Today, with lifted spirits after a well-deserved rest, we started our expedition in the breathtaking Upper Amazon in Peru.
Right after breakfast, we went for a hike in the vicinities of San Jose community, in an area known as Casual. With rubber boots on our feet, and in the company of our naturalists plus three local native scouts from the community, we explored a “terra firme” rainforest trail. This outing was an introduction to the fascinating dynamics of the neotropical rainforests and its inhabitants.
The explanations of our naturalists and the eagles´ eyes of the local scouts made a great combination. We observed several frog and lizard species, as well as several insect species, including a tarantula. The icing on the cake of this morning´s outing was the unusual sighting of two beautiful snake species—a juvenile anaconda and a red-tailed boa. We had a lot of fun watching one of the fearless local villagers, who let the tarantula walk over his hands and arms.
After the walk, we returned to the Delfin II for a refreshing shower and a cold drink. Soon after, we all gathered in the lounge for a couple of important introductory talks—one on the Amazon region in general and one about the protected area we are visiting this week, the Pacaya Samiria Reserve.
After lunch, we explored the Yanayacu River, which is a black water tributary of the Marañon River. In this area, several bird species and some three-toed sloths were spotted. The early and late hours of the day are the best for spotting creatures of the rainforest.
Late in the afternoon, during a spectacular sunset, we came back onboard with unforgettable memories of our first full day on this expedition in the Peruvian Upper Amazon.
