Marañon River: Amazonas National Park and Nauta Caño, 5/15/2023, Delfin II
Aboard the
Delfin II
Amazon
On our first full day on Delfin II, we took a great hike in the Amazonas National Park. We tied together two canoes to make a catamaran and paddled across a lake to a trail that took us to a chain of suspension bridges. We observed rubber trees, leafcutter ants, bullet ants, saddle-back tamarins, various hawks, owl butterflies, and lots and lots of jungle critters. After crossing the canopy suspension bridges, trekking through rainforest, and paddling back across the lake, we found a “jungle mall” set up where we could purchase jewelry and keepsakes.
In the afternoon, we explored Nauta Caño in skiffs. We found more saddle-back tamarins, three-toed sloths, night owl monkeys, pink river dolphins, blue-and-yellow macaws, and various birds.
R. Aaron Raymond started his career as an underwater photographer, which blossomed from his love for the ocean. He grew up on a sailboat diving for abalone off the coast of California. He loves to photograph landscapes, nature, and wildlife - anythin...
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Today we began our exploration in the Amazon, the biggest forest in the world. The Amazon covers a vast area — it is almost the size of the contiguous United States in North America — and includes the countries of Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela, Colombia, and Brazil in South America. Our trip started in Clavero Lake, a big lagoon that is home to much wildlife on land and in the water. At this time of year the water levels are low; we saw the watermark on the bark of the trees. As soon as we entered, the river dolphins began swimming around our skiffs; we saw herons fishing, and other multicolored birds that were eating insects and seeds among the grassy riverbanks. We spotted vermillion flycatchers, tanagers, anteaters, sparrows, and some black orioles. On the way back to our ship we passed a few local fishermen; we spoke with them, learning about their everyday tasks and their techniques to catch different types of freshwater fish. In the afternoon we explored the Ucayali River. Along the coast we observed many types of wildlife, including hawks, kites, falcons, and egrets. Our expert guides can identify many types of birds and monkeys just by the sounds they make. We found a troop of squirrel monkeys that were jumping from tree to tree; a flock of black ani birds were chasing the monkeys to get some insects. Along the river we saw small communities of people and kids swimming, cooling off in the muddy waters. After an incredible journey of exploration, we returned to our ship. Our bartender Gaston had prepared a delicious Pisco sour, the national drink of Peru. It was a great finale for an astonishing day.
We are getting to the end of an amazing week exploring the Upper Amazon aboard the Delfin II . It has been an astonishing trip in many ways. This morning, we explored the Marañon River. We disembarked on the riverbank of the Amazon Natural Park, a protected area where the primary forest is full of birds and wildlife. Three small catamarans took us around the lake. We paddled slowly and observed the fauna. Once in the jungle, we walked for about two hours to explore this emerald world where trees cover the sky and light doesn’t reach the ground. Inside, it was dark. Plants struggle with each other for photosynthesis, some strangling their neighbors to survive. We observed the birds that live in dark areas. Thanks to evolution, they are sensitive to sunlight. The capped manakin is a very small, interesting creature. They feed on fruits and make mechanical sounds that are not vocals; rather, the sounds come from their wings. They have special, modified feathers that produce the sound. In the afternoon, we explored Yarapa River. Some of our intrepid guests kayaked to explore the creek in solitude and silence. Along the river, we spotted many kinds of birds, including herons, parakeets, orioles, neotropical cormorants, and more. At night, we enjoyed the slideshow of the week, a compilation of the great memories and experiences of this incredible week aboard the Delfin II . The Pacaya Samiria Reserve is a place to protect, to love, and to enjoy a vast array of biodiversity. A very complex network of rivers and creeks and abundant flora and fauna hold so much life.
We experienced the marvelous cultural and natural diversity of the Peruvian Upper Amazon today. After breakfast, we visited Amazonas Community. We were welcomed by the villagers, especially a group of women leaders who are part of Minga Peru, the organization supported in part by guest donations through the Lindblad – National Geographic Fund. We had a very hot but enlightening morning as we learned about the local way of life, including the daily productive and cultural activities carried on by people in this community. We had great opportunities to interact and share precious moments with Amazon people of all ages, ranging from small children roaming around to youngsters, elders, and leaders who graciously helped our visitors learn what it is like to live in the Amazon. Minga Peru is a remarkable organization. Founded in 1998, its mission is the promotion of social justice and human dignity for women and families in remote, rural areas of the Peruvian Amazon. They have developed valuable projects in the area, like the production of radio programs to spread health and education to thousands of listeners. There is also a commitment to the technical training of women and community members in agroforestry, crop cultivation, manufacturing handicrafts using local materials, and the construction and management of fishponds. This work is vital to increase economic sustainability for many people. In the afternoon, we visited Casual. We took a rainforest walk in an area that is usually underwater. We observed several tarantulas, poison dart frogs, and interesting Amazon trees. A fiery sunset was the golden finale of this long but productive day in the Peruvian Upper Amazon.
