so fun to meet another student from her program and several of the teens from the forest school where she taught.

After her friends left, we wandered through a little park and saw monkeys and a tapir! On every trip we take I ask the kids for 1-2 “musts”. On this trip, Auguste said see the equator and see monkeys. So, mission accomplished!

I may have been more excited about the plants and flowers. Everything is bigger im the Amazon! Auguste had a great time watching the monkeys and trying to get pictures of them. He did get peed on by a sassy little monkey at one point, which he found hilarious.

All in all, a great day in Amazonia! We have one day left here to explore before heading back to Quito for our flight to the Galapagos!