Peru ◦ Puerto Maldonado | Amazon Rainforest

by YU-LING

After completing a four-day trek in the Torres del Paine National Park, I have once again accomplished the second challenge I set for myself - returning from the Amazon Rainforest!

◦ Preparation

I was both excited and fearful about the adventure. I was excited about seeing rare animals and plants that are only seen in documentaries. But I was also scared because of the dangers from wildlife and the challenges of surviving in the jungle.

To stay safe, preparations had to be made before heading to the Amazon. This included receiving a yellow fever vaccine, taking malaria medication for five weeks, and using bug spray with DEET to keep mosquitoes away.

Yellow Fever Vaccination and Medication for Altitude Sickness
◦ Dangers in the Rainforest

To reach the Amazon from Puerto Maldonado, we walked alongside tributaries. At first, it was difficult because the mud was wet and slippery. I tried to grab onto tree trunks for support, but the guide quickly warned me,
"The trunk of this tree is covered in thorns!"
(Once, he failed to warn me in time, and I had to spend time removing small black thorns.)
"That tree has fire ants!"
(In Taiwan, if someone is bitten by these ants, it can pose a risk of shock for those who are allergic.)
"Watch out for bullet ants!"
(As the name suggests, getting bitten feels like being shot.)
In some South American tribes, getting bitten by bullet ants is even part of the male initiation rites.

Not only should you watch where you step, but also keep an eye out in every direction and listen carefully. It's not like the adorable animal enclosures in a zoo; it's more like a battlefield where creatures fight, and a minor error could lead to danger. Once, I almost stepped on a snake while looking up at a monkey in a tree.

◦ Caiman

What frightened me the most were the nights in the rainforest, where various snakes, spiders, and caimans emerged. Once it got dark, canoes from nearby areas would gather near the shore, and everyone would use flashlights to search for caimans. Even when no caimans were around, it wasn't boring. In the light-restricted rainforest area where I stayed (with only three hours of electricity per day), the night sky filled with stars was truly breathtaking!

◦ Travel Agency Recommendation

In the dangerous rainforest, it is safer to join a guided tour. After considering various options, I chose Tambopata Giant Otter Expeditions. They were known for their quick responses, professional guides, delicious meals, and relatively clean bathroom facilities in the accommodation area.

➤ Tambopata Giant Otter Expeditions

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