Nauta Caño and San Francisco
Our exploration continued today in the lower Marañon River area by exploring two very different environments. Most of the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve is flooded for three or more months of the year. Living in this area is a diverse flora and fauna adapted to this incredible change in water levels that happens every year. Terra firme is the name given to the area that never floods with the rising of the river. Here, an even higher diversity of species live, due to the fact that the forest floor is not submerged for months on end. In the morning, we explored a region that will flood every year, and in the afternoon visited some excellent terra firme forest near the village of San Francisco.
Nauta Caño is a narrow tributary of the Marañon that snakes its way into the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve. At times barely wider than our skiffs, this was an excellent place for wildlife. Birdlife was abundant, as most wildlife is concentrated around the water at this time of year. White-throated Toucans put on quite a show, while all five species of kingfisher that live in this area were seen. Many hawks were photographed, and the finer points of identification discussed. As the heat developed, we made our way back to the Delfin II and continued on downstream to San Francisco village.
Our afternoon in the Terra Firme led to many new discoveries. Most of us saw a low Three-toed Sloth making its way up a Cecropia tree, but some even got lucky to find a Two-toed Sloth as well. Butterflies, Heliconia flowers, various mushrooms, and Strangler Figs were all enjoyed. Returning to the main river at sunset, we were treated to the cooling temperatures. The villagers from San Francisco warmly welcomed us to see their various handicrafts. As we descended the riverbank back to Delfin II, we prepared to sail towards the beginnings of the Amazon River proper and to our destination tomorrow up the Ucayali River.
