Today was our first full day of expedition in the Amazon forest. We started early by visiting the Clavero area. This site is the meeting point of two different bodies of water, creating a perfect fishing scenario for dolphins. We explored the area by skiff and found the pink and grey species. We also passed by the Clavero community and had the chance to observe for a bit.
In the afternoon, we visited the Supay River and a lake where naturalists spotted monkeys not long ago. We scanned the riverside from the skiffs, passing under a bridge near a community. We finally arrived to the lake and explored the area. We found a giant lily plant and a hoatzin.
Ramiro is Ecuadorian, born in the highlands and raised by the sea. Growing up in the Galapagos was for him an opportunity to learn from up close the importance of understanding and respecting all forms of life. He started his studies in biology and e...
Enter travel details to receive reports from a single expedition
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Send Daily Expedition Reports to friends and family
*By clicking the submit button, I authorize Lindblad Expeditions to email me; however, I am able to unsubscribe at any time. For more details, see our Privacy Policy.
Please note: All Daily Expedition Reports (DERs) are posted Monday-Friday,
during normal business hours. DERs are written onboard the ship only and do
not apply to land-based portions of expeditions.
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.
This morning was sunny. The day started out warm, and the sunrise was spectacular. At eight o’clock, we took our skiffs to do a wildlife exploration along the riverbank. The first gift of the day was the monk saki monkey. These monkeys have bushy tails and inhabit the highest canopy to avoid jaguars, their main predator. Monk sakis are in danger of extinction due to the human activities that damage their habitats. We also found squirrel monkeys and a pygmy marmoset carrying an infant on its back in the hole of a tall tree trunk. We were lucky to spot a bald uakari monkey eating on the ground in one of the local communities. We also spotted many varieties of birds, trogons, jacamars, tanagers, cardinals, and kingfishers. Our morning was very energetic with a lot of activity. We took hundreds of pictures of many kinds of flora and fauna. We also interacted with people, especially the hardworking fishermen. In the afternoon, we walked on terra firma in search of a lagoon full of one of the most famous and well-known plants, Victoria regia. These lilies grow in small lagoons in the Amazon basin. Lily pads or water lilies provide shelter for aquatic and nonaquatic creatures, and they are a very important food source for beavers. We found many lilies flowering. Nearby, our paramedic found a baby sloth on the top of a cecropia tree. It was so cute, and it made our day! On our way back to the Delfin II , we had a very nice celebration at the junction of the Ucayali and Marañon Rivers which form the majestic Amazon River. The Amazon is one of the largest and more complex ecosystems on our planet.
