Today we headed to the Amazon Natural Reserve. Here we have a canopy walkway amidst the Amazon forest where we can search for wildlife. This is terra firma that we reached in ten minutes via skiffs and, for 100 yards, we boarded an “Amazonian Catamaran,” two canoes connected together for a very pleasant ride across a lagoon where fish are farmed.
Our hotel manager from Spain decided to come along. I saw a beautiful insect, and I, coming from Galápagos thought it would be tame like the creatures I know. Luis wanted to carry it too. He asked me if it was ok and I said, “Yes, you can handle it.” Soon after the insect bit him and I felt guilty and responsible for his pain. He was laughing along with everyone else for this was an unprecedented experience and he rarely joins us on outings.
Before reaching the canopy, we walked and learned about medicinal plants. We saw birds, butterflies, and insects of different kinds, but I think my highlight was a closer look at a few saddleback tamarin monkeys busy searching for food and almost unconcerned about our presence. We reached the canopy soon after and this is where we climbed the suspension bridges to began walking at a mid-tree range for a vantage point of view. From up here we could see a lagoon, creeks, and rivers, and we learned about the different ecologies as we transited from place to place.
We also saw the world-famous rubber tree, which was once extracted for it useful characteristics. I also loved to feel and see a particular plant which feels artificial, for its texture is so particular I can only link it to my sadly urban familiarity, plastic. Many medicinal plants and bushes, we even saw a unique palm tree—the only one natives use to create their blowguns. Our naturalist was also able to show a minty-sticky white sap use to build a liana and keep the palms together and insect-free.
Back aboard we had a very well deserved breakfast with an array of flavors and colors, for exotic cuisine is our chef’s pride.
Our ship, Delfin II, repositioned to a delta connecting a black water river. Here we embarked upstream for a kayak ride along the riverside going gently downstream. Nauta Caño is a softly undulated tributary bluntly headed from north to south as the setting sun slowly casted a shadow on one side. Today we were surrounded with floating vegetation following us downstream. Puffy clouds and many birds calling for our senses were sharpened by silence.
Back on board as the sunset reflected an impressive array of colors we headed back to our cabins for showers. Soon after we had dinner, today a local tasty catfish seasoned with exotic delicious herbs and fruits.
Our expedition leader called for an optional Amazon night walk searching for insects and nocturnal crawlers. From the ship we rode our skiffs to the shore where equipped with flashlights we explored. From left to right we took turns showing what we’d found. Our exciting search was accelerating as we saw many impressive insects of different kinds. We were struggling but succeeded with a few good nighttime insect pictures. Then it was time to return to the ship as we rode under the starry night.
It’s time to go to bed now and we can’t wait to see what is coming next for we are headed to the mighty Amazon River.
