I have some pretty stellar students that are just as crazy and fun-loving as me! I love that they always invite me to explore Belém and to partake in new and wild adventures. One of my students planned a trilha, or a hike, through the Parque Estadual do Utinga. This place is unbelievable, and it’s just a hop, skip, and a jump away from where I live. The hike was somewhat educational, mostly exciting, and a perfect Sunday Fun-day end to the week.Being that I am living and working in the city, I forget that I am surrounded by such a gorgeous environment that is the rainforest. The trip was a great opportunity to get away from the city and to appreciate nature in all its beauty.
We walked through a variety of amazing trees and plants I had never seen before. There were plants that would open and close ever so gently the moment you touched them and trees with intimidating spikes.
We came across edible flowers and berries that were so sweet and delicious! In return, we offered our sweet blood to the monstrous mosquitoes. It was definitely worth the breathtaking views and overall experience!
Our guides were great! They were very enthusiastic, passionate about their jobs, and loved getting us hyped up as we trekked through the murky terrain.
They also explained what to expect before we headed out and shared some history on the trafficking of wild animals. Did you know there are crazies out there who smuggle cobras in their bellies?! WTF?!
They were so kind and very helpful. They jumped at the opportunity to help a couple young boys who were lost and trying to find their way back home.
We were amongst wild animals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. We got good look at the most beautiful butterflies, spiders, and some small fish, but the snakes and alligators stayed away!
My favorite part was repelling down the side of small cliff on jumping into the river. Our guides made it looks so easy, and it wasn’t too far up so I volunteered to go first.
I made it down okay for most of the way then slipped and scraped myself the rest of the way. Good times! After hiking a couple hours, we took a dip in the river. The park also serves the community by treating and purifying the water, and we swam in the cleanest, purist water that is channeled to and from the city. The current made for a great ride down the river when you jumped in.
The only downside was finding articles of dirty clothing and personal trash throughout the park. Unfortunately, some people make their way in after the park closes and use the park as their private getaway with their significant others if you know what I mean…wink, wink, nudge, nudge. Our guides joked about this the entire time pointing out popular places and personal items that have been recovered.
I had such a phenomenal time with my students, and I can’t wait to go back…during business hours of course!
Minor side note: We got lost for a good while...movie in the making. Here's but a small preview of what's to come.
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