The start of my river cruise

It's time to start the next part of my journey -- my river cruise on the Manatee. I arrive in Quito, meet up with my fellow passengers, and head upriver in a motorized canoe. Within a couple of hours we see the Manatee anchored next to a dense growth of rain forest. We board, meet our guides and staff, and are assigned cabins. There are only 12 guests on board, which makes for a very fun and lively group.

(photo 4: The Manatee river boat)

A clean stateroom, a comfy bed, a good air conditioner, and plenty of hot water. It's a great way to start the trip