16th January 2025

Our morning started the way any good morning starts: with natural light and birdsong. It was our last full day in South America and we identified a bittersweet sadness as we approached the end of our adventure here. This sadness was lessened by the fulfilment of these last seven weeks. While short, we have loved this crazy, intense itinerary whereby we have chased the mountains exploring impossibly beautiful landscapes. Over breakfast, we recapped what we had seen and even began discussing home comforts we had missed such as drinkable tap water, bread that doesn’t taste sweet and free public toilets!

The rain had cleared and sun now pierced the garden and surrounding jungle. We read while sat on the stone pool edge, our feet in the cool clear water. Lizards of all colours and sizes would join us, sunning themselves on the hot stones, then suddenly startle and scamper off when Dan or I made a sudden noise or movement. Throughout the day we feasted on spiced grilled corn, long plantain crisps, empanadas and fresh coconut lemonade. 

Sitting for dinner, the night sky became a stage for the bats first flight of the evening. They swooped low, silently navigating the garden as our food was brought to us: two steaming bowls of Caribbean curry served with coconut rice. We headed back to the hut unable to escape the sense of things coming to an end.