The last day of our exploration began with a gorgeous, sunny morning. We loaded the skiff with the goal of exploring Zapote Creek. Nature was calling to us and we couldn’t say no!
On our way through the creek, we were invited to stop in a small village called Urarina. We were greeted by some of the local children, who happily guided us through the village to the show us the lovely art crafts that were made by their parents.
After enjoying the opportunity to spend time with these guardians of the creek, we loaded back into the skiffs and continued our exploration. One of the best sightings of this excursion was a small group of monk saki monkeys! It is hard to believe that these furry primates can survive in a tropical forest with such a heavy coat. The locals call this monkey “guapo” which means “handsome”, and it’s clear to see how they got that name.
Another highlight was the spotting of a great potoo. This nocturnal bird sleeps during the day and he camouflages so well when perched, that he looks just like a stump on a tree. For this reason, the locals have come up with the nickname “stick bird”.
Many other birds began to show up along the river banks, and other species of monkeys also decided to join the parade. The sound of the snapping shutters of the cameras began to fill the air, as it seemed that everywhere you looked, there was something beautiful to photograph.
When we returned to our ship, it was time to head to our next destination. A heavy rain started in, giving us a farewell to Zapote. It was hard to believe that time is flying by so quickly. We have been having a wonderful time, but our journey is soon coming to an end.
We soon arrived to Supay—a small tributary that also fills in the Ucayali River. We loaded the skiffs and made our way along this river. Along the river banks, we saw several locals harvesting camu camu. A great part of the river is covered in this plant, which is loaded with vitamin C and has recently become very popular.
The wildlife along this river was completely captivating as well. Sungreebes, hawks, kingfishers, red cap cardinals, cocoi herons, plus troops of squirrel monkeys showed up as we passed. The sun began to set as we returned back on board the Delfin II. It was another incredible day!
We gather in the lounge for our social hour. Jeffo, our Photo Instructor, had prepared a photo slideshow of our journey through the Upper Amazon. We all enjoyed seeing this slideshow as we remembered these magical moments!
