We disembarked right after breakfast. We were ready to explore Pacaya River and its wonderful forests. As we traveled, our naturalists spotted red howler monkeys and pink river dolphins. To top it all off, we went for a swim in the mirror-like waters of Yanayacu Lagoon. Pink dolphins swam by to check us out.
Magdalena River is a fantastic place to look for wildlife. Its intricate channels, now flooded by the main river, allow us to enter the majestic forest that guards the river. After a great exploration spent observing many birds and mammals, we came back onboard for a drink to celebrate another magical day in the Amazon.
Socrates was raised on Santa Cruz Island located in the heart of Galapagos Archipelago. After a childhood filled with swimming, scuba diving, rock climbing and volunteering in conservation projects, he grew very passionate about the outdoors and the...
During the early morning hours, we could hear rain pounding on our boat. Happily, the rain slowed to a drizzle as dawn approached. We slipped into ponchos as we boarded the skiffs and motored off in search of whatever Mother Nature had to offer. We observed dozens of great egrets fishing along the muddy banks at the mouth of Clavero Lake. By the high water marks on the reeds and bushes, we could see that the lake level recently dropped by at least four feet. We found and photographed at least a dozen species of birds during our hour in the skiffs before breakfast. In addition, we saw a troop of squirrel monkeys and both gray and pink dolphins. In the afternoon, we explored Supay Creek and followed a narrow waterway into a peaceful oxbow lake. Some of the many bird species we identified included two bright turquoise cotingas, short-tailed parrots, hoatzins, and a gray-headed kite. We saw our first giant water lilies, and one was in bloom! The highlight of our evening was watching hundreds of sand-colored nighthawks. These nocturnal birds feed on flying insects, and they came out of the forest and perched in the treetops as the sun set over the lake.
This morning, dawn came with a nearly cloudless sky; it was the first real hot sun we have had all week. We boarded the skiffs early and motored a short distance on the Marañon River. Then we moved up Pahuachiro Creek to see what Mother Nature had to offer. We found yet another high-hanging three-toed sloth, and this one did a slow-motion climb along a Cecropia branch for us to enjoy. We also found our daily squirrel monkey troop. Squeaking and leaping through the treetops as always, they entertained us on this lovely clear morning. As the sun lit up the tallest trees, we saw herons and egrets, parrots and parakeets, and a black-tailed trogon. After a delicious breakfast, we hiked up and down trails maintained by the Casual Community. With the help of local guides, our naturalists showed us a huge strangler fig and a variety of interesting palms and liana vines–including one we could swing on! We found a tarantula and some colorful frogs. After our walk, we visited the artisan market. Our afternoon visit was to Amazonas Community. We heard about the admirable reforestation efforts, the women in leadership, and the anti-violence workshops organized by Minga Peru in these local riverside communities. We had a chance to look around the village and learn how the artisans make natural dyes from leaves, roots, and berries. We had a final opportunity to buy handicrafts, and then we boarded our skiffs back to Delfin II . After a farewell dinner, the crew played music and danced. We all went to bed with smiles on our faces. We are all well pleased with the fascinating week we have shared here in the Peruvian Amazon.
The morning was cool and clear with stunning lighting on the clouds, forest, and reflections on the water. The entire forest seemed to be celebrating the new day with songs, trills, car alarms, Star Wars laser fights, and all sorts of other amazing vocalizations. It was hard to believe the sounds were all coming from birds. Amongst the cacophony of sound was a scream of color when we sighted the orange-backed troupial. Other notable sightings included a blue-crowned motmot and a violaceous trogon. All more beautiful than their names could begin to describe. We continued to spot mammals, including the requisite common squirrel monkeys, Isabel’s monk saki monkeys, and a special sighting of a tamandu up in the tree branches. Our week in the Peruvian Amazon may be near to closing, but we continue to have new and amazing sightings every day on every outing!
