November 22, 2007

AmaZOOnico/Baños

Again we woke up and had breakfast before meeting our guide for the tour. Today our group was seven after we added a couple from Spain. We picked up our rubber boots and inner tubes before heading to the canoe.



We canoed up the river about 20 minutes and stopped at AmaZOOnico, a wildlife reserve. Most animals brought in they try to rehabilitate and return to the jungle, but not all. We walked around the zoo for about an hour and saw capibaras, tigrillos, a jungle mini bear, and spider monkeys among other primates. The cabeza de mate cat was one that cannot be returned to the wild. His fangs had been filled down by a resort owner, so he cannot defend himself any more in the wild.







After the walk, G and I changed into our bathing suits and we all headed down the Arajuno River for a little bit. Then we got out of the canoe and into our inner tubes and floated down the river. It was a lot of fun and was a lot warmer because it originates in the Amazon. There were a couple of quicker moving areas and made it so much fun. For some reason I was lagging the group, so I need G to help me float down faster. Once we arrived at the Napo River we got off our tubes and got back into the canoe for the ten minute trip up river to the hotel.

Once we arrived we took a quick shower, packed, and met for lunch. After lunch we took the canoe back to the car and drove to Baños. Along the way we saw many waterfalls and went through some amazing hand carved tunnels. G even drove for a while along the rough dirt roads. We stopped in Puyo for some arts and crafts where Toby and I spend some hard earned money in souvenirs. While there, G had some sugar cane juice with a shot of firewater made of sugar cane. I could smell the alcohol a foot away. I refused to try it because it was a horrible green color.



In Baños we found a hostel and checked in. Then we headed for a French restaurant across the street. G and I shared a cheese fondue and mushroom spaghetti with a cream sauce. It was then time to turn in after our long day on the road.