The Amazon has long been considered an inhospitable, wild place thanks to Hollywood’s portrayal of it in films such as Anaconda and Piranha. However, this misconception can be dispelled once visitors experience the jungle. The Amazon is a romantic place where love can flourish thanks to its beautiful landscapes and unique sunsets.
THE MYTHS
Cinema has shown piranhas to have an almost human brain, a thirst for vengeance, and voracious instincts. This 30-meter hunter appears motionless, peaceful, and ready to take a photograph while digesting some captured prey. Piranhas are known for their ability to thrive in Brazil’s flooded forests during the dry season, where large bodies of water form and isolated populations of red-bellied piranhas are present. When food is scarce, these piranhas have been observed to attack any available food source, particularly cattle that cross the area. This behavior has contributed to their reputation as carnivorous and voracious creatures. Following the onset of rainfall, they regain access to their primary diet of fallen fruit adapted to their dentition.
THE BEGINNING
I was traveling with my lifelong friend. A year ago, I ended a relationship of more than six years with my boyfriend, of which memories remained. I had not been able to turn the page to continue the journey, but my heart felt that something different would bring this trip.
We entered the airport to meet Marina, who welcomed us with a broad smile to proceed with the airline check-in and start the long-awaited trip to the Amazon. At the moment of take-off, we could observe the blue sky without a single cloud that allowed us to appreciate the Cotopaxi volcano in the south with its perfect cone shape, to the east the Antisana, even the Cayambe that looked so close that it gave the impression that we could touch it. At 10,000 feet, the plane started heading east, giving us a view of the eastern foothills of the Andes, followed by the spectacular greenery of the Amazon forest. What a start to our adventure.
THE FIRST CONTACT
Victor, the guide, outside the airport welcomed us to our group, which consisted of 5 people: an English couple, us Americans, and Francois, a Frenchman who kindly introduced himself to everyone with very fluent English since his mother was American. We boarded a bus to the Napo River where we received the first information about Coca, an oil town built in the 1970s whose inhabitants were primarily indigenous and mestizo migrants from the highlands.
ON THE WAY TO THE LODGE
Arriving at the designated meeting point before boarding the motorized canoe, we joined a group of ten birdwatchers, accompanied by their guide, who were also traveling to the lodge. In the canoe, my friend and I sat together; diagonally across from Francois, who kept looking at me with a mischievous smile, to which I responded in kind. What a thrill! Cupid had appeared in February, the month of love.
THE PADDLE CANOE
During one of the canoe trips, my friend was late, so Victor asked Francois and me to share the seat. It was the first time we sat next to each other, and our shoulders gently touched while our guide pointed out some macaws flying across the lagoon. Francois kindly shared his binoculars, allowing me to watch the birds. When he handed them to me, I could feel the warmth of his hands and the affection in his gesture.
SHARING THE HAMMOCK
Upon our return, he invited me to stay and converse in the hammocks on the dock. We enjoyed getting to know each other, sharing moments of laughter as the afternoon progressed and the sounds of the forest transformed into a symphony of tree frogs. At that moment, the bamboo horn sounded, signaling the start of dinner. We proceeded to join the rest of the group.
THE FOLLOWING DAYS
I had discussed the matter with my girlfriend, who expressed enthusiasm regarding the relationship, and although Francois exhibited an inclination toward a romantic relationship, he did not overtly express it; however, his actions and demeanor suggested that he was meticulously planning a nice surprise, which came true on the final day.
We embarked on an excursion to the tower, during which we had the opportunity to observe a 5-meter anaconda and engage in sport fishing. Our local guide managed to catch a piranha, and we returned it to its natural habitat after taking some pictures. The following day, we visited the women’s association of the community, where we participated in a variety of activities, including observing parrots and parakeets at a natural salt lick and a hike in Yasuni National Park. Upon returning from the excursion, François inquired about a cocktail meeting at the bar, which evolved into one of the most memorable experiences of my life. The setting was breathtaking, encompassed by the beauty of the lagoon, the scent of the forest, birds soaring overhead, a spectacular sunset, and our first kiss.
SURPRISE
The surprises continued because when we heard the sound of the bamboo horn again, Francois mentioned that we should go to the dock. We went up to the third floor, and right there was a table with a brightly colored tablecloth of Kichwa elaboration adorned with flowers and a bottle of champagne in the center. A romantic private dinner, I could not believe it; tears fell down my cheeks as the waiter moved the chair so I could sit down while Francois smiled with a joy that did not fit in his body. The magic!
LAST NIGHT
We had finished dinner, and we decided to enjoy the sounds of the lagoon all night long, so we slept in the hammock on the second floor, lulled by that unique atmosphere of nature. Francois put his arm around my neck, and I hugged him tightly until we fell asleep. In the early morning, around 4:00 a.m., my friend came to wake us up in a hurry since I had not prepared my suitcase for the return trip to Quito.
Time passed quickly until we suddenly found ourselves back at the airport in Quito, where Francois asked me what our next destination was. I told him about the Galapagos Islands, and he said he was going to the same place; my heart was overwhelmed to hear that we had booked the same cruise. Thank you, Amazon love.
