We knew we were going to be joined by four new guests today but the Captain told us last night we would be joined by twenty four day trippers as well.
Our clothes were still damp so we hung them on the top deck to dry. We were told we were going to cruise to the Rio Mamore and swim with dolphins in the afternoon.
When the boat is moving, there are fewer mosquitos so we could sit out on deck. On the roof of the deck below we could see and hear a very small frog.
We passed Loma Suarez port where we came across the Bolivian Navy.
There were houses on stilts too which showed the river flooded.
The launch brought us the day party as well as the new guests - a couple from Cochabamba and a mother and daughter from Santa Cruz.
On the way we saw and heard some red howler monkeys in the trees on the banks and other wildlife.
We moored by the junction with the Mamore and had lunch. Joan had told Daniel she wanted to see a three toed sloth and, for once, he did not let down. Right by where we moored was a sloth, but he wasn't that pleased we had turned up as he soon headed off.
At the back of the boat there is a "pool" but given the colour of the water and our understanding that the river is directly fed by sewerage, we left it for the others to enjoy!
In the afternoon, we set off in the small boats to swim with the dolphins. This involved some of the braver guests jumping in the river with rubber rings and swimming out in the estuary. Sure enough curious dolphins turned up but the nearest thing we could photograph was their splash as they disappeared.
As we headed back to the boat one of the crew dived from its top into the water. It aso began to rain again- a feature of the afternoon.
The day trippers left about four and Daniel declared it was monkey time.
The two metal boats headed off - one crewed by Bambi and one by Daniel.
However we only saw one monkey.
However we did come across another sloth.
Bambi was a much better driver of the boat and often left us behind. Daniel is not the usual guide and really was not that well informed. We were a little worried that he might get lost without Bambi. Then our boat came to a spluttering halt and Bambi disappeared. Luckily it did restart, and we were relieved to see the other boat in the distance as light was fading.
After dinner we went on an alligator hunt. There was something quite bizarre about being in a wide river at night in a small boat with Daniel and Aurelio flashing torch light on the banks to find alligators.
After half an hour or so, we eventually found one small alligator hidden in the undergrowth. It was beautiful but it was but a fleeting glimpse. There was no chance of a photograph. Then it rained so hard we could barely keep out eyes open. Yet again we got back to the boat drenched.
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