Walking the Amazon Guestbook
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Hi Ed, felicitaciones, I had no idea that you were doing this until I got the alumna web list...hope you remember some of the lectures?..I have a new third year course now on ethnodevelopment which focuses on the Andes, had a great class of students this year-maybe you can come and talk to the class of 2011 when you are back? We are also starting a new masters in Latin American studies this September which is very exciting. Anyway enough work just wanted to write and say that it is very satisfying to know that your Latin American intersts live on after graduating. Keep well.
Ninacongratulations ed what a long time it has took you to prepare for this epic journey . now as they say you are living what you only dreamed of what would be one day and today is that day good luck with the forth coming months and i will be following your blogs until you complete your final entry .remember be safe and keep your feet dry
adi nottingham ukYou are amazing! Thanks for sharing your adventure! So many of us are praying for your safety and success!
Thank you for enlightening us to your travels in South America. I never understood the immensity of South America, the diversity of in land, water and jungle forrests. You are able to show with your visual recordings of what your experiences have broght to you and how difficult it is to walk the jungle and mountains, etc. But mostly you are able to enlighten all of us to the fragile eco system of this country and how the oil corporations and politians are able to blind side the indiginous peoples with compensated monies, which then are used for alcohol, to further confuse their thinking and judgment and break down the family relationships. Thank you for your efforts and hope your journey will be safe. D.N. Vega Garden City, Michigan 48135
Answer to Lauri's question below...
OK travel between Pichari and Puerto Ocopa - a rough Guide...
The area is full of narcos clearly and there is no doubt that the majority of them are armed. That said, I have not felt threatened by that as I personally don't think I pose a threat to them (I have been careful when to get my camera out). I walked to Natividad from Pichari in a day and as soon as I arrived in Natividad the local heavies rushed accross the plaza and stuck shot guns in my chest - but I could tell they were only letting me know who was in charge and as soon as I showed them the contents of my bag did not include a weapon they were nice as pie.
You can take a taxi from Pichari to Puerto Ene (2 hours) but the road goes no further really. If people tell you it goes to Selva de Oro then you have permission to laugh at them and call them stupid. It was barely passable by foot and a 4 x 4 would need a chainsaw and a bulldozer in front of it to get through. From Puerto Ene you can catch the boat all the way to Ocopa. I have no idea of timings for this I'm afraid because I walked but it will cost about 50 soles. You may have to stay the night in a hospedaje in Quiteni half way which is fine and they will cook you a basic meal. Dorm type bunk rooms for 5 soles.
On the river itself you are as safe as houses in my book although an anthropologist here said to mind the fact that the passenger boats often have coca on board and 2 have sunk in the last 2 weeks as the water is very low. I have taken them a fair bit due to the stop-start nature of my walking here and have found them fine.
The Ashaninka communities are mostly set back from the river and so you may not see them. They are predominantly on the East side but once you get close to "El Canyon de Diablo" they are on both sides. No dramas if you are passing in a boat.
Ocopa has nothing but a hilarious hospedaje (Rio Tambo) that the door fell off my room when I pushed it open. You have to go down 2 flights of stairs, out the front and walk round the back onto a back street to go to the lavatory (worst hole in the ground I've seen in a while) and the brilliant thing is that the shower (hose pipe) is next door to the loo and to turn it on you have to reach through a hole in the wall into the loo to reach the tap. It is customary to say "Hi" to whoever is pooting at the time while you are doing this .
I'd skip Ocopa, get straight into a cab and drive the 2.5 hours to Satipo where the Hotel Azul has a lovely lady who runs it called Carma (?) and Internet in the rooms. I'm not sure of your onward plans from there. Good luck - in a boat its fine.
Ed xWalk on Man! We are all very proud of you at Save Your World. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers and we wish you all the best on this journey to protect our world. Cheers!
hey,
I found this site as I was trying to learn a little about travelling between pichari and puerto ocopa by boat. so far, guidebooks say nothing and locals here in Ayacucho (where im doing a weaving internship)have varying answers from overcautious warnings of drug traffic, army and other impossabilities, to ´´its easy,people do it all the time´´.... i was hoping you might be near a computer (since your latest blog was yesterday) and be able to offer some advice(river guides, fair prices, special places, good giftd to bring, etc. im hoping to travel to pichari this friday to catch the tail end of the hoja de coca festival, so if you get a chance to respond by then, id be sooo grateful (im sure its weird to sit in front of a computer at all after so much time inthe selva) if we miss eachother, happy trails, ill follow your journey now that ive found it
so far peruvians have proven to be overlyworrisom about the dangers of travel, and soo wonderfully warm and openhearted every where ive travelled
a fellow traveller
laurieHi Ed,
Firstly I would like to say how amazing it is that you are walking the Amazon. It really is fantastic that there are people like you out there prepared to do so much to raise awareness in the enviroment. So keep it up!
Secondly I would like to thank you for helping me. I have been planning on walking from Lands End to John O'Groats for about a year now but hadn't started to get anything solid until I saw what you were doing. I hope that the UK to be the first of many countries that I walk through. I wish to walk through countries to raise awareness in sustainability issues much like you. Except I will convey my thoughts and feelings through photography. I hope to do this some time next year.
I would love to meet you when you get back and hear any tips and advice you can offer me about long distance traveling on foot.
Once again thank you for lighting a fire under my ****!
Tim Earl
tim@step-green.co.uk
www.step-green.co.ukEd,
Please be careful and God be with you and Oz. Tell him, "Que Dios los quida", May God bless you on your journey".
Cantu FamilyHey, Well done mate, you are going great guns, a real achievment, and an inspiring journey. Have been following you on this adventure for a while, and as a fellow adventure seeker and fund raiser, am keen to see you complete this safe and well, good luck for the rest of the trip stay safe, and keep the updates coming. Tim.
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