The next morning, we met up with our local guides, Daniel, Alex and safety kayaker Byron, to dominate some class IV rapids on the Jatunyacu River. It is a tributary that feeds into the Amazon River.
To get used to the water, we first stopped at a swimming hole with a rope swing and natural rock water slide.
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| Paradise |
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| Daniel on the natural rock water slide - it was not a smooth ride |
We thought Daniel was a magician, then we learned about the Mimosa Plant
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| Everyone getting geared up for whitewater rafting - the black flies were eating us alive |
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The put in
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Byron with his seal launch
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After we changed into dry clothes, we headed to Misahualli (Monkey Town). Capuchin monkeys inhabit the town center since it's easier to get food from humans.
Along the way, Daniel showed us guava and we tried it. It was like eating sugar soaked cotton balls with a seed inside.
The baby tried to eat Daniel's chips and sunglasses.
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| Alpha male almost biting one of our tour group - she fed him a donut then tried to take it away |
After a short stay at Misahualli, we headed back up to more cloud forests to stay at Papallacta Hot Springs. It was during this drive that a few members of our group began to show signs of Montezuma's Revenge. Unfortunately, this turned into dysentery for Maggie and we spent the night in the ER after dropping everyone else off at the hotel and driving 1 hour back to Quito. Our guide and driver were amazing. My personal locator beacon allowed me to communicate back home since their cell phones would not call internationally. She was released after rehydrating with some saline, IV antibiotics and IV analgesics.
It's now a trend. Anyone who travels with me gets sick and spends part of vacation at a medical facility. Take that as a warning.
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