Down the Amazon and up the Napo River
to the ExplorNapo Lodge

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River Taxi: These covered boats are the primary mode of long distance travel for the people in the Amazon Basin. There are NO roads.	Nests of the Oro Pendula weaver birds.
The supply boat visits all Explorama Lodges every two days to bring purified water, food and other supplies	The entrance to ExploroNapo Lodge from the boat dock
Greeted by the local parrot. These parrots were also very vocal...	Hallway outside the room had purified water in the white container on the left side of this picture.
Our room at ExplorNapo was bigger than Explorama Lodge. Both provided river water for bathing at the mirror.	Trumpet Birds are very easily domesticated - jungle chickens
The trumpet bird at ExplorNapo followed everyone around. They are primarily terrestrial.	The local capabara was charlie.
Charlie will grow to 200 lb. Capabara are the world's largest rodents.	The canopy walkway is about one kilometer north of ExplorNapo Lodge
The canopy walkway is suspended between trees from 60-120 feet about the jungle floor. Arlene in this photo is on a platform 120 feet above the jungle.	The canopy walkway has spans as long as 200 feet.
Canopy Walk	Canopy Walk
Clark and Arlene in the Treetop.	These are some little bats we saw in the roof of the last platform on the walkway
Jungle walk. On our way back to ExplorNapo. It was Hot and Humid.	Tree frog at night. We took a number of paddling trips on small rivers at night
Painted boa found by the staff.	The painted boa got more "cranky" the longer he hung around.
A typical village along the Napo River	We visited the village of Tamanco
School Kids	We gave tee shirts to the village school kids
New kindergarden at village school under construction	Cooking area in a typical amazon basin house. The staple diet is fish and bananas. The pot in the front has bananas and the one in the back left has 6-7 fish in it.
This 5 year old girl was from next door. Note the new tee shirt protected under her normal clothing...	Typical Amazon Basin House. This family manufactured thatching for cash. In front of the house is a rack of drying palm leaf thatch.
Large Boat Construction on the Napo River. The keel of the boat is a long dugout. Boards are added to increase freeboard. A completed boat is floating in the river below.	Sucusari River Trip. The ExplorNapo Lodge is located on this tributary. It flows from Ecuador and is uninhabited. Willy said it was because the soil was poor for farming..
Willy didn't like chicken and beef. Here he is buying about a dozen fish from a local for that night's dinner. Cost 3 soles = $0.90	After Fishing Sale. These young women and their kids waited patiently for us to stop piranha fishing to show us their hand-crafted jewelry.
Napo River View. Beautiful weather was with us for the first 4 days of our jungle stay.	Napo River View. Night is approaching
Back up the Sucusari River to ExplorNapo Lodge	The ExplorNapo Lodge dock on the Sucusari River
Arlene in our piranha fishing boat	Our piranha catch. 5 red piranha and a larger white piranha.
Clark and his piranha catch. Not big but VERY tasty	4 inch Moth
Green Parrot with Cracker. The local parrots were always looking for a handout	Morning trip up the Sacusari River to spot birds and mammels
View from our room. The latrines were very convenient	Every group makes a plaque. Here is another group working on theirs.
Plaques in the Dining Room	Our plaque was posted over the bar
We bought our trip on the PBS auction. Willy Flores was our guide.