Pacaya and Samiria makes up one of the largest protected areas in Peru. It is also known to be the most extensive area of protected varzea (floodable forest) in the Amazon rain forest. Currently, we are navigating the waters that are part of its southern limits, the Ucayali-Puinahua Canal on the south of the reserve.
Our morning started with the visit of Atun Poza, which is located inside the Canal Puinahua. It was early, but that did not matter to the hundreds of birds that were already awake and making their way through the forest. It did not take too long to encounter squirrel monkeys and three-toed sloths up on the trees. As we worked our way more and more into the intricate system of “caños” or creeks, I couldn’t help but notice the nice reflection of the trees and sky over the water, and it is because of this, that the area is also known as the Mirrored Jungle.
We then came to stop the skiffs alongside a nice area to have breakfast! Yes, indeed we had breakfast in the middle of the jungle, as our crew showed up in one of the spare skiffs with our usual morning delicacies to be served while we enjoyed this incredible panorama.
Well fed and content, we continued our skiff ride to observe more wildlife. It was also nice to encounter the local fishermen in their daily routine. We observed and photographed the way they caught some of the fish that inhabit this mighty river, and trying not to disturb, we even approached some of them to have a much closer encounter and to see their day-catch.
For our afternoon we made a long way into the Pacaya River to reach a gorgeous lagoon. It was here we encountered, although briefly, howler monkeys traveling and searching for food. The lagoon was so inviting that most of us jumped in for a refreshing swim, while pink river dolphins started to swim nearby, showing their very distinctive dorsal fins and characteristic pink color.
There was not a bit of this day that we did not enjoy, as even the sunset was phenomenal! I guess the hardest part now is to choose a picture that would make justice to the wonderful day we just experienced!
