Amazon Rainforest Hike in Peru

On this hike we went deeper into the rainforest. Our final destination was a section of the jungle with giant Strangler Fig trees.

Fig Tree in the Amazon Rainforest of Peru

They were so tall that we could not get the entire tree in one picture. I was really excited because I knew the inside of the tree was hollow and I was hoping that we would be able to go inside the tree. I asked Alfredo, our guide, if we could go in the tree. He smiled at me and said, “Yes, after you.” I paused and asked, “Do you think anything lives inside the tree?” He said, “Probably.” I said, “You first.” He laughed and said, “That’s probably a good idea,” and unlatched the fastener holding his knife.

Fig Tree in the Amazon Rainforest of Peru

We went in in two groups, as there was only enough room for 4 people at a time. Alfredo was disappointed that there were no bats in the tree, I on the other hand was thrilled. As we were admiring the inside of the tree I was teasing Alfredo about trying to sacrifice the little white girl to the ‘bat cave’, I had him laughing as hard as when I had mistaken an eel for an anaconda’s tail.

The inside of the tree was pretty dark and I was not able to get a good picture. If you click on the link you can see a fabulous picture of the inside. My compliments to the photographer.

Inside a Strangler Fig Tree

Strangler Fig Tree Roots

The root structure of these trees is amazing. They extend for at least thirty feet across the forest floor.

Strangler Fig Tree in the Amazon Rainforest in Peru

My husband took this shot. I am up front admiring the tree and listening to Alfredo explain why the tree is called a strangler. Instead of typing up all of the information, I’m copy and pasting the information from the website britannica.com.

“Of the 150 or so species of New World figs, most are stranglers, including Ficus obtusifolia and F. nymphaeifolia. Beginning life as a sticky seed left on a high tree branch by an animal such as a bird, bat, or monkey, the young strangler lives as an epiphyte on the tree’s surface. As it grows, long roots develop and descend along the trunk of the host tree, eventually reaching the ground and entering the soil. Several roots usually do this, and they become grafted together, enclosing their host’s trunk in a strangling latticework, ultimately creating a nearly complete sheath around the trunk. The host tree’s canopy becomes shaded by the thick fig foliage, its trunk constricted by the surrounding root sheath, and its own root system forced to compete with that of the strangling fig. This process can kill the host. If it does not, the host tree, being much older than the strangler, still dies eventually and rots away and a magnificent fig “tree” is left behind whose apparent “trunk” is actually a gigantic cylinder of roots.”

We had to head back before we had all finished admiring the tree because we were supposed to be back at Refugio Amazonas for lunch. We were all pretty mesmerized by our surroundings and could have spent a long time here without tiring of the scenery.

We followed Alfredo back to the lake, canoed across it, and hiked back through the rainforest to the resort. It was an amazing adventure. We were all very happy with our excursion choice for the morning session. You can check out all of the excursions offered at Refugio Amazonas by clicking here.

When we got to the lake to canoe back there were several other tour companies there. We were so happy that Alfredo had us there and back before the other groups came along. I believe our lodge was the closest one, so we had the advantage of being able to get there first. Our final expedition was visiting the mammal lick in the afternoon. As always, wishing you happy travels and fantastic adventures in this thing called life.

(All pictures are available for purchase as Fine Art or Digital Downloads at full resolution through Alamy. If you see something you like, click on the link. If you are unable to find it, use the Contact Me page and I will make sure the image is available.)

More Amazon Adventures

Hiking Through the Amazon Rainforest to Oxbow Lake

Chunco Macaw Clay Lick

Canopy Tree Top Tour

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