We kayaked down the Shiripuna River, camped in the rainforest under a full moon and trekked the Amazonian basin blanketed by a forty-foot high jungle canopy. Magnificent bromelaids grew on braids of vines. Zillions of creatures hid in the lush trees and damp earth, and predators prowled mostly unseen. The forest is vast and the animals are …

That's right, the very next day the prop on the outboard motor on the same canoe which was taking us up river to Coca, and closer to home, hit something beneath the water and we were stranded. I have to tell you that I happen to be a gal to whom odd things happen, but things always work out and end up being the highlight of any event.
Our guide, …

Another boat came sometime after midnight, but the nighttime river journey, beaconed by a small spotlight at the bow of the boat about 45 feet away from the driver in the stern, and a three hour drive to Coca got us back about four the next morning. Tired? Yes, but wow! We saw animals that even our guide had never seen in the wild. A tapir crawled …

The above adventure was not exactly the planned itinerary, but I believe we topped it ~ as adventure goes. I might add that this journal is only a quick peek at our trip.
Unlike the adventurers who discovered the new world, my best friend and I departed from Los Angeles to Ecuador on a journey to see the Amazonian Rainforest before its total …

We kayaked for about four hours, mostly in the rain. The river snaked through the vast forest offering glimpses of monkeys high in the canopy. We learned to watch for them where tall trees grew close together.
We arrived at the Huaorani community well after dark. This was the home of one of our porters, so it felt very special. I loved meeting …

The rain continued throughout the day of expedition kayaking. We paddled down the river, the color of creamed coffee. We didn't mind because we were wet anyway. The plan to sleep along the riverbank changed in case the river would continue to rise. The guides hacked out a clearing for a safer campsite on higher ground within the dense rainforest. …

Another day of kayaking, but on a sun-filled day decorated with butterflies. Avoiding the logs and overhanging tree branches was still a challenge as our attention drew to the multitude of bird life, and the squawking of parrots in flight overhead. Three days on the river and still no other tourists just scarlet macaws, a lone blue morph here and …

Even waiting to be rescued from the unrelenting insects, the night spent under the stars in the rainforest proved to be a great adventure; the reason I signed on. The experience of being sucked into quicksand and keeping my cool taught me something about myself...I'll have a great story to tell!
I wanted to experience a pristine Amazonian …