We set out in the skiffs before sunrise this morning, eager to get to the mirrored waters of the Pacaya River. Red howler monkeys, pink river dolphins, and three-toed sloths greeted us along the way. Soon, we tied off to shore and enjoyed an amazing breakfast as we floated under a tree full of hoatzins in the bush and waited for the fog to lift. Incredible animals and reflections in the water kept us happy throughout the morning, and soon we were jumping into the river for a swim to cool down. Pink dolphins surrounded us in the water! Hundreds of neotropical cormorants decorated the trees above, and we all felt pretty darn lucky to be where we were. After lunch and a photo talk on board, we set out again in the skiffs in the late afternoon. We watched local fishermen haul a net into their canoe before exploring the riverbank of the larger Ucayali River, ending our exploration in the city of Requena and watching children play soccer and volleyball on the beach. Another wonderful day here in the Amazon!
11/18/2023
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Delfin II
Casual Rain Forest and Amazonas Community
Today we explored Pahuachiro Creek before breakfast, looking for special sightings along the Maranon River. Pahuachiro Creek is a small body of water with beautiful forest on both sides. This area is home to creatures such as yellow-headed caracaras, black-collared hawks, large-billed terns, and some species of monkeys. In the morning after breakfast we explored Casual Rain Forest on the riverbank. As the name suggests, it is a rainforest! It is a vast green jungle with an interesting trail that leads through an amazing collection of giant trees and palms where many types of animals hang out. As we explored the forest, we had an encounter with the master of the jungle! We spotted a red-tailed boa slowly moving among the bushes. Its camouflage is impressive — without the expert eyes of the local guides we would have missed such an event. These forests are so full of life; besides the abundance of trees there are the many creatures here that we saw with our own eyes. On the ground there were snails and tarantulas, and the sounds of many insects that we cannot see due to their camouflage. The Upper Amazon is not only a vast green forest but also home to many human settlements divided into small communities close to the riverbanks. Today we visited Amazonas Community to learn about the local culture and way of life. It was very interesting and exciting to spend some time with the leaders of the community, hearing their stories about education, fishing, and agriculture. It was a very enriching experience for all the visitors. Over the years we have visited different settlements along the rivers of the Upper Amazon, and we have seen how their lives have improved in terms of education, empowerment, and production of fine handicrafts. Today we had an opportunity to buy some souvenirs produced by the women of the community. Their figures and weaving are amazing, very colorful and of good quality. All these items are made from natural palm fibers found in the surrounding forest. It was another amazing day in the heart of the rainforest!
