I figured if this trip was anything like my trip to the Brazilian rainforest, there would be lots of monkeys around. What struck me in Brazil was how the monkeys were so acclimated to humans they would interact with us like house pets. (Here, you can check out those cute little monkeys)

 

Surprisingly, the monkeys were harder to find.  We saw a few high in the tree tops and a couple tame ones at an animal preserve.  But I we didn’t have to worry.  Animals were everywhere.

 

 

 

Can you tell what this little dude is?  It is a baby two-toed sloth that was the freakin cutest thing in the world.  We was rescued from a bunch of kids throwing him like a football.  He needed to be transported to an animal rescue facility and we were the next group headed that way.  The kids all got to take turns taking care of him on the 3 hour boat ride.  His instinct is to snuggle and hold tight, which was precious.

 

 

When we got to our camp, we were immediately greeted by wild Macaws who obviously make themselves right at home.

 

 

They would talk in spanish and whistle the common, “woo hoo!” to a passing pretty girl.

 

 

Their coloring is truly this magnificent.

 

 

Tarantulas were easy to come by.  The pinked toed tarantulas are relatively harmless…but this guy is NOT a pink toed, so we gave him his space.

 

 

Where else can you be walking back to your room and run across a wild Tapir?  Just strolling along the walkway. Minding her own business.

 

 

I followed her until she brought me to this love nugget…

 

 

A baby Tapir that just wanted some food and thought my watch might taste good.

 

 

Of course there were plenty of snakes to come by.  This is a tree boa that the Shaman caught for us to enjoy.  He may look small, but those are some powerful muscles.  Max felt like he was being strangled and barely tolerated it enough for a photo.

 

 

Here is a HUGE boa we saw at the animal preserve.  They can jump 1/2 their body distance in a second.

 

 

And, lastly, there is the more tame varietal.  The unsuspecting catfish.  We were trying for piranhas but only got a bunch of bottom dwellers.  Oh well.

 

 

Lunch time!