Intro

Day 200. A significant milestone, though today wasn’t marked by miles on the saddle, but by footsteps deep in the Ecuadorian jungle. My bicycle rests, patiently waiting for the next leg, while I’m immersed in a different kind of journey. I started the day feeling tested, a subtle undercurrent of apprehension for what the wild might bring.

Ride Overview

Today’s “ride” was a walk, a mere 2.76 kilometers through the dense Yawa Jee Reserve, gaining about 30 meters. The average speed was practically zero, as much of the time was spent cutting our way through overgrown jungle tracks. The weather was partly cloudy, the air thick with humidity. The surface was a challenging mix of tangled roots, mud, and dense foliage, requiring constant vigilance.

Highlights

Breakfast in our basic shelter was a true delight, cooked over the open fire. The warm wheat tortillas, paired with a simple tuna tomato salad, felt incredibly nourishing. We sipped on colada with oats, a sweet, comforting drink, and even had popcorn – a surprising jungle treat that brought a small sense of home.

David, our guide, continued to refine our temporary home. He built a sturdy bench for us, a welcome addition to the sparse camp. His next project was clearing the track to the waterfall, hacking away at the overgrowth with his machete and even ramming sticks into the ground as handholds for the steep sections. Once it was done, we descended for a shower under the gently falling water. It was in that moment, standing naked in the mist, that David had the idea to clear the basin of debris. So, together, we worked, moving stones and leaves, making the natural pool even more pristine.

Our main activity was fishing at a nearby river. David led the way, carving a path through the jungle to reach a more established trail. His machete swung with relentless power for hours, a blur of motion as he cleared the way for what felt like a short distance. At the river, his initial attempts at fishing were fruitless. He crossed the river, water up to his navel, explaining that his boots and trousers protected him from mosquitoes on the other side. After a tense 35 minutes, he reappeared, triumphant, with a fish in one hand.

Back at camp, we refueled with yogurt, dried fruits, and biscuits. Soon, David began preparing dinner: a hearty potato mushroom soup, fried green plantains, and of course, the freshly caught fish. Later, David’s son Charip and I made a quick, 1.5-hour trip to the main house for groceries. The evening concluded with a quiet conversation with David, touching on topics from the Peru-Ecuador war to one of my previous night’s stop in Olmedo.

Lowlights

While the day was rich with experience, the physical demands of navigating the jungle were a constant, subtle lowlight. Every step felt like an effort against the relentless growth and humidity. The ‘tested’ mood from the morning slowly morphed into a deep, pervasive drain by evening, an exhaustion that settled in the bones, far different from the muscle fatigue of a long cycling day.

Overnight

I stayed in our basic jungle shelter, a simple structure of poles and leaves, precisely at the coordinates provided. This spot wasn’t just a place to sleep; it was our anchor in the vast, green wilderness. It offered essential shelter from the elements and served as a base for our daily forays into the surrounding jungle, a humble yet vital refuge.

Reflection

This day, so far removed from the rhythm of the road, confirmed the immense diversity of experience available when one truly slows down. It wasn’t about covering distance, but about deep immersion. I was reminded of the sheer ingenuity and resilience of people like David, living in such close harmony with a powerful, untamed environment. My quiet takeaway is the profound appreciation for hands-on, tangible skills – the ability to build, to clear, to hunt – skills that feel so elemental and vital in contrast to the often-abstract challenges of modern life. And sharing that raw Chontacuro larva, a moment of primal connection, will stay with me.

Route summary

• Date: 05.02.2026 12:01
• Distance: 2.76 km
• Elevation gain: 29,9 m
• Elevation loss: 21,305 m
• Duration: 283 min
• Average Speed: 0 km/h