Up and down the Amazon River our chances of spotting wildlife are endless. Tributaries and creeks allow us to discover a world like no other. As we explore them via skiffs, our drivers and local guides (with their eagle eyes) spot birds and other animals, which for the inexperienced would be a challenge.
We find small settlements along the riverbanks, mostly living off produce and what they catch in the river waters. Small dugout canoes are their means of transport. We all have an enormous responsibility to protect these reserves otherwise this paradise would disappear forever, the damage irreversible.
Patricio, better known as Pato amongst his friends, was born in the Galápagos Islands. His family moved to the islands from the mainland and settled on the island of Santa Cruz over thirty-five years ago. Pato had an enchanted childhood in the island...
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We are reaching the end of an amazing week exploring the Upper Amazon aboard Delfin II , and it has been an astonishing trip in many ways. This morning we explored the Marañon River. We disembarked on the riverbank of the Amazon Natural Park, a protected area where a primary forest of the jungle is full of birds and wildlife. Three small catamarans took us around the lake, paddling slowly and observing the fauna. Once in the jungle, we walked for about two hours to explore this emerald world, where trees cover the sky and the light doesn’t reach the ground. Inside it is dark; plants struggle with each other for photosynthesis, and some even strangle their neighbors to survive. In these dark areas we observed birds which by evolution are sensitive to sunlight. One such bird is the capped manakin; this small, interesting creature feeds on fruits and makes unique mechanical sounds with special modified feathers in its wings. In the afternoon we explored the Pucate River. We spotted many kinds of birds like herons, parakeets, macaws, and toucans. Then at night we enjoyed the slideshow of the week, a compilation of all the great memories and experiences from this incredible week we have had aboard Delfin II . The Pacaya Samiria reserve is a place to protect, to love, to enjoy as we did, because of its vast biodiversity, its complex net of rivers and creeks, and the flora that holds life.
This week I had the extraordinary opportunity to visit the Upper Amazon in Peru. I have been dreaming of coming here for many years. I am a fifteen-year-old high school student who loves nature, animals, and science. I liked the overall experience, because it is a truly wild and unpredictable location, where every day you see and learn something new. All the people working on the ship, crew, and staff, were absolutely amazing, from the hotel manager and naturalists to waiters, skiff drivers, and the engine’s technicians. Everyone did a remarkable job in their roles to ensure the operation ran smoothly; they are also kind-hearted and friendly human beings. The food on board was wonderful, the meals were filling and delicious. I got to try new local food and flavors, like Amazon fish and fruits, making it an unforgettable experience. The Amazon people in the communities we visited are hard-working and generous. They constantly make efforts to improve the well-being of their villages. The night sky, sunrises, and sunsets were astonishing especially because where I live, in Quito, Ecuador, and like in any other big city, there is a lot of air and light pollution so you don’t often get to see these marvelous sightings… and not to mention that in Quito there are mountains too so it is even harder. I learned that my dad's job, expedition leader, is more difficult than one might think. It is also very tiring and demanding, but overall well worth it for all the wonderful places he visits and all the knowledge, pictures, and passion he shares. I felt so fortunate to join this expedition with my father, learning and enjoying so much!
This morning was sunny, following a spectacular sunrise. At 0800 we took our skiffs out for a wildlife exploration along the riverbank. The first gift of the day was finding a particular monkey, big in size, whose tail is very bushy, and who inhabits the highest canopy to avoid its main predator, the jaguar — it’s the monk saki, a creature that is endangered due to human activities that have damaged its habitats. We also found squirrel monkeys and one pygmy marmoset, carrying an infant on its back, in the hole of a tall tree trunk. We were lucky to find a bald uakari monkey eating on the ground in one of the local communities. We also spotted many varieties of birds, including trogons, jacamars, tanagers, cardinals, and kingfishers. Our morning was very energetic with a lot of activity. We took hundreds of pictures of flora, fauna, and people — especially local fishermen that are working hard to provide. In the afternoon we went for a walk in search of one of the region’s most famous plants, called Victoria regia, which grows on small lagoons in the Amazon basin. These giant lily pads, or water lilies, provide shelter for aquatic and non-aquatic creatures, and are an important food source for beavers; we found many lilies flowering. Close by, our paramedic found a baby sloth atop a cecropia tree — it was so cute and made our day! On our way back to Delfin II we had a nice celebration at the conjunction of the Ucayali and Marañon Rivers, where they form the majestic Amazon River, one of the largest and most complex ecosystems on our planet.
