We visited the Amazon Conservatory for Tropical Studies deep in the Rainforest where we climbed 115′ high above the treetops on the largest Rainforest Canopy Walkway in the world. The walkway consists of platforms and bridges that connect 14 of the area’s largest rainforest trees. Scary? You bet.

We made it to the top!

The view across the jungle canopy was awesome.Maria and Joanne felt refreshed following the Shaman’s Ceremony.

The ReNuPeRu Ethnobotanical Garden, which contains over 240 species of plants, is tended by the local Shaman and his apprentices.

This is Charlie, the Capybara. He and Joanne became close friends and he followed us around wherever we went. Capybaras are the largest rodents in the world and can weigh up to 110 lbs. They are very sociable and make good pets although they spend 1/2 their time in water. Not a problem if you live on a lake!

Raoul,  the Grey Winged Trumpeter. Grey-winged Trumpeters are often kept as pets  because they are known to hunt snakes, and because they have a loud, distinctive alarm call.

We visited Monkey Island, a rescue project far up river where the monkeys are allowed to run free. This is Pancho, the Capucin monkey. He was a very bad Monkey.  Joanne was taking this photo of Pancho when he reached out and leaped on her shoulder. “Wow!” she thought, “what a nice monkey!” But instead of snuggling, he reached into her pocket and stole her lens cap, taking it high up in the trees where he tried opening it, chewing on it and and banging it on the tree.

Pancho finally dropped the lens cap when the trainer threw him some food.

This beautiful blue parrot kept yelling Hola!

A boa contrictor lounged in the sun.

Cynthia the Tapir spent her days grazing.Maria enjoyed holding this baby monkey.

This was our last day in the Rainforest. We packed up, took the boat back to Iquitos, and caught a plane back to Lima where we began the next phase of our adventure.