Bungle in the Amazon Jungle Traditional Geocache

There are some geocaches hidden at well-known touristic places in Peru like Machu Picchu or Lake Titicaca visited by almost all tourists. However, did you know that the Amazonas has its origin in the rainforest of Peru? We all know that the Amazonas rainforest with its huge variety of animals and plants has to be carefully protected. To my opinion it's worth a visit. If you go there once and see the wildlife live this may change your mind about protection of the rainforest even further. The Amazon jungle is just breathtaking beautiful. I graded this cache T5 not because the box is difficult to find, just because the way to the cache location is full of adventures. I placed the box not at the riverside of the mainstream of the Amazonas (it's not that nice) but near a small jungle village called San Juan de Yanayaku located at a smaller tributary to the Amazon river called Yanayaku which means black river in Quechua.

In order to do this cache you have to carefully prepare your trip. Minimum equipment is: rubber boots, rain coat, sun protection, moscito repellent, a tight jacket, a bottle filled with drinking water, a camera and perhaps a flashlight. What is extremely important: bring at least an additional replacement set of batteries for your GPSr and camera. There is no electricity in the jungle. If your GPSr fails you may never find your way back. This is a serious advice. And don't go there alone.

First you have to go to Iquitos the biggest Peruan city at the Amazon river. But be aware there is no road that leads to Iquitos so you can't travel by car. After arriving at Iquitos you have to find someone with a boat. It should be a speed boat with at least 100hp otherwise you won't make it on a single day. However, I recommend to spend some days in one of the jungle lodges near the cache to enjoy the wildlife there. You will certainly never forget it in your life. There are 3 lodges near the cache. Or, you may bring your tent if you are brave guy to camp at the riverside of Yanayaku. I also recommend to look for a guide who has experience in the jungle (there are indeed pretty dangerous plants and animals). Be advised that there are many guys in Iquitos who pretend they have jungle knowledge, so select carefully. My recommendation however is to stay in a lodge that has experienced jungle guides who know the area well and who speak the local dialect of the aboriginees there.

When you have arranged for the boat or a lodge in Iquitos go the Amazon river upstream from the harbour of Iquitos for about 100km. At S4 13.635 W73 18.853 you will find a sidebranch. Take the way into this sidebranch until the mouth of the Yanayaku river at S4 13.711 W73 18.414 . There you will see the Radio station of the nearby village Ayacucho. You may be able to see some pink dolphins there already but certainly in the lakes nearby. Follow the Yanayaku river upstream to the jungle village named San Juan de Yanayacu at S4 18.263 W73 17.195 . Look for a place to leave the boat shortly before. A small hut in the river marks the starting point into the jungle. You will certainly meet some people there at the houses. I recommend to tell those people that you will take one of the pathes into the jungle that they can look for you if you do not return in a given time.

There are an endless number of trails that lead into the jungle. Turn your GPSr on at the boat already to find your way back safely. Frequently store waypoints and take photos of the evident points. The trail starts at the last hut. There you will find the number 17. Follow the following track segment into the jungle after having put on your rubber boots, your jacket and having covered your skin completely with moscito repellent (embed the track segment in a suitable gpx file):

or download a complete gpx-file from here

This will lead you on a a safe trail to the cache. At the listing coordinates you will see a huge Ceiba tree (also called Kapok tree). On the tree side opposite to the trail you will find a huge root with a hole in it. See the spoilers. ATTENTION: don't grasp into the hole with your naked hand! There may be a snake or other dangerous animal inside. Use a stick to tear out the plastic bag. The cache box is enclosed in the bag. After logging please use the bag again and make a tight knot to protect the box from water (in the wet season there may be a lot of rain). Please stow the bag well in the hole again such that animals can't tear it out easily.

Look for the photos in the gallery to be prepared for what you will meet around the cache.

You can also listen to the sound of the jungle (mp3-file, 5min).

The cache is maintained by Rafael a jungle guide living in Iquitos.

Have fun in the jungle and help protecting it!

Gorranata

PS: Do you know the song "Bungle in the jungle"? It perfectly fits to this cache, therfore the name.