A bit longer than expected in Samaipata

23 January - 3 February

I did really really well to get this photo. Samaipata and it´s surrounds are just full of butterflies of all different types, but this one particularly got my attention! The wings are clear, you can see the buds and stem on the other side.

El Fuerte.... a very important site near Samaipata. It is one huge carved rock from civilisations prior to the Incas, although the Incas used it too. There are many theories about its purpose... I like the one about it being a landing pad for space craft the best. It is way more interesting in real life than in the photo.

There are 10 caterpillars, five on each side of the leaf, working in unison at eating the leaf.

When we got to the Bella Vista (Pretty View) the walking was easier. But we still had to get back down, and that wasn´t easy.

Me on a rock, Los Volcanos hike. There are no volcanos... they just call it that. It was a good hike, through rivers all day!

   The town of Samaipata is about 120kms from Santa Cruz, but takes 3 hours of driving around the edge of a ravine to get there. The town is on the southern edge of Amboro National Park, as Bolivias third most important park it features a large diversity of forest types.
   When I arrived I thought I would probably pass about 3 days in Samaipata, but the place was so nice, and the company so pleasant, that 3 days soon turned into 10. Although I arrived in town in a group of 6 (as per my last post), 2 of us separated from the group to stay in nicer accomodation, and we formed an agreeable bond, with similar tastes, and with this new partnership, it was easy to stay put in the lovely town.
   We visited the ruins (El Fuerte), did 3 different national park treks, rode horses, and wandered around the town. Just when I decide it was time to leave, it rained and, being that I was headed to a nearby farm, I decided to wait another day before leaving, and then, that night a major festival started in the town that would continue the next day and so I decided to stay to be part of that.
   Before I say anything else, I will give some detail of my company for the 10 days. It was the Belgian (mentioned in the last post), his name is Kris, and we have a lot in common. And yes, we are just friends.  
   The most interesting trek we did was possibly one called 'Bella Vista', only we didn't do the trek that they normally call 'Bella Vista', we did something completely different. I'm quite proud that they thought I was strong enough and that I 'made it'.
   Our tour group that day consisted of Kris, myself, a Spanish guy called Gabriel who was cycling through South America, our guide, our guides guide, and our guides guides son. Apparently the second guide was wanting to create a new 'Bella Vista' trek, and we were the guinea pigs (although they didn't tall us until the end of the day). They spend the day cutting our path with Machete's and there were times that they said 'oops, wrong way, turn back' (but in Spanish of course). At one point Kris and I realised we were walking on top of the bushes (covered in thick growth), and then we had to jump down off the bushes. I did start wondering how lost we were and if we would make it out alive, and we made it back to the car just as the sun went behind the hills. It was extemely challenging, but we made it, and I loved it. And I saw a Condor!
   At the end of the day they decided that the new trek is too dangerous and won't be used. So we can proudly say that we were the only tourist to do that trek, ever!
  
   ... To be continued (and photos to be added next time I have USB that works!)

Notes:
Accomodation in Samaipata: Andorina Hostel $6 per night, including wonderful breakfast. *****