Atun Poza and Carocurahuite
Our last full day began with a pre-breakfast exploration of the oxbow lake system at Atun Poza. After the rains of last night, the air was fresh this morning and the animals active. Squirrel monkeys were right beside the ship, and a group of night monkeys were spotted near a gorgeous bromeliad. The bird noise, for me, was certainly the highlight of the morning. Huge flocks of parakeets, parrots, and macaws announced their presence with their incessant chatter. Horned Screamers made us all laugh, while kiskadees were calling continuously. Yellow-hooded Blackbirds were in full breeding mode and Black-collared Hawks scolded us as we paddled by quietly in our kayaks. A few other stunning birds were spotted including Cream-colored Woodpeckers, White-headed Marsh-Tyrants, and a massive Jabiru stork.
After breakfast we entered the small village of Atun Poza and were instantly enthralled by the friendly and beautiful children. A photo walk snapped hundreds of images of the curious kids, as well as many butterflies, a tarantula, and multicolored flowers. We walked into the forest, and all walks went to the grandfather of all trees, a massive Ceiba. This canopy emergent giant was so wide at the base that it was nearly impossible to capture its grandeur.
After a swim in the river by many of us, we explored the narrow creek of Carocurahuite. This excursion showcased the skills of our skiff drivers, as the narrow stream was choked with many fallen logs. Dusky Titi monkeys were a new discovery for us, along with our old friends of hawks, caciques, and kingfishers. We arrived to a gorgeous lake, whose shore was filled with flowering Water Hyacinths. With a setting sun and macaws flying above we returned to Delfin II. Our final group slideshow was a great reflection on our fantastic week.
