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I'M BEAR GRYLLS. WHOO!
I'M GONNA SHOW YOU WHAT IT TAKES TO GET OUT ALIVE
FROM SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACES ON EARTH.
I'VE GOT TO MAKE IT THROUGH A WEEK OF CHALLENGES...
IN THE SORT OF PLACES YOU WOULDN'T LAST A DAY
WITHOUT THE RIGHT SURVIVAL SKILLS.
THIS TIME, I'M IN GUATEMALA,
WHERE I'LL BE TAKING ON ONE OF THE MOST HAZARDOUS COUNTRIES
ON THE PLANET.
OKAY, LET'S GO.
CLIMBING DOWN A 200-FOOT WATERFALL...
GETTING SWEPT THROUGH WILD RAPIDS...
YOU JUST GOT TO GO WITH IT.
...AND TAKING A PLUNGE INTO THE DARK.
MY SPINE'S BROKE!
OFFICIALLY, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACES
ON THE PLANET.
AND IT'S ALSO KNOWN AS THE LAND OF DISASTERS.
HURRICANES RAGE THROUGH HERE, EARTHQUAKES RIP IT UP,
AND MOLTEN LAVA SPEWS FROM VOLCANOS.
WELCOME TO GUATEMALA!
GUATEMALA IS HOME TO A HUGE VARIETY OF TERRAIN,
FROM VOLCANIC PEAKS BELCHING DEADLY FUMES
TO COLD CLOUD FOREST DOWN INTO HOT, HUMID JUNGLE.
TO MAKE IT OUT ALIVE,
YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE THE RIGHT SKILLS,
THE RIGHT SPIRIT, BUT ALSO A LITTLE BIT OF LUCK.
THAT'S THE LAVA.
YOU CAN FEEL THE HEAT COMING OFF OF THE STUFF.
THERE'S NO WAY THE HELI'S GONNA BE ABLE TO LAND
ON THE VOLCANO ITSELF.
I'M GONNA GET THE PILOT TO HOVER
JUST ABOVE THE SUMMIT AND THEN FOLLOW THIS ROPE DOWN.
AND I'VE NEVER DONE THAT ON A VOLCANO BEFORE.
[ MAN SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Man #2 OKAY, CAN WE GO FORWARD 10 AND DOWN 10?
ARE WE GOOD?
NO, NOT YET.
WE'VE JUST -- NOT YET.
OKAY, FRONT OF THE ROPE IS GOING OUT.
IT'S BY THE SKID.
OKAY, BEAR IS GETTING ONTO THE SKID.
DOWN FOUR. DOWN FOUR FIRST.
OKAY, THAT'S GOOD. BEAR IS ON THE ROPE.
MY MISSION IS TO SHOW YOU HOW TO STAY ALIVE LONG ENOUGH
TO MAKE IT BACK TO CIVILIZATION.
STEADY THERE, HOVER.
ALL I'M TAKING WITH ME ARE A FEW BASIC SURVIVAL TOOLS.
HOLD THE HOVER. BEAR IS ON THE VOLCANO.
MY CAMERA CREW'S COMING WITH ME.
THERE'S THE HELI OUT OF HERE.
MAN, JUST LOOK AT THIS PLACE.
LIKE LANDING -- LANDING ON THE MOON.
WE'RE HERE.
THERE'S RED-HOT MOLTEN LAVA SOMEWHERE UNDER MY FEET.
WHOA, YOU FEEL THE HEAT UP HERE.
AND THAT ISN'T WIND NOISE.
NOW, THIS IS A BAD BOY.
AND THIS IS WHERE ALL OF THAT GAS IS POURING OUT OF.
AND ALL THOSE GASES ARE POISONOUS.
ALL THE SULFUR COMING OUT.
AND THAT'S WHAT ALL THIS YELLOW IS, ALL THESE DEPOSITS.
SOMEWHERE DOWN THERE, RED-HOT MAGMA CHAMBER.
I FEEL VERY VULNERABLE HERE, ACTUALLY.
I WANT TO GET OFF THIS PEAK QUICKLY.
GUATEMALA WAS DOMINATED BY THE MAYAN CIVILIZATION
FOR OVER 2,000 YEARS.
THEIR ANCIENT CITIES ARE HIDDEN IN THE JUNGLE,
ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTH.
IT'S JUST AFTER DAWN.
THE SUN ROSE OVER THERE -- EAST --
WHICH MEANS I WANT TO KEEP HEADING THIS WAY, NORTH --
DOWNHILL, AWAY FROM THE LAVA.
GET STUCK HERE,
AND ONE OF THE BEST BETS IS TO HEAD FOR THE MAYAN RUINS
DEEP IN THE JUNGLE.
THEY'RE POPULAR WITH TOURISTS,
AND WHERE THERE ARE PEOPLE, THERE'S SALVATION.
JUST HORRIBLE.
KIND OF ULTIMATE ANKLE-BREAKER TERRAIN, THIS.
ALSO, WHEN YOU DO FALL,
IT'S ALL JUST RAZOR-SHARP AND LIKE GLASS.
GONNA TRY AND KEEP A GOOD LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY.
USE YOUR HANDS.
MORE LIKE AN ANIMAL. GIVES YOU FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE.
THE HOT CINDERS HAVE GIVEN WAY TO VOLCANIC ASH AND PUMICE.
I CAN MOVE QUICKER HERE,
DIGGING MY HEELS INTO THE SLOPE FOR EXTRA GRIP.
LEANING BACK INTO THE HILL PUTS LESS STRAIN ON YOUR LEG MUSCLES
AND GIVES YOU A LOWER CENTER OF GRAVITY.
FIRST SIGN OF ANYTHING LIVING. THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.
MEANS YOU'RE GETTING AWAY FROM THE DANGER ZONE.
AND THIS MUST BE OLD LAVA,
IF ANY VEGETATION IS GROWING IN IT.
I'M HEADING FOR THE TREE LINE,
MAKING FOR THE JUNGLE BELOW THE VOLCANO.
EVEN THOUGH IT'S ONLY A FEW MILES FROM THE EQUATOR,
AT THIS ALTITUDE, IT'S MAINLY PINE TREES
THAT GROW ON THE FERTILE VOLCANIC SOIL,
AND IF THERE ARE TREES,
THEN THERE'LL BE GRUBS AND BUGS.
BURIED IN ALL THIS DEAD WOOD, THE RHINO BEETLE.
THERE WE GO. GET A LITTLE MUCK OFF IT.
YOU SEE THAT?
THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED A RHINO BEETLE.
YOU SEE THAT HORN?
AND THAT'S WHAT IT USES TO ROOT AROUND IN ALL THIS DEAD WOOD
THAT HE THEN FEEDS OFF.
THESE GUYS ARE SUPER STRONG.
I CAN FEEL THE POWER JUST IN THAT.
AND THEN LOOK.
THESE ARE ITS CLAWS THAT IT USES TO GRIP ON WITH.
THAT RHINO POWER.
BUT, YOU KNOW, HE MIGHT BE A VEGETARIAN,
BUT OUT HERE, I'M NOT.
[ CRUNCHING ]
OHH.
VERY CRUNCHY.
VERY GOOEY.
AND VERY BAD.
BAD-TASTING.
TRY GETTING THE HORN DOWN YOUR THROAT.
[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]
OKAY, LET'S GET GOING.
AS I HEAD FURTHER DOWN INTO THE JUNGLE,
IT'S GETTING HARDER TO MAKE PROGRESS
AS THE UNDERGROWTH GETS THICKER.
BIT OF A RIVER DOWN THERE.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT I WANT TO FOLLOW.
IT'S GONNA GIVE ME A READY SUPPLY OF WATER.
WATER IS GONNA BE AN EASIER ROUTE
THROUGH THE JUNGLE THAN TRYING TO BASH
THROUGH ALL THIS UNDERGROWTH.
THE DOWNSIDE OF FOLLOWING THIS
IS THAT WATER TENDS TO TAKE THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE.
THAT MEANS FAST WATER AND OFTEN BIG DROPS.
THERE'S DEFINITELY SOME SORT OF DROP-OFF AHEAD.
YOU CAN JUST HEAR IT.
OKAY, SEE WHAT I MEAN?
DOUBLE AROUND.
STEADY UP HERE.
MAN.
EVERY NOW AND THEN, THE JUNGLE TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY.
LOOK AT THAT.
THIS MUST BE 200 FOOT STRAIGHT DOWN, THIS.
AND THAT'S JUST GONNA BE SO SLIPPY, AS WELL.
SEE WHERE THE TREE MEETS THE LEDGE?
MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET A VINE DOWN THERE.
TRY AND CLIMB DOWN IT.
ONE THING THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF IN THE JUNGLE, THOUGH,
ARE VINES.
I'M GONNA USE THE VINE AS A ROPE.
ABOUT THE THICKNESS OF MY THUMB SHOULD TAKE MY WEIGHT.
I RECKON IF I REACH THE BASE OF THIS DOWN THERE,
TIE THE VINE AROUND THAT,
SHOULD TAKE ME MOST OF THE WAY DOWN.
BUT YOU SEE IT'S A LONG WAY.
THE VINE SHOULD BE STRONG ENOUGH,
BUT SECURING IT TO THE TREE IN THE RIGHT WAY IS THE KEY.
OKAY, THAT'S THE END OF IT.
BENDING THE VINE TOO TIGHTLY WILL WEAKEN IT.
I'M GONNA USE SOME CORD FROM MY BACKPACK
TO SECURE IT TO THE TREE.
PEOPLE THAT GET STRANDED
HARDLY EVER GET STRANDED WITH ALL THE RIGHT KIT.
NORMALLY WITH MINIMAL STUFF.
THAT'S WHY YOU GOT TO TRY AND THINK SMART.
THE CORD'S THIN, BUT STRONG ENOUGH TO TAKE MY WEIGHT.
YOU CAN EVEN USE YOUR SHOELACES FOR THIS.
AFTER I'VE TIED IT TO THE VINE,
NOW I CAN ATTACH IT TO THE TREE.
AND THAT WAY, NONE OF THE VINE IS KINKED,
AND ITS STRENGTH ISN'T COMPROMISED.
OKAY, LET'S GO.
I'M USING MY FEET AGAINST THE ROCK FACE
TO HELP TAKE MY WEIGHT
AND LESSEN THE STRAIN ON MY UPPER BODY.
DEFINITELY GETTING THE ARM BURN HERE ON THE MUSCLE.
WELL OVER HALFWAY DOWN NOW.
ROCK STARTING TO GET WET AND SLIPPY,
SO I'M LOSING MY TRACTION.
MEANS MORE OF MY WEIGHT'S COMING ONTO THIS VINE.
I'VE JUST REACHED THAT LEDGE UNDER ME.
GET ACROSS A BIT.
WELL DONE.
WELL DONE, MAN.
THAT WAS QUITE A HAIRY DESCENT.
I'VE GOT YOU.
I'VE GOT YOU. OKAY?
IT'S SAFE THERE.
DON'T MOVE. SLIPPY, BUT IT'S STABLE.
THAT WAS DEFINITELY QUITE HAIRY DOWN THERE.
WE'RE STILL PROBABLY ABOUT 30 FOOT UP, THOUGH, HERE.
PROBLEM IS, THAT'S THE END OF THE VINE.
I CAN'T CLIMB BACK UP, AND I CAN'T CLIMB DOWN.
I NEED TO FIND ANOTHER WAY OFF THIS LEDGE.
I'M IN GUATEMALA, A COUNTRY RAVAGED BY NATURAL DISASTERS.
I'VE JUST REACHED THAT LEDGE UNDER ME.
I'M STUCK 30 FOOT FROM THE BOTTOM OF A WATERFALL.
I NEED TO FIND ANOTHER WAY DOWN.
THAT WAS DEFINITELY QUITE HAIRY DOWN THERE.
WE'RE STILL PROBABLY ABOUT 30 FOOT UP, THOUGH.
HANG ON. I KNOW WHAT WE'LL DO.
I'M GONNA JUMP.
BUT BEFORE I DO,
I WANT TO CHECK THE WATER'S DEEP ENOUGH.
I'M GONNA MAKE A DEPTH GAUGE
OUT OF A ROCK AND SOME THIN VINE.
THE ROCK WILL MAKE IT SINK.
IF THE VINE DISAPPEARS COMPLETELY,
THEN I KNOW IT'S SAFE.
10 TO 15 FOOT IS ENOUGH FOR A 30-FOOT JUMP.
COME ON!
FIDDLY HANDS. MORE SO WHEN YOU'RE NERVOUS.
OKAY. HERE WE GO.
YOU SEE THAT? SAW IT GO OUT, RIGHT?
AND SAW IT THEN JUST DISAPPEAR.
OKAY, THAT'S MORE THAN 10 FOOT. IT'S GOOD TO JUMP.
YOU'LL NEED TO FOLLOW ME DOWN. OKAY?
NO HESITATION. WE JUST GO FOR IT.
ON A BIG JUMP LIKE THIS, KEEP YOUR FEET TOGETHER
AND YOUR LEGS STRAIGHT TO AVOID INJURY.
THAT WAS A BIG DESCENT.
LOOK AT THAT.
I'M GONNA STICK WITH THE RIVER FOR NOW.
IT'S EASIER GOING
THAN THRASHING THROUGH ALL THAT DENSE JUNGLE.
YOU CAN SEE WHERE THIS RIVER IS RUNNING,
STRAIGHT INTO THE BASE OF THE CLIFFS,
WHICH IS NOT IDEAL.
AND OUR OPTIONS ARE EITHER TO BACKTRACK ALL THE WAY UPRIVER,
WHICH I DON'T WANT TO DO, OR TRY AND GET UP THIS.
BUT LOOK.
THIS MUST BE 200 OR 300 FOOT OVERHANGING LOOSE ROCK.
YEAH, THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
YEAH, THERE'S PROBABLY A LITTLE BETTER WAY INTO THIS.
IF IT BECOMES A NIGHTMARE, WE CAN ALWAYS BACKTRACK.
BEFORE I GO INTO THE CAVE, I'M GONNA MAKE A TORCH.
USING DRIED-UP PALM FRONDS AND DEAD WOOD SHOULD WORK WELL.
OKAY. THAT'LL DO.
ALWAYS TREAT CAVES WITH CAUTION.
FLASH FLOODS UPSTREAM
CAN LEAD TO SUDDEN CHANGES IN WATER LEVEL
THAT CAN TRAP YOU UNDERGROUND.
BUT BY STAYING WITH THE RIVER,
I'M ALSO STAYING NEAR POTENTIAL SOURCES OF FOOD.
I'VE GOT SOME FRESHWATER CRAB.
A FEW OF THEM IN HERE.
IT'S GOT A GOOD SIZE, AS WELL, THAT.
TRY AND GET SOME OTHERS.
WATCH OUT WHERE YOU'RE TREADING.
AND THESE ARE GONNA BE EDIBLE.
YOU DON'T WANT TO EAT THEM RAW.
REALLY, YOU WANT TO COOK SHELLFISH
AND TRY AND KEEP THEM ALIVE FOR SOMETHING TO EAT LATER.
I'M GONNA KEEP THEM SAFE IN MY BACKPACK.
IT'S A LITTLE TIDDLER.
ALWAYS COLLECT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.
SURVIVAL'S ABOUT MAKING THE MOST OF WHAT YOU COME ACROSS.
GUATEMALA HAS SOME OF THE LONGEST AND LARGEST CAVES
IN CENTRAL AMERICA.
MOST OF THEM ARE TOTALLY UNEXPLORED.
I'M GONNA LIGHT THE TORCH WITH MY FLINT.
VERY SLIPPY ON THESE ROCKS. JUST WATCH THIS OUT.
OVER MILLIONS OF YEARS, WATER'S WORN THE ROCK AWAY,
MAKING THESE TUNNELS AND CAVERNS.
IT JUST SHOWS HOW POWERFUL IT CAN BE.
HEY, LISTEN.
AT LEAST SOMETHING LIVES DOWN HERE.
THE MAYANS USED TO THINK THAT CAVES LIKE THIS
WERE THE GATEWAYS TO THE UNDERWORLD.
THEY CALLED IT XIBALBA. IT MEANS "PLACE OF FEAR."
ONE OF THE BIG DANGERS GOING INTO CAVES LIKE THIS
IS NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND YOUR WAY OUT AGAIN.
IF I'VE LEARNED ANYTHING ABOUT SURVIVAL,
YOU'VE ALWAYS GOT TO HAVE AN ESCAPE PLAN.
AND YOU KNOW, A SHAPE LIKE THIS, IT LOOKS VERY UNNATURAL.
SO IF YOU HAVE GOT TO RETREAT,
YOU'VE GOT SOME MARKERS TO FOLLOW.
CAVES OFTEN LOOK COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
WHEN YOU RETRACE YOUR STEPS.
SO KEEP LOOKING BEHIND YOU,
AND MAKE A MENTAL NOTE OF ANY FEATURES ALONG THE WAY.
THE WATER'S GETTING A LOT DEEPER NOW.
YOU CAN ALSO HEAR WHITE WATER AHEAD.
SO LET'S STAY TOGETHER ON THIS, OKAY?
WE'VE GOT TO KEEP THIS TORCH ALIGHT.
WE'VE GOT TO KEEP IT OUT OF THE WATER.
I HATE THIS SENSE OF NOT KNOWING WHAT'S AHEAD.
IT'S JUST A MAD, MAD PLACE IN HERE.
AND HERE'S THE NOISE I HEARD. [ WATER RUSHING ]
ALL THIS WHITE WATER IS HEADING STRAIGHT OFF THIS WATERFALL.
THE PROBLEM IS THERE'S NO WAY OF TELLING JUST HOW HIGH THAT IS.
I COULD TURN BACK, BUT I WANT TO CARRY ON.
I'M IN GUATEMALA,
HOME TO SOME OF CENTRAL AMERICA'S
BIGGEST CAVE SYSTEMS,
AND I'M FACING AN UNDERGROUND CHASM.
ALL THIS WHITE WATER IS HEADING STRAIGHT OFF THIS WATERFALL.
WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANY CHANCES WITH THIS.
A GOOD 30 FOOT DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT.
IT'S DEFINITELY CLIMBABLE.
I BROUGHT SOME VINE WITH ME IN MY BACKPACK.
IT'S GONNA HELP ME GET DOWN THIS CLIFF.
I'M GONNA WRAP A SMALL STONE IN MATERIAL CUT FROM MY PACK
TO MAKE A CLIMBING NUT,
THEN JAM THAT INTO A CRACK IN THE ROCK
TO MAKE AN ANCHOR THAT I CAN ATTACH MY VINE TO.
NOW, THAT'S LOCKING NICELY IN THERE.
THAT'S CAUGHT RIGHT UNDER THE LIP.
OKAY, I'M HAPPY WITH THAT.
I'M GONNA GO FIRST, AND I'LL PULL YOU DOWN.
I'LL LEAVE THE VINE IN PLACE
SO I CAN GET BACK OUT IF I NEED TO.
STAY ON THE LINE AND START PULLING ME DOWN.
OKAY, COME DOWN TO ME.
WHOA!
[ CLATTER ]
THE VINE BROKE.
OKAY, HOLD ON. STAY HOLDING ON TO ME.
CAN YOU FEEL THE BOTTOM?
I'M SWIMMING. I CAN'T TOUCH THE BOTTOM.
WE NEED TO GET TO A ROCK.
OKAY, GRAB HOLD OF ME.
KEEP HOLDING. DO NOT LET GO.
IS THAT CAMERA WORKING?
WITH THE TORCH OUT AND SOAKED THROUGH,
THE ONLY WAY I CAN SEE IN THE DARKNESS
IS TO USE THE INFRARED ON THE CAMERA.
LET ME HAVE A LOOK. LET ME HAVE A LOOK, TOO.
WE'RE NEVER GONNA GET UP THIS THING AGAIN.
SEE THIS OVERHANGING HERE?
THE CAMERA CAN SEE IN THE PITCH BLACK.
I CAN'T.
I'M GONNA SEE IF I CAN GET 'ROUND TO THE WATERFALL.
DON'T MOVE, OKAY? STAY THERE, STEVE.
[ GROANS ]
CAN YOU GET UP?
NO.
WE'RE COMMITTED TO THIS.
WE'RE GONNA KEEP GOING DOWN, OKAY?
STAY TOGETHER. LET'S GO.
IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS,
ALL YOU CAN DO IS FEEL YOUR WAY ALONG,
TRYING TO FIND A WAY OUT BY TOUCH ALONE.
WHERE ARE YOU?
STICK IN CLOSE.
CREEP ALONG SLOW AND STEADY.
IT'S GETTING SHALLOWER.
THAT'S CLEAR. COME ON.
[ GROANS ]
COME ON, I NEED TO SEE.
CAN YOU SEE THE LIGHT OUT THERE? THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO.
THERE IS A LIGHT.
IT'S TOO TIGHT TO GET IT THROUGH THIS.
TAKE MY RUCKSACK OFF.
OKAY.
OKAY, COME HERE.
[ GROANING ]
OKAY, GIVE ME YOUR HAND. IS THAT YOU?
[ EXHALES ] OKAY.
UP...
...AND OUT OF THAT CAVE.
I'M FREEZING COLD FROM BEING SOAKED UNDERGROUND FOR SO LONG.
NOW I WANT TO GET MOVING
TO GET SOME HEAT BACK INTO MY BODY.
ONE THING ABOUT JUNGLES IS THEIR ABUNDANCE OF LIFE.
ROTTING TREE STUMPS MAKE AN IDEAL PLACE TO LOOK FOR FOOD.
THIS IS LIKE A LARVAE LARDER IN HERE.
I'M FINDING ALL OF THESE THINGS. THERE YOU GO.
THERE'S ANOTHER ONE. SEE THAT?
IT'S JUST FEEDING OFF ALL THAT DECOMPOSING, ROTTING WOOD.
OW! GOD, THEY REALLY BITE.
WAIT, THERE'S ONE. LOOK.
THAT'S ANOTHER GOOD-SIZED ONE THERE.
GETTING A BIT OF A MEAL TOGETHER.
I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THESE ARE,
BUT THEY LOOK LIKE BEETLE LARVAE.
BUT I KNOW THAT'S GOOD TO EAT.
IT HASN'T GOT ANY OF NATURE'S BIG WARNING SIGNS.
IT'S NOT BRIGHTLY COLORED.
IT'S NOT COVERED IN LITTLE HAIRS.
IT'S JUST BEEN FEEDING OFF THIS ROTTING WOOD.
AND THAT'S BUG HEAVEN.
WITH THE GRUBS SAFELY TUCKED AWAY IN MY BACKPACK FOR LATER,
I CAN START THINKING ABOUT A PLACE TO SLEEP
BEFORE IT GETS TOO DARK.
I NEED TO TRY AND KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR A DECENT-SIZED TREE.
THE PLAN IS TO GET MYSELF WAY UP HIGH OFF THE GROUND.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS JAGUARS.
JAGUARS ARE THE AMERICAS' BIGGEST
AND MOST DANGEROUS WILD CAT.
ATTACKS ON HUMANS ARE RARE, BUT THEY DO HAPPEN.
IN 2009, A MINER WAS MAULED AND KILLED BY ONE.
THERE YOU GO. SEE, IT'S RIGHT THERE.
LET'S GET UP THERE.
I'LL MAKE SOME SORT OF PLATFORM TO SLEEP ON
AND THEN HANG THAT UNDER ONE OF THESE LIMBS,
ONE OF THE BIG BRANCHES.
THAT AT LEAST IS GONNA GET ME OFF THE GROUND.
BUT I WANT TO ALSO MAKE SURE
I'M FAR ENOUGH OUT FROM THE MAIN TRUNK.
JAGUARS CAN CLIMB TREES.
IT'S NOT GONNA BE 100% UP THERE, BUT NOTHING IS IN THE JUNGLE.
I'M GONNA MAKE A HANGING BIVOUAC,
THE TYPE OF BED MOUNTAINEERS USE ON LONG OVERNIGHT CLIMBS.
I'VE USED THEM MYSELF HALFWAY UP ICE CLIFFS IN ANTARCTICA.
ALL I NEED FROM THIS TO MAKE A TRIANGLE OF A BED FRAME.
THAT'S OUR SHAPE.
AND THEN WE'LL CROSS ONE...
LIKE THAT.
WE NEED TO GET OUR WIGGLE ON WITH THIS.
IT'S GETTING DARK, AND FAST.
ONCE I'VE MADE THE BED FRAME,
I'M GONNA USE VINES TO MAKE A LATTICE TO SLEEP ON,
THEN COVER THAT WITH FERNS TO MAKE IT MORE COMFORTABLE.
AND THEN WITH A BIT OF VINE TIED TO EACH CORNER.
THEN BUNCH IT TOGETHER.
AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA SUSPEND IT FROM.
[ GROANS ]
I'M GONNA TRY AND GET THIS VINE UP THE TREE
AND OVER THAT BRANCH.
AND THEN I'M GONNA USE THAT TO HOIST THE PLATFORM UP.
THREAD THAT OVER.
OKAY, THAT'S REACHING THE GROUND THERE.
IF I CAN JUST GET DOWN THIS THING.
OH, MY WORD!
I'VE MADE A SLEEPING PLATFORM
HIGH IN THE JUNGLE OF GUATEMALA.
TRY AND GET THIS VINE UP THE TREE AND OVER THAT BRANCH.
BUT WHILST I'M UP THE TREE,
THE JUNGLE THROWS ANOTHER SURPRISE MY WAY.
OH, MY WORD!
IN THE CROOK OF THIS TREE,
THERE IS THE MOTHER OF ALL LARVAES.
CHECK THAT OUT.
THAT'S GONNA TURN A SNACK OF LARVAE INTO A FEAST FOR ME.
COOL.
LET'S GET DOWN AND GET THIS PLATFORM HOISTED UP.
LET'S SEE IF THIS VINE HOLDS.
YOU KNOW, NOTHING'S EVER EASY IN THE JUNGLE, IS IT?
[ GROANS ]
YIP-AH!
OKAY. THAT'S HIGH ENOUGH. TIE IT OFF AND GET A FIRE GOING.
I'VE GOT SOME DRY TINDER, BUT EVERYTHING'S SO DAMP...
...YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE PATIENCE
AND STICK AT IT IF YOU WANT FIRE.
OKAY.
OKAY, THAT'S A FIRE GOING.
THAT'S ALWAYS SUCH A NICE FEELING IN THE JUNGLE,
WHEN YOU GET A FIRE LIT.
IT CAN BE QUITE AN INTIMIDATING PLACE IN THE PITCH BLACK.
THERE'S SOMETHING SO COMFORTING
ABOUT JUST THAT LIGHT AND THAT WARMTH.
OKAY, LET'S KEEP THIS REALLY DRY NOW.
WELL, THIS IS SUPPER.
AND, YOU KNOW, GETTING SOME ENERGY INSIDE YOURSELF
IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF KEEPING YOUR SPIRITS UP,
EVEN IF IT IS GRUBS AND CRABS.
OH. WANT YOU BACK.
LET'S TRY AND GET THIS GUY SKEWERED.
IT'S A BIT LIKE A BUG KEBAB.
LET'S GET HIM ON THE FIRE.
I'M GONNA BOIL THE REST OF THE BUGS AND CRABS
TOGETHER IN WATER FROM MY CANTEEN.
AND, ACTUALLY, THAT WILL ALSO GIVE ME A BIT
OF A HOT BUGGY-FISHY DRINK, AS WELL.
IT WILL COOK THEM AND KILL ANY PARASITES.
IT'S JUNGLE SURF AND TURF.
AND THAT'S GOOD NUTRITION.
ACTUALLY, MUCH BETTER COOKED THAN THEY ARE RAW.
AND I LOVE CRABS.
I OFTEN CATCH THEM WITH THE KIDS AT HOME.
MMM.
THIS IS A GOOD MEAL.
TIME TO GET UP INTO THE TREE.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET AS MUCH SLEEP AS YOU CAN.
IT'S THE BODY'S CHANCE TO RECUPERATE,
READY FOR ANOTHER DAY IN THE JUNGLE.
[ GROANS ]
FEELS A BIT PRECARIOUS, THIS.
BUT AT LEAST I'M OUT OF REACH OF ANY JAGUARS.
AND, ACTUALLY, IT'S NOT TOO UNCOMFORTABLE.
[ SIGHS ] MAD DAY.
UGH.
IT'S A NEW DAY, NEW BEGINNING, AND I'M FEELING GOOD.
AND GUATEMALA REALLY MEANS "LAND OF THE TREES."
AND A KIND OF PRETTY SPECIAL LAND THAT IS.
LOOK AT THAT.
AS BEAUTIFUL AS IT IS,
THE JUNGLE CAN ALSO BE A VERY HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT.
YOU CAN NEVER DROP YOUR GUARD HERE.
YOU SEE, I'M NOT THE ONLY THING THAT LIKES HANGING OUT IN TREES.
YOU SEE IN THE CROOK OF IT...
A LITTLE GREEN PIT VIPER.
GET BITTEN BY THAT, AND YOU'RE GONNA BE DEAD IN TWO HOURS.
I'M DEEP IN THE JUNGLE OF GUATEMALA, IN A TREE,
FACING A DEADLY SNAKE.
LITTLE GREEN PIT VIPER.
I'VE GOT TO FIND ANOTHER WAY DOWN.
YOU GET BITTEN BY THAT,
IF YOU DON'T GET TREATMENT,
YOU'RE GONNA BE DEAD IN TWO HOURS.
I DON'T WANT TO START TRYING TO TANGLE WITH HIM,
GETTING OUT OF THIS TREE.
AND THIS IS DEFINITELY HIS DOMAIN.
GREEN PIT VIPERS KILL WITH HEMOTOXIC VENOM.
THE POISON ATTACKS RED BLOOD CELLS,
LEADING TO ORGAN AND TISSUE FAILURE,
AND A PAINFUL DEATH.
STUCK 20 FOOT UP THIS TREE ON MY BED PLATFORM,
THE SNAKE'S IN MY WAY.
TIME FOR A CHANGE OF PLAN.
I'M JUST GONNA TRY AND SWING AND HANG OUT OF THIS PLATFORM.
IN 1998, MANY GUATEMALANS DIED OF SNAKE BITES
IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE MITCH.
TO GET AWAY FROM THE FLOOD WATERS,
PEOPLE CLIMBED UP TREES, BUT SO DID THE SNAKES,
AND MANY WERE BITTEN.
IT'S THEIR TERRITORY, SO BE CAREFUL.
AFTER A NIGHT OUT,
IT'S IMPORTANT TO REPLACE YOUR ENERGY.
AND ONE OF THE BEST THINGS IN THE JUNGLE FOR THAT
ARE PALMS.
THE HEARTS OF MOST PALMS AROUND THE WORLD ARE EDIBLE.
YOU JUST NEED TO CUT AWAY THE TOUGH OUTER LEAVES.
THERE YOU GO. LOOK.
YOU GET THE NICE, SOFT MIDDLE BITS OF THIS.
IT'S QUITE A DELICACY A LOT OF PLACES AROUND THE WORLD.
TASTES GOOD, YOU KNOW. A BIT BITTER.
BUT REALLY GOOD CARBOHYDRATE.
AND THE GREAT THING IS,
PALMS LIKE THIS JUST GROW ALL OVER THE JUNGLE.
SO THAT MEANS YOU'VE ALWAYS GOT A GOOD STAPLE FOOD
THAT YOU CAN FEED OFF.
CARBOHYDRATE GIVES YOU SLOW-RELEASE ENERGY,
JUST WHAT YOU NEED FOR JUNGLE SURVIVAL.
THERE'S A BIT OF A CLEARING.
YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE OUT OVER THE JUNGLE CANOPY HERE.
YOU CAN SEE TREE, FOR EXAMPLE, AROUND THE RIDGELINE.
VERY DISTINCT MARKER TO SEE.
YEAH, WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE TO LOOK OUT LIKE THIS,
YOU'VE GOT TO USE IT.
THAT'S WHAT INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WOULD DO IN THE JUNGLE.
THEY'D FIND POINTS LIKE THAT TREE
AND USE IT TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE THROUGH THE JUNGLE.
THE THING IS, ONCE YOU GET BACK INTO IT,
BACK INTO THE HEART OF IT, IT JUST GOES CRAZY AGAIN.
IT FEELS OFTEN OVERPOWERING,
CLAUSTROPHOBIC.
AND THAT'S WHY YOU NEED TO BREAK THINGS DOWN
TO BITE-SIZED CHUNKS.
YOU TRY AND REACH ONE GOAL, GET TO THERE, REASSESS,
AND THEN GO FOR THE NEXT ONE.
IT JUST MEANS JUNGLES BECOME ABOUT LOTS OF LITTLE SUCCESSES
RATHER THAN ONE BIG FAILURE.
TWO THINGS YOU CAN GUARANTEE IN THE JUNGLE --
DENSE UNDERGROWTH AND SUDDEN DOWNPOURS.
[ THUNDER RUMBLING ]
RAIN. YOU'VE GOT TO LOVE IT, EH?
A GOOD-SIZED RIVER, THIS.
YOU KNOW, REALLY, I WANT TO STICK TO MY PLAN
OF HEADING NORTH.
WHICH MEANS WE'VE GOT TO GET ACROSS IT.
LOOK, YOU CAN SEE THOSE ARE BIG RAPIDS UP THERE.
DON'T WANT TO GET TANGLED UP WITH THOSE.
TRY AND FIND A SAFER PLACE --
A SAFER PLACE TO CROSS DOWNSTREAM.
YOU CAN'T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FAST-FLOWING WATER.
IN 2007, 12 GUATEMALANS WERE SWEPT AWAY IN THEIR TRUCK
BY A RAIN-SWOLLEN RIVER.
THEY WERE ALL KILLED.
WE'RE WELL DOWNSTREAM IN THE RAPIDS HERE.
I RECKON WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO CROSS IT.
YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO STICK WITH ME ON THIS.
OKAY, COME ON, LET'S GO.
IT'S FAST! COME ON, JUMP, JUMP!
THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN FIGHT THIS SORT OF CURRENT.
YOU'VE JUST GOT TO GO WITH IT.
USE WHATEVER YOU CAN TO HELP KEEP AFLOAT.
I'M USING MY RUCKSACK TO GIVE ME EXTRA BUOYANCY.
TAKE US STRAIGHT THROUGH THESE RAPIDS.
TRY AND USE THE CURRENT JUST TO TAKE YOU ACROSS THE RIVER.
STAY WITH ME, AND WE'LL GET ACROSS THIS.
THE RAPID'S GETTING BIGGER.
I NEED TO GET OUT OF THIS RIVER FAST.
I'M SHOWING YOU HOW TO SURVIVE
ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS COUNTRIES ON THE PLANET --
GUATEMALA.
I'VE FACED LIVE VOLCANOS...
OKAY, LET'S GO.
...200-FOOT WATERFALLS...
SOME OF CENTRAL AMERICA'S BIGGEST CAVES,
AND NOW I'M GETTING WASHED THROUGH SOME RAPIDS.
THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN FIGHT THIS SORT OF CURRENT.
YOU'VE JUST GOT TO GO WITH IT.
YOU NEED TO GET INTO THIS EDDY.
[ SPITTING ]
ONTO THAT ROCK.
[ SPITTING ]
YOU OKAY?
JUNGLE RIVER'S ALWAYS MORE POWERFUL THAN YOU IMAGINE.
WE'RE ACROSS THE RIVER, THOUGH.
I'VE MADE IT THROUGH THE RAPIDS,
BUT I STILL NEED TO FIND A WAY OUT OF HERE.
YOUR BEST PLAN IS TO KEEP GOING NORTH
TOWARDS THE MAYAN RUINS IN THE JUNGLE.
IT'S WHERE YOU'RE MOST LIKELY TO FIND PEOPLE.
2,500 YEARS AGO,
THIS PART OF GUATEMALA WAS THE MAYAN HEARTLAND,
AND THERE ARE RUINS ALL OVER THE JUNGLE.
THEY'RE ALWAYS POPULAR WITH TOURISTS,
AND WHERE THERE'S PEOPLE, THERE'S GONNA BE SALVATION.
LET'S GET DOWN TO THIS.
THIS TEMPLE WAS BUILT BY THE MAYANS
TO WORSHIP THEIR GODS.
THIS COULD BE A PERFECT PLACE FOR A PICK-UP.
IT'S A GOOD CLEARING AROUND, IT AS WELL.
BUT THE MAYANS WERE ALSO KNOWN
FOR THEIR GRISLY PRACTICE OF HUMAN SACRIFICE,
WHICH INVOLVED CUTTING THE HEARTS OUT OF LIVING VICTIMS.
GONNA NEED SOME WOOD FOR A FIRE.
A SMOKE SIGNAL IS A GREAT WAY TO ATTRACT ATTENTION.
BUT NEVER LIGHT A FIRE ON AN ANCIENT MONUMENT
UNLESS IT'S A TRUE SURVIVAL SITUATION.
THESE ARE THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE TEMPLE.
KIND OF QUITE EERIE IN HERE.
THIS WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE FOR A SIGNAL FIRE.
GOT A LITTLE BIT OF HEIGHT.
WE ALSO HAVE A VIEW OUT OVER THE TOP OF THE CANOPY.
LET'S GET THIS THING LIT.
I'M PROTECTING THE ANCIENT RUIN
BY PLACING LOTS OF FRESH, DAMP PALM LEAVES UNDER MY FIRE.
AND PILING DAMP JUNGLE VEGETATION ON TOP OF THE FIRE
WILL MAKE LOTS OF SMOKE.
AS WITH ANY SIGNAL FIRE,
IT'S ONLY ANY GOOD IF THE RESCUERS CAN SEE IT.
SO HAVE ENOUGH MATERIAL AT HAND TO BE ABLE TO KEEP IT GOING.
[ HELICOPTER MOTOR WHIRRING ]
HERE COMES THE CHOPPER!
WHOO!
[ SHOUTING ]
WE NEED TO GET HIGHER! WE'VE GOT TO GET HIGHER!
COME ON!
THE CHOPPER CAN'T LAND HERE.
THE JUNGLE VEGETATION'S JUST TOO DENSE.
THEY'RE DROPPING A ROPE DOWN, THEN I'M OUT OF HERE.
[ MAN SPEAKING SPANISH ]
GUATEMALA'S BEEN ONE HELL OF A ROLLER-COASTER RIDE.
IT'S TAKEN ME TO THE EDGE AND NEARLY PUSHED ME OVER.
IT'S BEEN TOUGH BUT EXCITING.
BUT I'VE COME THROUGH.
AND IF YOU APPLY A LITTLE SURVIVAL KNOWLEDGE,
KEEP YOUR SPIRITS UP, AND HAVE A LITTLE LUCK,
THEN YOU'LL SURVIVE, AS WELL.
HASTA LA VISTA, GUATEMALA.