We set out on our morning skiff excursions under a brooding sky that quickly turned into a torrential downpour; reminding us how the waters we’ve been navigating can rise so high in the wet season. Photo instructor Michael Nolan and I led an iPhone photography class while the rains died down and then we headed to the small village of San Francisco de Loreto. There we spent time meeting the local people and getting a glimpse of daily life along the Marañon River. Before lunch we toasted with pisco sours while passing the official head of the Amazon River at the confluence of the Marañon and Ucayali Rivers. The afternoon gave us an opportunity to take a skiff ride on Lake Clavero.
11/9/2024
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Delfin II
Amazon Natural Park and Yanayacu River
For the last full day of our expedition on the amazingly biodiverse Peruvian Upper Amazon, we had an early visit to the Amazon Natural Park. In this privately-owned reserve, we crossed a small lagoon on catamarans, then had the joy to walk in a primary forest and learn from our expert Delfin II naturalists; they described several plant species and other fascinating aspects of rainforest ecology in the neotropics. In the afternoon, we explored Yanayacu River by skiff rides. This beautiful river is covered with thick vegetation, where our naturalists and skiff drivers spotted several species of colorful birds. We saw many pink river dolphins as well. In the evening, we watched the guest slide show of the week, then enjoyed a farewell cocktail and dinner with live music included. It was the golden finale for a successful expedition in this remarkable location of our planet.
