Where were we....?

(You can learn more about our lodgings, etc on other pages.)

With heartfelt thanks to Maps.Google.Com, I offer you the following maps.

The map that follows puts our trip in context... and gives you an idea of the size of the Amazon. The small green rectangle on the first map more than contained our whole two weeks. This might be the place to mention an amazing statistic: Between where we were and the Atlantic, which is a distance of about 2300 miles, the land falls only 55 feet. See why the river meanders?!

Below the map, the annotated aerial photo gives you an outline of our trip, but see the text below it, to understand what the numbers mark....
[Image]

Interpretation of numbers on aerial photo above:

Our trip started in Lima (not shown), where we spent a day. (Most people arrived late on the 24th of February, 2007. The Swisshotel took very good care of us.) From there, early on the 29th, we flew to Iquitos (marked 1 on the map), and came into the excellent care of the Explorama group. We visited the eponymous lodge, but all our overnight stays were at other "Explo-" bases.

Our party of 26 (excluding Explorama and Jungle Expeditions staff) boarded two small, fast (35mph), covered boats in Iquitos, and set off downriver, turning north at "2" into the Napo River, ending up at "3", the Explornapo camp, which was our base until March 4th.

Then we went back to "1", again passing by "2" on the way, with an overnight stop in the luxurious Ceiba Tops resort, which is between "1" and "2".

Back in Iquitos ("1"), on Sunday, March 4th, we transfered to the care of the also excellent Jungle Expeditions, and boarded their splendid Amatista, our home for the rest of our jungle time, setting off upriver just before noon. (The Amatista carried several small boats with her for accessing tributary waters, and general chores.)

We sailed to the confluence of the Maranon and Ucayali rivers, "4", which is where the Peruvians say "the Amazon" starts. (Brazil claims another confluence as the start. Guess where it lies?)

At "4", we turned west, and went up the Maranon to about "5".

We then retraced our steps to the confluence ("4"), and went up the Ucayali. On the 7th, we had, in the small boats, a great, 6 hour... it didn't seem so long... expedition into the Pacaya-Samiria reserve, which is shown on more detailed maps. The pale rectangle around "6" shows the area covered by the more detailed maps. We had lunch at the ranger's station at "6", our most south-westerly point on the journey.

(All told, including the twists and turns of the river, our journey on the Aramisa covered about 700 miles.)

All good things come to an end... after reaching "6", we sailed back downriver, past "4", back to Iquitos. On the 10th, we had an early breakfast on Amatista, took a morning flight to Lima, did some "touristing" in the town, and then (late on the 10th) flew onward to our various homes after a joyous evening "end of trip" celebration party at the Lima Swisshotel, where we'd had day rooms.

Here's a rather nicer map of where we were... I hope the copyright holder can forgive me? (I don't know where it came from, or I'd ask him/ her... yes, I know....)

[Image of travel area]

And here's the record of our Jungle Expeditions experiences, which Hernando, Robinson and Yvonne created for us.

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Gluttons for punishment are invited to some pages I wrote for schools about how individuals can make their own maps.^el (No, I don't have too much time on my hands!)

Other photos for your enjoyment....

Information and photos about how our travelling needs were met
= = = You are on the "Maps showing where we went; details of itinerary" page
Photos drawn from non-jungle parts of the trip
A monumental tree
An inspiring story- Amazon Medical Project

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