Amazon rainforest jungle camping

Okay. I am not fond of camping but I wanted to sleep in the Amazon to see what it is like.

I gathered my sturdy hiking boots, long pants and shirt, bug spray, a 2 L bottle of water, and a good rain jacket. That is really all that is needed. I bought a portable power bank but really did not use much battery as there is no cellular signal or WiFi.

We went by canoe from the Anaconda island where the lodge is located to a location in the state of Amazonas.

Mosquitoes are actually not as prevalent as I thought thanks to the slightly dark colored water here. It looks like coca cola when being poured into a glass and has been described as tea colored.

The coloring is due to the high concentration of organic matter such as tannins and humic acids that are leached from decaying vegetation. These compounds are released when plants decompose in the forests. The waters of the Rio Negro also have a low mineral content,along it more transparent. It is easy to see the dark color.

The trek was 1 km inland from the Rio Negro.

Tying up the hammocks and mosquito nets.

Okay, we each brought a beer …..
There is a wood here that is high in oil content and used as a fire starter.
Using pieces of wood for a base for grilling.
Rice was made in a pot earlier.
We learned to make bowls out of leaves. Quite a handy trick. And our guide made little paddles out of wood to use as a hybrid spoon and knife. On the menu was rice and chicken. I was hungry, I ate chicken

After finishing dinner, the rain started and it didn’t stop all night. We went into the hammocks and talked, chilled out and went to sleep.

I woke up on and off through the night and recorded a few sounds. It had been described as being very loud, but so are crickets in rural western PA. We heard birds, insects, and monkeys but since it was raining there was much less activity.

The next morning…. And no it hasn’t stopped raining yet.

Eggs, bread, and coffee for breakfast.
A cute little toad….
This area will be under water during the rainy season, which starts now. You can see how the roots adapt .
Many trees have spikes which are quite sharp.
You can see the change in color of the bark part way up. The water will be that deep in this area in just 4 months. This is only the start of the rainy season.
Lots of water to walk through to get back to the canoe.
Literally a cabin in the woods. Relaxing here…
On the way back to Anaconda Island.
The cabins at the Anaconda Lodge.

A shower was first on the list. There is no power in the cabins from 6 am to 6 pm and also no Wifi. There is wifi at the lodge itself and is powered by solar power. Not a fancy place to stay but it has what you need. I have to say that the fish here is amazing. And, there is a pool….