Your health & safety are our priority.  View our Health & Safety Protocols & Good Faith Guarantee.
We are experiencing heavy call volume. If you have an existing booking, please fill out our  Contact Us  form. If you want to make a new booking, Request a Reservation here.

Pacaya and Dorado River

View all info

  • Daily Expedition Reports
  • 22 Jan 2020

Pacaya and Dorado River, 1/22/2020, Delfin II

  • Aboard the Delfin II
  • Amazon

This morning was the earliest morning of all, but it was for good reason. We had a long skiff ride to get into the heart of the Samiria National Reserve, the most protected part of the Upper Amazon here. We were on our way to have brunch at the reserve headquarters. On our way we took advantage of wildlife sightings and navigated the ever-changing river waters as floodwaters push carpets of water lettuce and water hyacinth around the waterways. At one point we had to take a shortcut because the river had gotten so choked up with the floating vegetation, which hides more treacherous objects for our boat’s propellers, logs. Our day was to be a full one, including partaking in the infamous Amazon plunge and looking for caimans along the Dorado River at night.

Article by

Morgan Heim, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor

Wildlife photojournalist and filmmaker Morgan (Mo) Heim raises a camera for one purpose – to capture moments in an animal’s life that will make us consider what that life means. Inevitably, those stories involve people as much as wildlife.

Read More

Previous Article

Land’s End to Cabo Pulmo

Next Article

Espumilla Beach, Buccaneers Cove & Puerto Egas

Upper Amazon Aboard the Delfin II

VIEW ITINERARY

Related Reports

Daily Expedition Reports

1/20/2022

Read

Delfin II

Sapuena Caño & Yarapa Caño

This morning, we planned to visit Sapuena Caño. We could not make it because the creek was low and several fallen trees blocked the entrance. One of our drivers even used a machete in an attempt to find a way through, but it was not possible. Immediately, we decided to reposition the ship to the nearest location, Clavero Lake. We visited the riverside on Monday morning, but this time we spotted many oropendolas, yellow-rumped caciques, parakeets and birds of prey.   After lunch, I conducted a photographic review of the expedition. I showed many of the pictures I have taken and offered tips about photography while explaining the natural history of the creatures pictured.   Later in the afternoon, we took our second skiff ride of the day along Yarapa Caño. Skiff rides are the best means of transportation to explore the area. Skiffs are fast, relatively light and can navigate narrow passages, allowing guests to spot wildlife from the comfort of their seats. We enjoyed great sightings, including a woolly monkey, woodpeckers, tanagers, cotingas, jacamars, and birds of prey. At sunset, we reluctantly returned to the ship. All the new adventures and feelings brought to our lives during this day in our expedition filled our minds and spirits.

Daily Expedition Reports

1/17/2022

Read

Delfin II

Clavero Lake & Supay Lake

Today is a day of celebration! What a joy! After almost two years, Lindblad Expeditions restarted operations traveling to one of the most fascinating nature destinations in the world, the Upper Amazon! We have been waiting for this moment for a long time. What a joy to be doing what I love: teaching, learning and photographing the Amazon.   After a splendid breakfast, we visited Clavero Lake. We explored the area by taking a skiff ride around the lake and a small stream.   In the afternoon, we repositioned Delfin II to Supay Lake. In this location, we observed and admired many neotropical birds. We spent a couple of hours exploring the lake. The Amazon region is so captivating, for we never know for sure what nature will offer us. We’re always on the lookout for an unexpected surprise. Searching for wildlife is exciting; sometimes we spot creatures so rarely seen that even local guides are surprised.

Daily Expedition Reports

3/14/2020

Read

Delfin II

Amazon River

After another delicious breakfast we went to a local village called Amazonas to learn about the traditional way of life and how it’s changing. While we were there a few dozen of the local children followed us around and posed for photos, we watched a demonstration about pressing sugarcane juice for drinking or fermenting, we learned about how to use traditional plants to make dyes, and we visited the local school house. After lunch we utilized the skiffs to explore two small streams and found even more rare birds including the white-headed marsh tyrant, slender billed and snail kites, a red and white spinetail, and a grey breasted saber-wing. We then went to the confluence of the Ucayali and Marañon Rivers where they form the Amazon River and had a champagne toast to celebrate the last night on the Amazon. On the way back to the ship we stopped at a small island and had a moment of silence to enjoy the sound of tens of thousands of canary winged parakeets flying across the water to roost.