cover of episode CAYAMBE-COCA NATIONAL PARK – Home of the Giant Anaconda

CAYAMBE-COCA NATIONAL PARK – Home of the Giant Anaconda

Publish Date: 2024/8/7
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He's the most terrifying serial killer you've never heard of. Haddon Clark has confessed to several murders, but investigators say he could have over 100 victims. At the center of the mayhem, a cellmate of Haddon's that was able to get key evidence into Haddon's murder spree across America,

because hadn't thought he was Jesus Christ. Born Evil, the Serial Killer and the Savior, an ID true crime event. Premieres Monday, September 2nd at 9. Watch on ID or stream on Max. Set your DVR. This episode is brought to you by Shopify.

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We hear stories of terrifying creatures that defy reality, lurking in the shadows just out of sight for centuries. Some are believed to have been around longer than humanity itself. Though there's usually nothing to fear, terror has a way of finding those who venture into the darkness, seeking the creatures that have been long forgotten.

Welcome to Destination Terror, your passport to the scariest places in the world. From haunted hotels to locations of unexplained creature sightings, and now places that we only visit in our imagination, we will travel to places that will provide excitement, adventure, and horror. Today we are visiting Cayambe Coca National Park in Ecuador, home of the legendary cryptid, the giant anaconda.

So if you're into travel and all things scary, listen close and you might just discover your next exciting adventure destination. But hopefully, not your final destination. Destination Terror is an EerieCast original podcast hosted by me, Carmen Carrion. If you would like to send us a suggestion or submit a story with your own experience, you can email them to carmencarrion at gmail dot com or

or follow me on X at Carmen Carrion. If you enjoy the show, please follow and rate Destination Terror on Spotify and Apple Podcasts to help us grow. Also, check out eeriecast.com for more scary podcasts, such as Freaky Folklore, the podcast where together we explore horrifying legends across the world and tell terrifying tales of monsters both ancient and modern.

I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my eyes after hours of staring at the screen. This wasn't the first time I'd chased after something that might not exist. Hell, it wasn't even my tenth. My apartment walls were covered with maps, photos, and newspaper clippings from past expeditions. Each one a reminder of a mystery unsolved, a creature unfound. But that never stopped me. If anything, each failure just fueled my determination.

My sister once joked that I should legally change my name to Jasper Cryptid Hunter Morgan, given how obsessed I'd become. But she didn't understand. It wasn't about proving anything to anyone else. It was about the thrill of the hunt, the possibility of discovering something extraordinary.

And maybe, just maybe, this time would be different. I glanced at the framed photo on my desk. The four of us grinning after our last adventure, muddy and exhausted but exhilarated. I knew they'd be up for this, despite the risks. They always were, with excitement and that familiar twinge of guilt for potentially leading them into another wild goose chase. I reached for my phone. It was time to rally the troops.

It all started three months ago. I was up late as usual, scrolling through an obscure cryptozoology forum. That's when I saw it. A post that would change everything. A user claimed to have seen a massive snake in Cayambe Coca National Park, estimating its length at over 40 feet. The accompanying photo was blurry and distinct, but it sent a shiver down my spine. I knew I had to investigate.

This wouldn't be the first time I tried to track down something that didn't exist. But it kept things interesting. I couldn't wait to tell my friends. We've been a tight-knit group since college. Me, Laura, Mike, and Lisa. We've always shared a fascination with the unknown. But this was different. This was real. After that phone call, we met at my house. I remember the excitement in Laura's eyes as she immediately started researching the park.

Mike, always up for an adventure, was practically bouncing off the walls. Even Lisa, usually the skeptical one, seemed intrigued. We spent weeks planning, saving, and dreaming of what we might find. Now, sitting in this dingy bar in Quito, Ecuador, the atmosphere reeked of stale beer. Dim bulbs barely lit our faces. We sat, quiet, finally getting it.

We were in deep shit here in Quito. But that's exactly what we had wanted. An adventure straight out of an Indiana Jones movie. So are we really doing this? Laura asked, her fingers tracing the condensation on her glass. I nodded, trying to project confidence. Absolutely. This tour I found. Cryptid Expeditions. Hunt for the giant anaconda. It's legit. Well, as legit as a cryptid hunt can be. Mike raised his beer, grinning.

To finding the impossible. We clinked glasses, but I couldn't shake a nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach. What if this were it? What if we actually found something solid this time? The next morning came too soon. My head pounded from one too many celebratory drinks, and the harsh Ecuadorian sun did nothing to improve my mood. We gathered our gear and headed to the meeting point, where we were greeted by our guide, Carlos.

I'll never forget my first impression of Carlos. He was older than I expected, with weathered skin from spending years in the jungle. His smile was warm, but there was something in his eyes, a wariness that should have been our first warning. "'Welcome, friends. Ready for adventure?' he asked, gesturing to our transportation."

My heart sank as I took in the battered van. It looked like it had been through a war, with rust spots and dents marring its surface. Lisa voiced what we were all thinking. "Uh, guys, are we sure about this?" I felt a stab of guilt. I was the one who'd found this tour. To convince everyone it was a good idea. "It's fine," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "Probably just... local charm."

I've never faked a smile so hard in my life. If I believed it, so would they. Mark barked a laugh. Local charm, huh? Right. As we bounced along the rough road leading to the park, I couldn't help but marvel at the landscape. The jungle teemed with life, green and wild beyond imagination. To say it was magnificent would truly be an understatement. Lisa leaned close to me, her voice low. Maybe we should turn back.

I have a bad feeling. I hesitated. Part of me agreed with her. Wanted to call this whole thing off. But then I looked at Mike and Laura. Saw the excitement in their eyes. And I couldn't bring myself to disappoint them. Or myself. Let's be honest. I'd been in worse predicaments over the years to feed my curiosity. It'll be okay. I assured her, squeezing her hand. We've worked too hard to get here to turn back now.

If only I had listened to her. If only I had trusted that gut feeling. But I didn't, and that decision would haunt me for the rest of my life. As we entered the park, the atmosphere changed. The air grew thick, heavy with moisture, and the scents of a thousand plants. Strange calls echoed from the canopy above. Unfamiliar sounds of life that were both beautiful and unsettling.

The sight took my breath away. I had seen many things over the years, but this topped them all. For a brief moment, I forgot about the uneasy feelings, the crappy van, and even the reason we were here. The forest completely enveloped my every thought.

But reality has a way of intruding on even the most awe-inspiring moments. As we drove deeper into the park, the van's engine began to make worrying noises. At first I tried to ignore it, focusing instead on the lush scenery. But the sputtering grew louder, and wisps of smoke started to curl from under the hood. Carlos muttered something under his breath and pulled over.

As he tinkered under the hood, I caught fragments of what I'm certain were every curse word he knew in his native tongue. Despite his efforts, the van refused to start again. We were stranded. To make matters worse, dark clouds rolled in, bringing with them a rain like I'd never seen before. Our wonder at the forest quickly turned to concern, as we realized just how vulnerable we were in this alien environment.

We huddled in the shelter of the van. Hours passed, and help didn't arrive. The rain showed no signs of letting up, and an oppressive darkness began to fall. Carlos approached us, his face grim. "Bad news. Even if I could get the van to start, the rain has washed the road out. We must spend the night here." I tried not to laugh, but it was either that or cry. I hadn't cried in years and now didn't seem like a good time to start.

So I laughed, which quickly became infectious. Before long we were all laughing. It's just our luck to get stranded out here. We spent the next few hours chatting over the rain and just taking it all in. We made the best of it, but despite our rallied enthusiasm, something suddenly began to make a shift in the atmosphere. A chill ran down my spine that had nothing to do with the rain.

The forest, which had seemed so alive and inviting in the daylight, now felt menacing. Shadows seemed to move of their own accord, and every sound felt like a potential threat. We huddled in the van, the windows fogging with our breath. Outside, the darkness was impenetrable, broken only by the occasional flash of lightning. That's when Laura heard something. "Did you hear that?" she whispered, her eyes wide with fear.

We all fell silent, straining to hear over the patter of rain. There it was again, a sound like something massive moving through the underbrush. My heart raced with terror, yet excitement coursed through my veins. Carlos's reaction did nothing to calm our nerves. His face had gone pale, and when he spoke, his voice trembled. Everyone, stay in the van. It's not safe.

But we couldn't resist. We peered out into the gloom, trying to catch a glimpse of whatever was out there. A flash of lightning illuminated the scene, and for a brief moment, I saw something that defied explanation. A vast, sinuous shape moving through the trees, larger than anything I'd ever imagined. "Holy shit!" Mike breathed beside me. "Did you see?"

His words were cut off by a deafening crash. The ground shook beneath us, and the van rocked violently. Panic erupted. The van rocked violently again, and the panic took over. "Close the windows!" Carlos shouted over the din of rain and crashing vegetation.

We scrambled to comply, hearts racing. In the chaos, Lisa lunged for the rear window, which had started to slide open from the van's constant shaking. As she reached to slam it shut, another tremor hit, stronger than before. The van tilted precariously, and Lisa lost her balance. She grasped desperately for something to hold onto, but her rain-slicked hands found no purchase.

In a horrifying instant, she stumbled backwards through the half-opened window. Her scream pierced the air as she disappeared into the darkness outside. Lisa! I yelled, lunging toward the open window, but Mike held me back. This episode is brought to you by Shopify.

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In the heart of Ecuador, where the Andes Mountains melt into the vast expanse of the Amazon rainforest, lies a realm of primordial beauty and ancient terror. Cayembe Coca National Park, a sprawling wilderness of over 996,000 acres, is a place where the line between the natural and the supernatural becomes perilously thin.

Here, amidst the emerald canopy and mist-shrouded peaks, lurks a legend that has haunted the dreams of locals and explorers alike for centuries: the giant anaconda, a serpent of such monstrous proportions that it defies belief and reason.

Established in 1970, Cayambe National Park stands as a testament to the raw beauty and ecological diversity of South America. Its vast protected area spanning over 1,500 square miles encompasses an extraordinary range of ecosystems that have fascinated scientists and naturalists for decades.

The park derives its name from two prominent features: the Cayembe Volcano, a massive snow-capped peak that dominates the western skyline, and the Coca River, which winds its way through the eastern lowlands like a dark, sinister serpent.

When you step into the park, the air grows thick with humidity and the whispers of countless living things. The Coca River, a vein of dark water cutting through the rich flesh of the forest, seems to pulse with a malevolent life of its own. It is here in these murky depths, and along the mud-caked banks, that the giant anaconda is said to make its home.

The park's unique geography, straddling both the western slopes of the Andes and the upper Amazon basin, creates a remarkable range of ecosystems. Four distinct ecological zones dominate the landscape, each harboring its own set of wonders and terrors. The Andean grasslands stretch above 11,482 feet.

Here, hardy tussock grasses and cushioned plants cling to life in the thin air. The grasslands act as a crucial water reservoir, slowly releasing moisture that feeds the rivers below. And perhaps, some whisper, the gargantuan appetite of the legendary serpent.

Descending from the heights, one enters the realm of the Andean forests. Between approximately 6,561 feet and 11,482 feet, cloud forests teem with orchids and ferns. The mist that perpetually shrouds these woods seems to conceal more than just the diverse wildlife. Locals speak of strange shapes glimpsed through the fog, of massive coils winding around ancient trunks.

As the elevation decreases further, the subtropical rainforest takes hold. Here the vegetation becomes more lush and diverse, a thick maze that could easily hide creatures thought long extinct. It's in these dense groves that many claim to have heard the bone-chilling slither of something far too large to be any species of snake.

Finally, the easternmost part of the park transitions into classic tropical rainforest, with towering emergent trees and a dense understory that seems designed to conceal the movements of the creatures that dwell there. The waterways that lace through this zone are said to be the favored hunting grounds of the Yakumama, the mother of waters, which is the real reason we're talking about this magnificently terrifying forest today.

The indigenous peoples of the region have long spoken of the great serpent in hushed tones. They call it Yakimama, a creature so vast that its movements can cause rivers to change course and islands to appear and disappear overnight.

Some say it's as long as 40 meters, a living pipeline of muscles and scales, with a girth so immense that a grown man could stand upright in its maw. Others insist it is even larger, a behemoth from a bygone era when giants walked the earth and monsters ruled the seas.

Scientists and skeptics dismiss such tales as folklore, the product of overactive imaginations, and the human tendency to mythologize the unknown. They point out that the largest anaconda ever reliably measured was a mere nine meters long, a far cry from the Leviathan of legend. Yet even these rational minds must admit that Cayambe Coca National Park is a place where the improbable becomes possible.

The park's hydrological importance cannot be overstated. It contains the headwaters of several major rivers, including the Coca, Papalacta, and Quijo rivers. These waterways not only support the incredible biodiversity within the park, but also provide water for millions of people in Ecuador, including the capital city of Quito. The Coca River, in particular, has played a crucial role in the region's history and ecology.

Its waters have carved deep valleys and gorges through the landscape, creating diverse micro-habitats along its course. Some say these very gorges serve as lairs for the giant anaconda, allowing it to move unseen between different parts of its vast territory.

The area now encompassed by Cayambe Coca National Park has a rich human history dating back thousands of years. Archaeological evidence suggests that various indigenous groups have inhabited the region since pre-Columbian times, developing sophisticated agricultural techniques and trading networks that span the Andes and the Amazon.

The Cayembe people, after whom the volcano and part of the park are named, were known for their fierce resistance to Inca expansion in the 15th century. Some local legends even claim that the giant anaconda played a role in this resistance, emerging from the depths to swallow Inca war parties whole.

In more recent history, during the Spanish colonial period, the region became an important route for explorers and missionaries venturing into the Amazon basin. Many of these early European visitors returned with fantastic tales of enormous serpents lurking in the waterways.

further fueling the legend. The biodiversity of Cayambe Coca National Park is staggering. It hosts an estimated 100 species of endemic plants found nowhere else on Earth and numerous endangered animal species. The park's varied elevations and habitats have made it a living laboratory for scientists studying ecology, evolution, and the impact of climate change.

Some notable species found within the park include the spectacled bear, South America's only bear species, the mountain tapir, one of the most endangered large animals in South America, and the Andean condor, with its massive wingspan of almost 10 feet. The park's rivers, including the coca, are home to a variety of fish species, including catfish, carasins, and the occasional freshwater stingray.

While the legendary giant anaconda could be nothing more than a legend, the park does host several species of large snakes, including the green anaconda, which can grow up to 30 feet in length and weigh up to 550 pounds. It's these very real, impressive creatures that likely form the basis for the more fantastical tales of the Yakumama.

As night falls in the rainforest, the lush green world is replaced by a realm of shadows and sounds. Eyes gleam in the underbrush, watching, waiting. The river, a black ribbon in the gloom, seems to whisper secrets in a hissing tongue. It is in these dark hours that most sightings of the giant anaconda occur.

Fishermen, their small boats dwarfed by the vastness of the river, speak of encounters that chill the blood. They describe a silence that falls suddenly, as if nature itself is holding its breath. Then, a disturbance in the water, a wake like that of a passing ship, but with no vessel in sight. Some swear they've seen coils as thick as tree trunks break the surface momentarily, before slipping back into the inky depths.

Tales like this are not uncommon in the villages that dot the fringes of the park. Each family seems to have its own story, its own warning passed down through the generations. Children are taught from an early age to respect the river, to never venture too close to its banks alone. Even in the age of smartphones and internet, the old fears persist.

The legend of the giant anaconda has drawn countless adventurers and thrill-seekers to the park over the years. Some come armed with high-tech equipment, determined to be the ones to finally prove the creature's existence. Others are driven by a darker impulse, a desire to confront the unknown and test their mettle, against a legendary predator.

The legend of the giant anaconda in the park isn't merely a product of indigenous folklore. Over the years, various explorers, scientists and locals have reported encounters with anacondas of extraordinary size, fueling the mystery surrounding these creatures. One of the earliest and most famous accounts comes from British explorer Percy Fawcett.

In 1907, during his expedition in the Amazon, Fawcett claimed to have witnessed a truly monstrous serpent. In his report, he described a snake approximately 62 feet long, a size that dwarfs any scientifically verified specimen. While most experts consider Fawcett's estimate an exaggeration, his account has become a cornerstone of the giant anaconda legend.

Decades later, in 1948, the giant anaconda myth gained another compelling chapter. V. A. Lorenz, a petroleum geologist working in the Rio de Janeiro area of Brazil, reported an encounter with an enormous anaconda. Lorenz estimated the snake's length at 35 feet. While significantly smaller than Fawcett's claim, this size still exceeds the largest confirmed anaconda specimens by a considerable margin.

The legend persists into modern times. In 2009, cryptozoologist Mike Warner led an expedition specifically to the park in search of evidence supporting the giant anaconda's existence.

While Warner and his team didn't find conclusive proof, they reported strange sounds and unexplained disturbances in the water. Local guides attributed these phenomena to the elusive creature, adding another layer of mystery to the park's already mysterious reputation.

Perhaps the most intriguing accounts come from the local residents of the Amazon region, including areas surrounding the park. Many have reported sightings of unusually large snakes over the years. These testimonies often describe anacondas significantly larger than the scientifically accepted maximum size. Though they rarely approach the mythical proportions of Fawcett's account,

As night falls once again over Cayambe Coca, the Coca River flows on, dark and inscrutable. The ancient trees loom overhead, their branches intertwining to form a canopy that seems to trap the very air beneath it. In the distance, perhaps, comes the sound of something large moving through the underbrush, or the splash of a massive body sliding into the water.

Is it merely the product of overactive imaginations, fueled by centuries of folklore and the primal fears that still lurk in the human psyche? Or could it be that in this vast, largely unexplored wilderness, a relic from a prehistoric age still survives, eluding scientific scrutiny, but ever present in the widespread tales of those who call this land home?

As visitors continue to flock to the park, drawn by its natural beauty and the allure of its legends, one thing remains certain: Kayembe Koka will continue to inspire awe, fear, and wonder for generations to come. Whether or not the giant anaconda truly exists, the legend itself has become an integral part of the park's identity, a reminder of the power of nature and the enduring mystery of the wild.

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The rain hammered against the van's metal roof, creating a deafening sound that matched the frantic beat of my heart. We were all shouting, a jumble of panicked voices competing with the storm. Carlos was trying to calm us down, but his words were lost in the chaos. I could barely make out Laura's face in the darkness, her eyes wide with terror. Mike was frantically trying to see through the fogged-up windows, wiping them with his sleeve in vain.

The van rocked again, more violently this time, and I heard the sickening sound of metal groaning under immense pressure. Something massive was moving outside, something that made the ground tremble beneath us. In that movement, I realized with a horrifying clarity that we had found exactly what we came looking for, and it was nothing like the exciting adventure I had imagined.

The thrill of discovery was replaced by pure primal fear as I remembered that Lisa was no longer safely inside with us. My blood ran cold as I turned towards the rear window, dreading what I might see. "Lisa!" I screamed. My voice drowned out by a deafening crash of thunder. What happened next will haunt me for the rest of my life. A flash of lightning illuminated the scene.

and for a brief, horrifying moment, I saw it clearly. Rising up behind Lisa was a wall of scales, each one the size of a dinner plate. They glistened in the electric light, a sickly, iridescent sheen that seemed to absorb the darkness around it. The creature's body was impossibly thick, easily dwarfing the sturdiest trees in the forest.

It moved with a fluid grace that defied its massive size, coils shifting and undulating in a mesmerizing and terrifying dance. Lisa turned, her scream dying in her throat as she faced the monstrosity. I saw her eyes widen, pupils dilating in primal fear. She took a stumbling step backward, but it was too late.

The snake's head came into view, and my mind struggled to comprehend what I was seeing. It was larger than our entire van, with jaws that could easily swallow any of us whole. Ancient, primordial eyes the size of car tires fixed on Lisa, glowing with an otherworldly intelligence that sent shivers down my spine. In the blink of an eye, faster than something that size should have been able to move, it struck.

Lisa didn't even have time to scream. One moment she was there, and the next, she was gone. Enveloped by a mouth large enough to devour a house, the ground shook as the creature's massive body slid past our van. The metal groaned under the pressure, windows cracking from the sheer force of its passage. The stench of musk and decay filled the air, so strong it made my eyes water and my stomach heave.

For what felt like an eternity, the snake's body continued to move past us, coil after coil, each one thick enough to crush our vehicle like a tin can, slithered by in a seemingly endless procession. The sound was unlike anything I'd ever heard before, a deep, rumbling hiss mixed with a scrape of scales against the forest floor, like a landslide in slow motion, just when I thought it would never end.

the tale finally came into view it whipped past with enough force to rock the van violently leaving deep furrows in the muddy ground and then as quickly as it had appeared it was gone vanishing into the dark jungle with a silence that belied its enormous size the only evidence of its passage was the destroyed vegetation the lingering stench and the conspicuous absence of our friend

We sat in stunned silence, our minds struggling to process what we had just witnessed. The rain continued to pour, but it felt insignificant now, a mere drizzle compared to the storm of terror that raged inside each of us. Laura was the first to break the silence, her voice a hoarse whisper. Did... did that really just happen? Mike nodded slowly, his face ashen, and tears streaming down his face.

It took her. It just took her. I couldn't speak. My throat had closed up, choked with fear and guilt. I kept replaying the image in my mind. Lisa's terrified face. The massive jaws closing around her. The inhuman intelligence in the creature's eyes. Carlos muttered something in Spanish, crossing himself repeatedly.

When he finally spoke in English, his voice trembled. La Serpiente Diosa, he whispered. The Serpent Goddess. I thought it was just a legend. A hysterical laugh bubbled up in my throat. Only I don't think I was actually laughing. I was raging. A legend? We had just watched that legend devour our friend whole. The rest of the night passed in a blur of terror and vigilance.

Every sound from the forest, every rustle of leaves or snap of a branch sent our hearts racing. We huddled together in the van, too afraid to sleep, our eyes constantly scanning the darkness outside for any sign of the monster's return. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched.

Those massive, ancient eyes seemed to peer at us from every shadow, patient and hungry. We were no longer adventurers on an exciting expedition. We were prey, trapped in a predator's territory, waiting helplessly for dawn. As the first light of day finally began to penetrate the canopy, we collectively exhaled a breath we didn't realize we'd been holding. But the relief was short-lived.

The harsh light of day didn't erase what we'd seen. It only threw our new reality into stark relief. Lisa was gone. Taken by something that shouldn't exist. Something we came looking for. Something we should have never been looking for in the first place. I always wanted the monsters to be real. Until today. I've never wanted them to be a myth so bad in my life.

The journey back to the village was conducted in terrible silence. No one wanted to speak of what we had seen, of the friend we had lost. The horror was too fresh, too unbelievable. As we reached the outskirts of civilization, Carlos turned to us. "Please," he begged, his voice trembling. "We cannot tell them what really happened. No one will believe us. And this tour, it's all I have. It's my livelihood.

For a moment, we were tempted. The thought of trying to explain the inexplicable to skeptical authorities was daunting. Mike spoke up, his voice hoarse. "What if we just say Lisa got lost in the jungle?" I closed my eyes, the pain of loss mixing with the burden of what we'd witnessed. But as I looked at my friend's faces, I knew we had no choice. "We can't," I said firmly.

For Lisa, for ourselves, we have to tell the truth. Carlos slumped, defeated, as Laura nodded in agreement. Jasper is right, she said. We owe it to Lisa. The next few hours were a blur of police stations, tearful phone calls to Lisa's family, and endless questions.

I found myself sitting across from a stern-faced detective, his skepticism obvious as I recounted our nightmarish experience. "'Mr. Morgan,' the detective said, leaning forward. "'I understand you're in shock, but I need you to be straight with me. You're saying a giant snake, larger than anything known to science, attacked your group, consumed your friend?' I met his gaze, my voice steadier than I felt."

I know how it sounds. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe it either. But it's the truth, every word. The detective sighed, rubbing his temples. We've searched the area you described. There's evidence of something large moving through the forest, and obvious damage to the van. But there's nothing consistent with an animal of the size you're describing. And there's no sign of Lisa. I felt a lump form in my throat.

You have to keep looking. As the interview wore on, I found myself reflecting on the path that had led us there. All those years chasing cryptids, seeking the thrill of the unknown. It all seemed so foolish now. The reality of what we had found was far more terrifying than any legend or myth. Mr. Morgan, the detective said, interrupting my thoughts. Your website...

Cryptid Hunter. It details numerous expeditions you've led in search of, well, monsters. Is that correct? I nodded, slowly, feeling a deep shame wash over me. Yes, but that's over now. Completely over. Can you elaborate on that? I took a deep breath, trying to put into words the profound shift I'd experienced.

I always thought finding proof of these creatures would be exciting. A triumph. But now, I've seen what's really out there, Detective. And trust me, some things should remain hidden. I'll never go looking for monsters again. They're real. And they're more terrifying than anything we could have imagined. Thank you for joining us on our journey to Cayambe Coca National Park.

Tune in next week as we discuss another terrorific location. I'm Carmen Carrion. Remember, you can send me suggestions and stories of haunted places to my email, carmencarion at gmail.com or follow me on X at Carmen Carrion. Go to eeriecast.com to find other terrifying podcasts, such as Freaky Folklore, hosted by me, Carmen Carrion.

Until next time, stay safe out there, until I see you at our next destination.