Galapagos Adventure: Saturday 25 Feb 2012.

Breakfast was at 6 and they came to knock on cabin doors at 5.30. Our walk started at 6.30 and we were told that we would not need wellington boots as it had not rained the previous night. We set off for the canopy walkway – which is actually 3 towers, each 120ft above the forest floor, connected by walkways each 900ft long. From the towers and walkway you look out over the tops of the trees and can see the birds flying and hear the monkeys and other animals. While observing the monkeys and birds our “camera crew” constantly complained of people talking or walking round the tower, as it was interfering with their recording. As usual, there was no polite request nor word of thanks. They are really getting on people’s nerves. We had only been on the first tower for about 20 minutes when the sky darkened and thunder rolled. The raindrops were fat and heavy and by the time we reached the ground we were soaked. We took shelter under a lean-to with a corrugated iron roof for about 15 minutes, then our guide, Effy, said we might as well make our way back to the lodge as it was likely to rain until 11am (it was then about 8.15). Despite being issued with ponchos we got soaked to the skin, walking in water-logged shoes before we were a quarter of the way back. Our shoes did not dry out until wearing them on the flight back to Quito 2 days later. The rain did stop at about 9.30am and we set out in the canoe at 11am for a trip down one of the small tributaries to the lake. This was fantastic as our pace was slow and we could see the orchids and bromeliads growing on the trees, pink water-snail eggs on the leaves, monkeys in the trees etc. Unfortunately it started to rain again at 11.45 so we hurried back to the lodge. At lunchtime Jan and I spoke to the Manager to say that we were unhappy about our “camera crew” and also running for cover every time it rained – in a rain forest! Other groups had not returned to take shelter but had continued regardless. The rain was not cold at all. Our afternoon walk at 3.30 was in glorious sunshine. We went on the “Medicinal Tour” with Ernesto, our local guide showing us all the trees and plants used by the indigenous people. We went along the Anaconda river and saw a family of howler monkeys not far from the bank, one large male, several juveniles and one carrying a tiny baby. Effy then indicated that other monkeys were approaching and manoeuvred the canoe round a bend and we waited, watching the trees move as a troup of 200+ squirrel monkeys came towards us and crossed the river, jumping from bough to branch over our heads. It took about 10 minutes for them all to cross. Magical !!! We got back at 6.15 and went out again at 7pm (in the dark) to see the fishing bats which flew directly at us and veered off at the last minute, skimming our heads (you could feel the air stir as they passed). We also saw a baby caiman (alligator family), a 10ft caiman in the lake, fire flies etc. Effy also pointed out the star constellations and satellites in the night sky, which was free from any light pollution, so deep in the forest.