The adventure started with a 22 hour bus ride to Rurrenabaque (Rurre). It usually (only) takes about 18 hours but due to rainy season and the uncertainty of weather the roads would be drivable, it took longer! The only real story about the journey was that we got stuck for about 50 minutes due to a landslide. however, the return bus journey was much more eventful, it deserves a blog all to itself!! so watch this space!
Rurre itself is very nice and laid back, a million miles away (literally) from La Paz. Our first task was to actually book our tour. We met an extravagent man when we got off the bus promising us discounts and he did not disapoint. we also managed to get a discount off our return bus journey!
8.15 the following morning we arrived at the tour office to begin the trip of 3 days and 2 nights. We needed to make a 3 hour jeep ride to the river, after which our boat (our mode of transport for the next 3 days) and guide, Toto, awaited us. The boat was less than 2 foot wide and wobbled anytime anyone moved. Quite unsettling at first. We slapped on the suncream and moquito repelent. Although the boat ride to the ecolodge should only take 1 hour, Toto took us on a detour to spot birds and monkeys.
Upon arriving in the ecolodge, basic accomodation on stilts on the river shore, we allocated ourselves beds and enjoyed a snack of popcorn, biscuits and cold juice. A quick refresh before heading to the aptly named sunset bar to enjoy a cold beer and the sunset. We returned to the lodge for dinner before heading on our next outing, alligator hunting at night. Quite an experience! We had already got our first glimpse of the gators upclose as one resided right outside the lodge.
So, armed with flashlights and hearts in mouths, we boarded the boat on what seemed to be the longest 2hours ever! Toto managed to spot a baby gator and asked us if we wanted him to catch it and bring it on board. We all agreed through gritted teeth. Unfortunately, it swam off. The next time we spotted it in some bushes, he was unsure was to whether mother was close to baby, so choose not to catch it!
Needless to say, although needing sleep after a hectic day, sleep was not great due to heat and humidity!
Day 2, heat was not something we were too worried about due to a monster downpour starting very early morning and continuing untill 2pm!
Not letting the rain get the better of us, we donned wellies and coats and climbed on board and set off to hunt for anacondas. We travelled for about an hour in the boat (in the pouring rain) before we hit a small island. We climed out the boat and where sent off in different directions (much to our horror) to look for something thats brown, black and yellow. After about 45 minutes of wandering, Toto called us together to go walking as a group. Walking is an understatement. We waded, thigh deep in water, hoping that nothing slithered past our legs. luckily, we were safe. But, on the other hand, we did not any anaconas, no matter now much Toto decided to poke at the holes in trees or hit branches. The boat Beckoned as well as the warmth and dryness of the lodge, so we boarded and headed back for lunch and an postfeed siesta.
Thankfully, the rained cleared up so our afternoon activity, swimming with pink dolphines looked promising. Few where couragious enough to braze the water, but the dolphines kept their distance we did manage to see numerous playing and popping out the water.
Although it was too cloudy to watch the sunset, that did not stop us from stopping at a bar for an improptu beer and a game of football for the boys!
Post dinner involved drinking, music, games and general merriment, thankfully we were not woken at 4.30 the next morning (as we were told we would be) to watch the sunrise to due, yet again, more rain!
So after a relative lie in, we again donned our wet clothes from the day before, and headed out in the boat, for what we thought was Piranha fishing. After an hour and a half of travelling, and again much rain, some of the others in the group broke it to us that we were in fact, only out looking for sloths, and not some magical fishing spot. With this disappointment, we called for Toto to turn the boat around, and head back to the lodge for our last meal, before heading back to terra firma!
The boat ride back to Santa Rosa, took us on the same route as our arrival, but at a much quicker pace.
When the Jeep arrived to take us back to Rurre, we were informed we would have a few extra passengers, who needed to catch a flight. And so the race was on, for us to get back to Rurre in under 3 hours for the guys to catch their plane. We surprisingly made record time, getting the guys to the airport with 5 minutes to spare!
Once back in Rurre after a shower, we headed out to meet the guys from the tour for cocktails and pizza, and general merriment!
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