In the morning at 6:30 our luggage was picked up. Thank goodness for the waterproof bags, since it was raining buckets.
After breakfast we headed for the dock where we were given ponchos. A short ride across the lake brought us to a very soggy, muddy hike to the Napo river. There we were given dry ponchos.
It was a long wet ride to Coco and we got stuck on some sand banks, but the Captain always managed to get us off.
In Coco we were once again escorted to the Sacha Lodge house for refreshments and waited to go to the airport.
My ride awaited at the other end and I was taken back to the Hostal. A warm shower and a rest made me feel human again.
Tomorrow I would be picked up to go to the market in Otavalo.
I decided to have a drink at the Hostal since I didn't have an early wake up call.. I asked for a margarita but they didn't have the ingredients. Then I tried for a vodka gimlet, that wasn't available either. So I stayed sober, ha ha. The Hostal was bought by a couple from Italy about seven months ago and they were very nice. The next night when I came back from my tour they said they had bought the ingredients for the margarita. It was very good but they didn't charge me since I was the guinea pig for the first one they made.
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
2 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
3 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.