Today was the first day of our Upper Amazon expedition, and we were out at dawn to take full advantage of the day. There was no shortage of birds, monkeys, sloths, and smaller “creepy crawlies” during our explorations. Expedition leader Jeff Philippe gave a talk about the geology of the Amazon Basin, and photo leader Michael Nolan inspired our photographers on board with a digital photography talk. After we set-up our cameras for shooting in challenging lighting conditions, we headed out to practice our new skills during an evening skiff ride on the Yanayacu River. Our first day was so full of discovery, that it felt like many days had gone by. We hope that the rest of the week proves as prolific with wildlife.
3/8/2025
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Delfin II
Piranha Creek and the Amazon River
This morning, our guests had a truly special experience visiting the Amazonas community, a well organized village where many of the community leaders are women. They warmly welcomed us and shared a glimpse into their daily lives, showing us how they cook traditional dishes, use plant-based dyes to create beautiful handicrafts, and most importantly, their incredible efforts in leadership, sustainable fishing, and agroforestry farming. Their work is a powerful response to soil acidification and climate change, demonstrating resilience and innovation in their way of life. In the afternoon, we navigated toward the great confluence, where the Marañón and Ucayali Rivers merge to form the Amazon River. We explored a narrow creek in search of wildlife, and as our three skiffs returned to the Amazon River, we tied them together and raised a glass, celebrating the end of a fantastic expedition.
