A British naked yoga teacher has started a new life in the Amazon jungle with her teenage cacoa farmer lover.
Caroline Knight, who is originally from Oxford, jetted to Peru in March 2020 to spend 10 days teaching yoga on the Hoja Nueva retreat, 70 miles from Puerto Maldonado.
It was there that the 33-year-old met local 19-year-old Rómulo.
Caroline said: "He worked as the handyman and looked after the animals.
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"In the evenings, we'd all hang out together in a group, and Rómulo was always on the edge of the conversation.
"He was shy and whenever I said hello to him, his eyes would dart to the ground.
"But on the odd occasion I got Rómulo alone to chat, he came across as really nice and genuine. The feelings I had for him were intuitive rather than obvious."
Midway through her time at the retreat, the country announced a national lockdown, and Caroline returned to Puerto Maldonado to assess her options - unsure if she'd ever see Rómulo again.
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But ten days into lockdown at a hostel, Caroline received a Facebook message.
She recalled: "He'd borrowed a phone. We chatted for ages and then he said, 'I have something to tell you - I think I love you'.
"Even though I'd only known him a matter of days, I felt the same. My head was telling me to hold back, though, and I replied, 'I think I love you, too'."
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The pair kept in touch over the following month, before Rómulo came to visit her.
Caroline said: "It was an amazing, passionate week. We'd spend days by the pool, and evenings going for walks or cooking for each other.
"It was the first time we'd slept together and all I'll say is we had a lot of fun."
So special was their time together, Caroline decided to sack off her return to the UK, instead embarking on an entirely different life with Rómulo in the jungle.
Caroline said: "The mosquitoes and sand flies have driven me to distraction, we have to collect our water from a neighbour in 20-litre buckets, and the heat and physical labour are intense.
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"But I feel safe and loved with Rómulo. There are 14 years between us, but I don't give it a second thought. 19-year-old guys back home are still basically children, but men grow up fast in the Amazon.
"Rómulo can be quiet and reserved at times, but he's got a playful, affectionate and open-minded side, too.
"We've even made time for some naked yoga when we can find a private space.
"Rómulo is eager to explore the world, and I can't wait to bring him home to the UK to meet my friends and family."
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Looking forwards, Caroline hopes to make a business out of exporting cacao to the UK. You can follow the couple's Instagram page here.
Featured Image Credit: @junglecacaoperu/Hook NewsTopics: dating and relationships, Interesting, Community