Travel review Amazon – Opt for electricity in the Amazon!

In the Spring 2015, we went on a trip to the South Pacific with a group of friends. At the end of our cruise, we headed off with a smaller group to the Amazon. We thought that since we were already down in Lima, we might as well, right?! Read our travel review Amazon below for our adventures.

We didn’t really know what to expect in the Amazon. We made sure we would have power; there would be water, and food, and a roof over our heads. We were hopeful of air conditioning! It was one big adventure.

Ceiba Tops personnel picked us up from the cruise ship terminal in Lima to get us to the airport. Then, we flew from Lima to Iquitos, Peru. We met our guides for the week. They helped us store our larger luggage pieces. For one week of hiking, boating, eating, sleeping, and swimming you really don’t need much –

We took a boat to Ceiba Tops (Explorama Lodges), about 45 minutes down river on the Amazon to Ceiba Tops. It was midday upon our arrival. Given our room numbers and keys we all dumped our luggage and prepared ourselves for our first hike that afternoon. Checking out the local fauna and animals (tarantula nests!!) we also had the local tapir along for the walk. She followed us around the grounds, and even looked longingly at the pool when we went in for a dip! As a baby, her first adventure on the property was slipping down the slide into the pool! She was rescued by staff.

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Day One

Our days were long. Starting at 5:30am after breakfast we explored till midday, then were able to relax in the pool. Then, dinner, and socializing in the lounge with all visitors at the lodge.

Day Two

On day two, we headed to another lodge for our breakfast and to visit with the lodgers. A group of high school students who volunteered and earned enough money to come to the lodge to help with local education and learning opportunities. This lodge did not have power, and it had outhouses for bathrooms. If you’re a camper, it would be similar to that. I’m thinking it would be a step above that given the great food! However, it definitely was hot, and muggy, and the students are there for 2-4 weeks dependent on their sign up. We went for a canopy walk (ACTS Canopy Walkway and Trail) and a visit to the ReNuPeru Ethnobotanical Garden. A visit with the local shaman ensured we were cleansed of evil!

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All the employees at the Ceiba Tops Lodge were men. The women were at their homes in the region, looking after their children and families. The men come for a few weeks at a time and stay onsite and do all the jobs, and then get short visits with their families. Our guides said they found it challenging not seeing their families. They were happy that locals were employed to talk about the area and to show the tourists around.

Day Three

Day three we went on a morning boat ride searching for pink dolphins, visited a Yagua Indian village, and learned how to use a blowgun. We also lucked out and met some friends at an animal reserve! Check out this video of our encounter with the anaconda that was thinking to run for freedom from his bathroom spot!

Day Four

On day four, we visited the village of Indiana along the Amazon for the early morning market. Later that day we went to the local school where we provided school supplies to the students. They were all at school for over 2 hours without a teacher. When we came they visited with us, then went home at lunch time when no teacher showed up. Teachers don’t always come to the schools and kids are left to their own devices. The parents phone and follow up with the government, but, it is an ongoing problem.

Really, a most amazing experience and so happy we had the opportunity to visit and share this with many of our friends! We could likely fill a book with our full experience, but this travel review Amazon will suffice for now !