February 22, 2018 – Yarina Lodge

February 22, 2018 – Yarina Lodge off the Nopa river

A little about Yarina Lodge.  They just got 24 hour electricity 8 months ago.  Before that they only had electricity from 6pm to 10 pm  from their own generator.  There is an open air eating area. Each of us has their own hut made from local, natural materials.  Inside is a bedroom with a full size bed and a single bed and a bathroom with shower. The beds have mosquito netting. Each cabin has a fan.
We were up at 5:30am, breakfast at 6am,  and on the long boat by 7pm in “jungle gear”,  Jungle gear is long pants, rubber boots,  long-sleeved shirt, hat, sun screen, and DEET.
We rode down Napo River for 45 minutes.  On the way, we passed an area where they are drilling for oil. Fatima explained to us  the ecological damage this is causing.
After leaving`the long boat we walked through the jungle for 1 km and then got to a large lake.  We got into canoes and started around the lake. Winter and Fatima would point out birds that we saw along the shoreline and flying overhead. After 1/2 hours we stopped and we all tried fishing for piranha.  One person caught a catfish but no piranhas.  Before leaving we stopped and had a restroom and refreshment break.   I am putting my rainforest bird pictures in a separate blog entry.
We arrived back at 12:30pm and had lunch and then a 2 hour siesta time.
At 3:30 pm I joined a group to do more hiking in the jungle to learn about medicinal plants.  We also learned about many poisonous plants, trees, and animals. We hiked for 2 hours before heading back to clean up before dinner.