Home » Peru Brazil Bolivia » Travel to South America (part II)

Traffic on Pan-Americana Highway after huge explosion, I wrote before, was restored and I decided not to go through the head hunters (head shrinkers) territory. They probably have never seen a folding bicyclist and may have a temptation to shrink my head as a souvenir. Instead I started long bus ride to Lima, Peru. However, before I will continue let me finish with Ecuador.

Travel to South America (part II)

Alex Mumzhiu
2006-03-22 14:07:41

Displayed times (last time: )

trees. Mango fruits periodically fall right in front of my hotel door.

On the way to Rurrenabaque I experienced what they call the most dangerous road of the world. It is really very dangerous for cars, but not for bicycles. Its carved from the vertical wall of a deep canyon. It is a one lane road and the width of road is just slightly wider than a car. It has some pockets, for passing. So when two cars met, one of them has to switch to reverse and go back till the previous pocket, where the incoming car can pass. It is really scary. Last week a bus with passengers fell, no one survived. After some bike travel I took a bus at one of the intermediate stops. It took 17 hours to reach Rurrenabaque. The bus was full and I was sitting between seats in the middle on the my backpack. The bus smelled terrible, I was the only Westerner there. I had to come this way to Rurrenabaque to see this much advertised most dangerous road. I will fly back to La Paz.

LOST IN THE AMAZON JUNGLE.

Pampa and Jungle tours are big business here. About a dozen tour companies have camps in jungles to which they bring tourists by motorized boats. They offer a standard range of activities such as swimming with pink dolphins, piranha fishing, sunrise and sunset walks and night alligator trips. On day number one, my group of 9 people went for an anaconda search. They went to a far remote forest and they walk too fast for my arthritic ankle. Also, I did not like this group walk with a guide in front and somebody in back. So I told them I will go back to camp and will go to the jungle on my own.

I had a huge experience with forests. I spent many summer vacations in Siberian and Far Eastern forests (taiga) in Geological expeditions thanks to my friend EB, the geologist. I love forests and I know them. It was very important for me to have a one on one, personal encounter with this super forest --- the Amazon Jungle, and I had it. I have read a lot about ...