During our stay at Sani Lodge, which is owned and operated by the Indigenous Sani tribe, we had the pleasure of spending five days in the heart of the jungle. One of the highlights of our trip was watching the sunrise from a 120-foot-high metal platform, located in the crown of a 900-year-old ceiba tree. Mr. Gualinga, who helped build the platform when he was just 14 years old, shared this incredible experience with us. We also had the opportunity to witness scarlet macaws descending upon a clay-lick to eat minerals that neutralize toxins in their diet.
One day, we were taught how to prepare a traditional meal by a group of Sani Village mamitas in the community center. We folded tilapia and heart of palm into long, green rumi panka leaves and roasted them over an open fire, along with two types of plantains and chontacuro beetle larvae. We also went on a paddling adventure through flooded forests in search of anacondas and fished for piranhas along a small creek.
Although the Wi-Fi at the lodge was spotty and there was no pool, we were completely immersed in the beauty of the jungle. Olaf even went rogue, disappearing with Mr. Gualinga and another rower before the rest of us met for breakfast, and returning long after we had finished our meal.
2023-04-26 04:00:24
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