This toad met us in Pilcopata and then tried to get into our room

Day one in the jungle

We took the spectacular journey south of Cusco at 7am last Thursday with Jessica our guide, Claudio the driver, Walter the cook and our fellow jungle mates.

Amiable Swiss nutcase David, his wife Christine and North American honeymooners Josh & Jessica made up the rest of our group.

The weather was perfect throughout our ascent to the end of the Andes and the start of the cloud forest.

The views from the Sven Ericsson phallus at the park entrance were excellent and this time we were on schedule to make some stops in the steamy cloud forest below.

Brilliant vermillion Andean Cock of the Rock's sprang from nowhere and a Highland Motmot was a good find.

After enjoying these beautiful birds we continued our journey down to Pilcopata.

The 'Cock of the Rock Lodge' had changed little but at least this time we had a private bathroom.

A brief trip into the 'town' enabled me to ring Ali and leave a message for Esther.

We then went back for our evening meal which was enlivened by David's Howler Monkey impression.

He then set the mood for the rest of the trip as he declared in his wonderful Pidgin English that -

'The red cock was my favourite today'

There was plenty more cock to come over the next 5 days.