Our last day in the rain forest has arrived all too quickly as we prepare to return to Quito.

The life size caiman sculpture in the lodge’s dining area is an effective deterrent for those thinking about swimming in the lake. The giant otter sculpture is less intimidating and a favorite of Maya’s. Regrettably, we only heard but did not see any giant otters in the wild.

Our jungle hut has provided the most comfortable lodging of the entire vacation and it was difficult to watch it disappear as we paddled back towards “civilization.”