Canopy Walkway & Nauta Caño
Sunrise through the fog was the beginning of our day spent further exploring the Marañon River. Shortly after breakfast we set out to explore a new environment for us, terra firma, or land that doesn’t flood. We visited a private reserve that includes a pretty lake we paddled across, some massive trees, but most importantly, a canopy walkway.
This system of suspension bridges leads us through the forest giving us a much different perspective than walking below. The land dips away below us, and we enter a new realm. No longer are we shrouded in shade staring up at some distant leaves and flowers. We are now amongst the leaves, looking all around, including down at the amazing Amazon rain forest. Massive Heliconias reach up towards us, while the canopy emergent trees still tower above us.
After making our way back to the Delfin II, we returned back downriver and tied up along a small tributary called Nauta Caño. Here, the silt-laden Andean water was mixing with the tannin-rich blackwater, to give the look of someone adding milk to coffee. Once again, pink river dolphins put on an amazing show, feeding right next to the Delfin II for hours. They were joined by many birds including Capped Herons, caracaras, and kingfishers.
For the afternoon, some of us went off in the skiffs while others tried out our kayaks. A short rainstorm dropped the temperature, and then brought out all the wildlife. Paddling quietly in the narrow blackwater stream was a real treat. Many different birds were enjoyed, but monkeys stole the show. We quietly approached a group of squirrel monkeys, and sat underneath them for about a half an hour. It was incredible to be so close, and have them pay no attention to us as they went about feeding.
To end our busy day, we went back out to explore the rain forest at night. After the rain, many critters were active and some even mating! Many cool insects were seen including leaf-mimic katydids, stick insects, grasshoppers, and spiders. We also spotted a couple of singing frogs, including one the size of my hand.
Overall, a diverse, exciting, and fulfilling day!
