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To Rurrenabaque by boat
16th May 2010
Continuing our trip with Deep Rainforest, interrupted due to a roadblock at Caranavi, we travelled 6 hours north of La Paz on a nail biting bus ride to Teoponte, part of which could have been on the world´s second most dangerous road.
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From there we boarded a long river boat powered by an outboard motor, expertly manouvered through the rapids by Herman and Camisas for a 3 day trip down the Rivers Kaka and Beni to Rurrenabaque in the Bolivian Amazon. Such a memorable trip it was, gliding with the current of the river, thick jungle of the Madidi National Park all around us.
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We camped 2 nights on the river banks, went piraña fishing (Jeff was the only person to catch one) and had jungle walks with Ivan, our guide, opening up a space ahead with his machette and explaining the medicinal value of various plants. Carmén, the cook, was up well before dawn cooking up huge meals for 12 tourists and 4 crew.
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Rurre, as the locals call it, is a real jungle outpost where canoes arrive at the market on the river bank. The amazing sunsets are best watched from an open air thatched roof bar beside the river.
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We flew back to La Paz on an Amaszonas Airline 19 seat Metro. What an experience – taking off from the rough grass airstrip and flying through a gap in the snow covered mountains to land at one of the world’s highest airports .
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Our boat

Gliding down river

Camping on the river bank

Early morning mist

Village on the river

Dense jungle lines the river

Our cook Carmen at work

Waterfall and swimming hole

Hanging nests of the Oropendola birds

Jeff's piraña

Ivan with his machette

Termite nests attached to a tree

Spiny tree in the jungle

Moth disguised as an owl

Looking up into the canopy

Wild cocoa growing in the jungle

Capibarra leaving the water (giant guinea pig)

Leaf cutter ants at work

Waiting for the banana boat at Rurrenabaque

Sleepy Rurrenabaque

Rurrenabaque river bank

Sunset over the river at Rurrenabaque

Back to La Paz the quick way

Flying between mountain peaks