The Refugio offers a lot of different activities for its guests other than just the healing ceremonies and plant medicine therapy.  Teddy was kind of the activities director and guide.  He is working on his English, so we had fun trying to communicate.  He took us on a few hikes  around the jungle going to various parts of the property and visiting several lakes that are being stocked with fish.  Scott's plan is to make the Refugio as self-sufficient as possible, so soon they will be able to catch their own fish for meals.  One morning Scott and Teddy went fishing while Walter and I watched and waited for the BIG one to be caught.  Unfortunately, the only prize that day was a couple of "3 inchers" caught by Teddy. 

Teddy also took us kayaking up the Amazon.  Depending upon the current that day, the journey up stream can be quite challenging and a great work out.  However, the journey back is quite relaxing and swift!  The kayaking allowed us to see the dense vegetation along the shores close up as well as see all the tree debrie in the water.  The dry season really uncovers a lot of obstacles which make motor boating treacherous if you don't know the river.  The locals use dugout canoes (which are not very balanced!) or small boats with "pecky-peck" motors.  These are small motors like a trolling motor where the propeller just skims the top of the water.  Makes for a slow, but sure journey when the water is low.  It is hard to imagine that the water rises 20-30 feet during the wet season.  To my surprise, the wet season is pretty nice during the day and is a good time to visit.  The days are relatively nice and sunny with short rain storms during the day like "August in Denver".  Most of the rain comes at night, so it makes for a nice sleep.

Also for exercise, we swam up stream to a designated tree.  Each day brought a different level of challenge depending upon the current.  I was a bit leary of swimming in the Amazon, since it is extremely brown and I wasn't sure what might try to nibble my toes off.  I'm sure they got a kick out of some of my questions, but finally I dove in behind Scott thinking that whatever is out there would get him first!  Even though it is extremely brown, the water is really clean because it is constantly flowing.  I survived with all my fingers and toes and not even a nibble!  Guess I was only sweet to the mosquitos!

They have put alligators in one of the fishing ponds.  Since they are nocturnal, we had to go out there at night to see them.  Armed with our knee high rubber boots and flashlights, we went to the pond and began our search.  When you shine your light on an alligator, its eyes become red and reflect back at you.  It was really errie watching these beady red eyes moving around near the banks!  I was able to get a few pictures of them and hope they come out!  To top it off, we went out there on nights of the full moon, so the jungle vegetation cast wild shadows across the pond!  I know the alligators were only a couple of feet long, but they sure seemed larger those nights!

To top it off, the Refugio has guards at night just to keep any wanderers from wanting to venture in.  They are stationed at 2 sights and at midnight, they shoot their guns just to warn anyone to "keep moving on".   The first night I didn't know about this practice, so hearing gun shots at midnight was a bit unnerving.  Glad to know we had protection even though they have never needed it. 

However, one day we went to Iquitos to use the internet and while we were gone, I had a visitor in my house.  It looks like an ex-employee came through and decided to take a couple of my things to sell.  I first saw that my head lamp was gone and then a couple of days later, I noticed my hiking shoes were gone.  The head lamp would be easier to replace than my hiking boots, but it was disconcerting knowing someone had been in my stuff.  Don't know if anything else was taken.....  Scott sent out a search party to the neighboring village, Tamishaku.  I don't know how they did it, but they came back with my hiking boots.  My head lamp is still AWAL!

One day, we went by boat to a neighboring village called Santana.  Here is where they pick their Chacruna that goes in the ayahuasca.  As we entered the town, word went out that we were there and kids started coming out from everywhere following us to the house that grows the chacruna.  Soon we were surrounded by kids.  It felt like Scott was the Pied Piper!  The kids help pick and then get a few soles for helping.  It really helps out the village. 

After we picked all we needed, I took several more pictures of everyone out front waiting for us to come out of the garden.  I then played back the pictures to the kids (and adults).  They were so enthralled that they practically knocked me down!  It was like those pictures you see of photographers in the African villages.  It was an incredible experience! 

So, there are other things to do for those interested in a little more adventure!