Day 6: Trekking tour and encounters with the flora and fauna of the rainforest

One day – on our cruise through the Amazon, Sven and I woke up in our small bunk. Our room only had a small toilet and shower other than two beds, but the view was unique. After breakfast, we set off on a trekking tour through the rainforest with long pants, hiking boots and machetes.

We drove our boats to the national park entrance and followed a maze of trails through rocky areas. Jean, our guide, showed us a strange tree inhabited by hundreds of ants. He explained to us that the ant secretion, when rubbed on the skin, provided perfect mosquito protection.

Jean also showed us a plant that contained acetaminophen and explained that many medicines came from the rainforest. We watched butterflies and monkeys and spotted a tarantula in their nest.

We found a watering hole and jumped into the river, which was almost 30 °C warm and of rooibos tea color. Small fish pinched us, but it was fun and refreshing.

When we got back on our boat, we noticed the huge trees, and we interviewed our guides about deforestation. We were relieved that the Brazilian government strictly regulated tourism in the rainforest and that people were protecting the forest.

Our day in the Amazon rainforest was unforgettable and we had learned a lot about its flora and fauna.