When I arrived at Chuchini Lodge, I went straight to work. I spent the first few days getting to know the place by translating for the boss, Ibis. I had to memorise as much information as I could and within a few days I was leading my first independent group. I spent most of my little free time studying. But being a tour guide can be very different from place to place. Here I was in a small family business and there were many more tasks than just guiding. You had to help with almost everything. Flexibility was also a thing, as meal times and free times were quite dynamic and changed depending on the number of guests.
A typical working day was as follows: I would start at 7 a.m., clean the dining room and prepare and serve breakfast for the guests. I would greet and go over the day’s schedule. Then I’d have a quick breakfast myself. Then I had to prepare lunch and fishing bait and load the boat. Before boarding, I’d do a quick check with the guests to make sure they had everything they needed for the day. During the tour on the Ibaré River, I’d explain the flora and fauna while trying to spot animals. Eventually we’d spot river dolphins, which were always very interesting to observe. We also often saw sloths, monkeys and thousands of different birds.
On the banks of the Mamoré River, a tributary of the Amazon, we’d take a mud bath and swim. While the guests enjoyed themselves, the two workers prepared lunch on the boat. In the afternoon, we’d swim and fish for piranhas at another spot. All the while keeping an eye out for more wildlife. On the way back, I’d set up hammocks for the guests on the boat and serve fruit and drinks. Back at the Chuchini Lodge, Miriam, the boss, would be waiting for us with a fresh cold fruit juice and a briefing on the evening’s programme. The guests were then free to shower and relax, while I gutted the fish and helped serve dinner.
After my dinner, I got ready for the evening’s programme, because the moment the guests finished eating, I briefed them again and took them out on the boat to spot caimans and other nocturnal animals. Directing the boat at night was a challenge as the driver was relatively blind and had to follow my commands with the torch. It was very important to work well together, otherwise things could get uncomfortable or we could hit something.
As soon as I saw an animal and could estimate its size, the driver would approach and I would catch it with my hands (which usually worked). I would then check that the caiman was healthy and well fed. Sometimes I had to remove foreign objects such as spikes, fish bones or leeches from the young animals’ mouths to prevent them from choking. Afterwards I would talk to the guests about these fascinating animals and if we were lucky I would find one or two other species.
It was always important for me to explain why we caught the animals, talked about them and then released them. Well, basically because the crocodiles (various species, including endangered ones) are often poached and sold to restaurants and souvenir shops. Another important point for me is to take the fear away from the caimans and to build an emotional relationship through direct physical contact. It shouldn’t just be a show for people to take pictures with, but an educational experience. Once this awareness has been raised, hopefully people will think twice about ordering illegally poached animals to eat or buying them as souvenirs. We arrived back at the lodge around 9.30-10.30 p.m. I stayed for a few minutes to answer some questions before saying goodbye for the evening.
Yes, the days were very long and I didn’t have much time to myself, but I really enjoyed the work. Especially that I was always out in nature, discovering something new every day. Despite a certain amount of routine, it filled me with joy. It was also very nice when the guests left satisfied and told us what they had enjoyed and learnt. Of course, Chuchini had many other activities to offer, in addition to wildlife watching on the river, there was hiking, a simple zip line, cycling, fishing, horse riding and their own museum. The guests definitely had a good variety of things to do, and so did I as their guide.
Chuchini Lodge consists of 300 hectares of private land and the owners have been involved in ecotourism and conservation of the area and its flora and fauna since 1972. The ban on hunting has resulted in an increase in wildlife, as evidenced by the camera traps, which are often used by jaguars and pumas. Chuchini is considered the alternative jungle tour in Bolivia because, unlike Rurrenabaque, it is not overcrowded. Since I left, a photovoltaic system has been installed and there is now permanent electricity.
During my time at Chuchini Lodge I learned a lot from Ibis. He grew up there and is the owner and manager of the place. I had little contact with the whole guest service and catering sector before. So I first had to learn that you need a lot of cutlery and that there is a correct way to arrange it, for me, who basically eats with a spoon. Food is also served from one side, and limes should be cut in such a way that the seeds remain intact so that they don’t become bitter. Then there are the classic differences to Switzerland, such as the need to clean all dishes again before serving and routine hygiene checks.
The situation in the South American jungle is simply different to that in Switzerland. There were also no machines like dishwashers or permanent electricity. Electricity was only available in the evening, but we didn’t need it during the day either, as I was always out and about with the guests. They usually stayed for about 3 days.
In total, I worked at the lodge for almost 3 months and learnt a lot. There were also many highlights for me, such as seeing jaguars or the jungle eagle, the harpya. I was also bitten by a piranha and a snake, but both were worth it. I was able to save the young boa from a fire and the piranha tasted delicious when deep-fried.
I also found the interaction with the guests very interesting, as everyone has a different story and background. Working with children and young people is also very interesting as they are often curious and motivated to learn and try new things. Of course, some guests were more fun than others. I’ve also developed a better understanding of the people who work in tourism, so I’m sometimes more tolerant or more annoyed as a tourist myself, depending on the situation.