Getting from Cusco to the rainforest involves a 1-hour flight to Puerto Maldonado, a bus ride to Madre de Dios River, and finally a 45-minute riverboat to Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica lodge. It might look primitive, but we're traveling in style, and porters load our luggage on the boat. Each boat travels to a different lodge -- and the river is the 'highway' here.
Compared to the cool, high-altitude air of Cusco, the humid heat of the rainforest here at sea level really feels like summer -- but the breeze of the boat ride is a nice relief. Looking at either side of the riverbank, it's obvious we're in the rainforest. There's no summer or winter here (it's always 'summer') -- but they do have a rainy & dry season -- and when rainy, the river would be up to the soil-line; sometimes even spilling over into the forest. During the dry season (now), levels are significantly lower.
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