After a relaxed start to the day we took the long canoe downstream for an hour to meet up with our bus that took us back the 20 km into Puerto Maldonado. Along this winding muddy road there are four small rivers we crossed where the old wooden bridges were to be replaced by steel and concrete structures. Sadly, the money has run out and now all one sees is the concrete abutments overgrown by vines and the steel beams lying and rusting beside the road.
In Puerto Maldonado we gathered up our big bags that we’d left behind for the last week and re-packed in preparation for the flight to Lima (via Cusco). We said farewell to our local guide Pepe who seemed quite detached and keen to get home to his own family. We gave him a generous
tip so we hope he thought this adequate. We think he has an issue with the Eco Company as he’s now only employed as a ‘freelance’ operator where as most of his friends and colleagues are permanent employees.
Our flights to Lima were uneventful and on time. Lima, as on the two previous encounters was smoggy but fine. Our overnight hotel is right across the road from the International Air Terminal and posh! We looked a bit out of place in the hotel lobby as we were still wearing our sweaty bush clothes and boots that still had traces of Amazon mud attached.
We showered and changed into the few remaining clean clothes we possessed and prepared for our last night in South America.