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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