Early morning light hit the trees along the side of the Marañon River greeting another day here in the Amazon. Most people are not ready for the sheer beauty of this place. It is a different sort of beauty. There are no mountains here, or beaches, oceans, or vast vistas. However, there is intense light, lush forest with massive trees, and immense lakes filled with floating vegetation.
Our day began by visiting the forest in the terra firme of the private reserve at the Amazon Natural Park. Here, huge trees are protected and overwhelm us with their size. One of the attractions here is a series of suspension bridges. Elevating us off the forest floor, we are now inside of the forest, surrounded by greenery. It is an incredible perspective, with every shade of green enveloping us.
After a midday rainstorm, the afternoon gave way to blue sky. We set off to explore a blackwater river, either by kayak or skiff. The mirror-like surface gave incredible reflections of the sky, making for excellent photography. With the dropping water levels, fish were concentrating, and being devoured by terns, egrets, herons, and dolphins.
To end our afternoon, we entered a large lake system. Here the surface of the water was mostly covered by floating vegetation. On it were standing hundreds of egrets, a stark contrast in white against a sea of green. The setting sun lit the sky in hues of orange as we returned home to the comforts of the Delfin II.
To finish our day, many of us went for a night walk. Here, we were able to enjoy a different beauty of the forest. The incredible night sounds were our soundtrack that stuck in our heads as we went to sleep.
