I woke at about 4:00 AM hoping to see the sunrise from our cabin but a thick, misty fog enveloped the area, absolutely obliterating the river and its banks. So, I made myself a cup of coffee and laid back down to read until hearing my cabin-mates getting ready for the day. We walked around the property until the gong sounded at 7:30 AM signaling the serving of breakfast so we immediately made our way to the dining area.

Approaching the dining room, several tamarind saddleback monkeys were scuttling in and out! Then, one of the most beautiful birds sat on a tree right outside our window—it is a trogon.
Breakfast was seasoned scrambled eggs, fresh cheese, mango and papaya, and absolutely divine, excellent coffee. After breakfast, Jean Pierre took Mary Pat and I on a tour of the property, showing us various trees and plants which help to self-sustain the lodge.
We were picked up by our tour operator at 10:30 AM only to experience the same bumpy ride but this time into the town. Puerto Maldonado, 34 miles from Bolivia, is located where the Madre de Dios and Tambopata rivers meet.  The Madre de Dios joins the Madeira River as a tributary of the Amazon.  We crossed the longest bridge in Peru across the Rio Madre de Dios.  Before the bridge was built in 2011, residents across the river had to boat over to Puerto Maldonado for shopping and other essential services.

Once all the tour participants had arrived, we were loaded onto a motorized canoe for the hour-long trip down the Madre de Dios River to the Amazon Planet lodge. We arrived just in time for lunch which was a scrumptious appetizer of tomatoes layered with fresh cheese, drizzled with a cilantro vinaigrette, the Peruvian version of chicken nuggets, rice and local vegetables.

 
We were told meals are at 7:30 AM, 1:00 PM, and 8:00 PM. Electricity is only available from 6:30 – 7:30 AM, 12:30 – 3:30 PM, and 5:30 – 10:00 PM. And, of course, there is no WIFI!
We were then shown to our rooms—a cabin overlooking the river. At 3:45 we met up with our guide for our first hike through the rainforest where he pointed out the various trees, vines, and plants. After less than five minutes or so, we were completely surrounded by the jungle with only the sounds of birds and monkeys. Other than nature, it is very quiet and peaceful here with the occasional motor-operated boat engine jarring the tranquility.
We were scheduled for a night hike at about 6:30 PM but instead, Rick, Mary Pat and I chose to attend the bar before dinner. Less than fifteen minutes into the hike, our fellow travelers abandoned the hike in favor of libation. Apparently, there was a swarm of flying cockroaches attacking them so even the guide was repulsed.
Dinner was Aji de Gallina–chicken, potatoes, and a curry-like sauce that gets its yellow color from aji Amarillo, a chili with a medium heat level. After dinner, some rousing games of jenga united this international group—England, Canada, New Zealand, Russia capped the day.