Our second full day of our expedition on the enigmatic and amazingly biodiverse Amazon started with an early skiff ride exploration of a black water creek, known locally as “caño.” We spotted several bird species and enjoyed the early morning sounds of the forest. After breakfast we explored the Amazon Natural Park. During the walk we had the joy to listen to our expert Delfin II naturalists talking about several plant species and about some fascinating aspects of the ecology of the rain forest of the Neotropics.
At this location there is a suspension bridge, which is a state-of-the-art piece of engineering built using tall trees to support it. The bridge, approximately half-a-mile in length, allowed us to have the thrill and excitement to walk in the middle strata of the rain forest. At this height there is a completely different perspective that allowed us to dream about how the rain forest is seen by its inhabitants.
In the afternoon, after lunch, we had an introductory talk about photography with our photo instructor Aura Banda. While listening to the talk we had the surreal thrill to hear dozens if not hundreds of parakeets who were frolicking around the place we were “docked,” by the way on rivers ships do not use anchors. Ships are tied with heavy ropes to trees.
After the talk we explored Nauta Caño by skiff riding or by kayaking. This narrow stream is covered with thick vegetation where our naturalists spotted several species of colorful birds from the skiffs like macaws and toucans as well as a three-toed sloth and a couple of squirrel monkey troops. Some guests paddled quietly along in our comfortable double kayaks; they poked under the riverside vegetation and explored just as much as the locals will do in their dugout canoes. For them, as I was told later, it was a thrill to be seeing the flooded forest with such intimacy creating an unforgettable experience.
During dinner we shared our impressions and sightings while having a delicious meal typical of the already world-recognized exquisite Peruvian cuisine. Finally, late in the evening, just after dinner we had a short walk, this time at night. We were immersed in the forest night sounds in total darkness. The highlight of this late outing was the finding of a very large and colorful tree frog species (Phylomedusa sp). The frog’s big size and long legs and arms give it a funny local name, “spider frog.”
