Amazon Rainforest, Manaus area
February 22, 2025
Today we went on a trek through the Amazon Jungle! After taking a riverboat to an an area off the beaten track, we went with a tour guide, a naturalist, and two indigenous tribe members through the rainforest. The goal was to learn rainforest survival skills, and about the plants and animals of the local rainforest. The naturalist was extremely knowledgeable, and it soon became apparent that the indigenous people had the survival skill expertise. We went on a two-hour trek into the rainforest and learned so much! It was an outstanding experience and we survived!!!
After we climbed the stairs we grabbed walking sticks that were actual sticks cut from trees in this forest and started our trek.
Our guides shared a wide variety of information as we made stops along the way. The notes below are in the order I wrote them down; so sorry if they jump around...
There is very little wind on the floor of the rainforest.
Trees in the emergent and canopy level of the rainforest do get wind and that is how their seeds are dispersed. At the same time those trees provide shade to the layers below. Trees at this level include Mahogany and Brazil Nut.
The floor of the rainforest is covered in fallen leaves, roots that spread out, and a variety of vines, etc..., which made our walking sticks very useful!
Our indigenous guide, and the naturalist, shared many examples of plants from the rainforest that are not only nutritious, but also have medicinal properties. The local people support their economy by selling some of these fruits and nuts that they gather naturally from the forest.
Palm trees are especially useful. The locals use every part of the palm trees in their culture.
One survival skill our guide shared was how to create fire with items you would find in the area. Voila!
Although we know there are lots of animals in the rain forest, and they were probably watching us the whole morning, we didn't see any rainforest mammals today. But other cool animals were around. Bullet ants are about 3/4 to 1 inch long, and have evolved from wasps that lost their wings and moved underground over time. They live in the roots of trees and protect the tree by defending it. When our guide scraped the side of the tree to cause vibrations these huge black ants, with painful stings, rushed out to investigate and defend their tree. And in the next picture is a spiny little caterpillar.
If you are ever lost in the forest there is a vine, which they call the water vine that you can use to get enough water to sustain you. In the pictures below you can see the process of starting with a long piece of vine, cutting it in half, and them holding it up, and drinking the water that runs out. I tried it, and it tasted like .... water!
Some of the indigenous people still hunt with curare (poison) cover blow darts. And others hunt with bows and arrows. And they have found ways to use the bow and arrow so small animals will trigger it they can catch an armadillo or other mammal. It is hard to see, but look close to the ground to see the bow set up.
What would you do if you wanted a fruit that was at the top of a smooth trunked palm tree? How about using a palm frond to climb the tree? First the fronds are wound and tied into a circle, and the circle is put around the feet to support the climber.
We wound our way out of the forest to a nice snack of fresh local fruit, and things to drink. I tried a local sugar cane rum and lime juice concoction. It tasted like a margarita!
Scenery Pictures:
Saving the Best For Last! We did see one very cool animal. A little coral snake! The guides made us walk into the forest to go way around the poisonous snake, but we got a picture first. And if you are thinking of the adage "Red and Black won't bite back", we learned that it is not always true.
So, all in all, we survived the Amazon Rainforest! Today, though, we didn't experience any rain (thankfully).
The ship is on the way to Parintins and we should arrive by 7am tomorrow. We expect a less physically challenging day since we are attending a Boi Bumba festival in town! Adeus to Manaus!
What an incredible day! Bullet ants are seriously cool as was the coral snake. I loved the survival skills, especially climbing a tree using a vine. I would not have thought of that.
Such a cool experience!!
So now are you both going to "try out" for Survivor or how about Naked and Not Afraid? :)
Okay…. Bullet ants sound TERRIFYING.