Arajuno Jungle Lodge

Once again, video manages to capture an Ecuadorian experience better than we could ever do in words or pictures (plus Derk's having a ton of fun with his new video editing software).

I'll leave it at this: WHEN you go to Ecuador, and WHEN you decide to head to the Amazon, then you MUST stay at the Arajuno Jungle Lodge.  Tom Larson (former Ecuador Peace Corps Director), along with super impressive guide Octavio, and family and staff running the place, are so knowledgeable, insightful, and, well, just plain fun to be around.  We didn't want to leave.

Octavio sharing a little jungle treat - moss, which made
me (Yvonne) foam at the mouth and spit like a
professional baseball pitcher the rest of the hike.

Tom with largest omniverous relative of the
Piranha a.k.a. "Pig of the Amazon"... for
lunch. Really tasty! And fed 10 with left overs

Although I will admit, as parents having to watch over Niko, Kaia, and nephew David 24/7 in a completely alien environment left us a little frazzled:  Why are you running through that brush WITHOUT shoes?! Where are your boots?! Remember the boa we saw there last night? I don't care if it was just a baby...and...what the heck is THAT critter.. ?! Don't touch it - it's a tailless whip scorpion!  Stay away from edges of the river with your tubes, anacondas like to hang out on the sides?! Yes, it's true--they crush your bones to make you easier to swallow. No rough housing at the top of the bird watching tower! Why?!  Because you might get a sliver, besides it's 4 stories high and there aren't any railings!  No, the ants you ate with Octavio yesterday were lemon ants, these are conga ants.  Remember Octavio said he'd rather have 4 tarantula bites than one from a conga?!  No. That does not mean you can play with that tarantula instead! No worries: Tom said those ants covering our beds, floors ... walls ... windows ... and the entire outside of the cabaña are just army ants.  They'll be finished removing all life forms smaller than a Dachshund within 20 minutes.  They're here to help...really...

And, again.... why exactly are you barefoot?!?!

Tailless Whip Scorpion
http://fornaught.net

Army Ants (by S. Le Bailly)

Conga Ant (www.alexanderwild.com)

Leaf Cutter Ants (S. Garnier)

But, that said ...

- getting a chance to observe human and critter life on the river,
- finding out about Tom and co's conservation projects,
- enjoying the best food we've had in Ecuador compliments of Tom's wife, Charo,
- swinging on vines and tubing in the Arajuno,
- hiking in primary and secondary rainforest in the day and at night,
- learning about endangered animals at the Amazoonico rescue center,
- falling asleep to the hum of the jungle,
- waking up to an unbelievably deafening, torrential downpour in the middle of the night,
- relaxing to the sounds of the rainforest from comfy hammocks, and
- smelling, experiencing, and even tasting a little of the Amazon

.....all added up to an unforgettable memory and lifelong respect for this part of the world.

Kaia Swimming in the Arajuno in front of the lodge.

Agents gone native?

Yep, that's a caiman

Where the Rio Arajuno and the Rio Napo meet.

One of the views over the Rio Arajuno from Tom's reserve.

Niko, David, Kaia swinging in the vines

Extreme jungle walks aren't just for big kids...

Two of the trees of the primary forest.