The most wonderful time of the day while exploring Amazonia is early in the morning. We loaded our skiffs to explore Nautacaño at six in the morning, while the temperature was very pleasant and the jungle was just waking up. Nautacaño is one of the many tributaries of the Marañón River. Here, we had another morning full of wildlife and not just skiff exploration, but we also enjoyed the opportunity to kayak.
Numerous birds were seen along the shore. Many black-collared hawks, great egrets, wattled jacanas, and ringed kingfishers were some of the common birds that we could easily find. Several species of parrots flew by as we searched the jungle for any kind of wildlife.
Squirrel monkeys, saddleback tamarins and three-toed sloths were some of the mammals that we could spot. Although sometimes far, or deep into the vegetation, these sightings are always exciting. We were particularly fortunate to have one of the most amazing three-toed sloth sightings! An adult female, who was moving from a very low cecropia tree to another.
During the middle of the morning, we gathered at the outside lounge to learn about Amazonian cuisine. Our galley staff prepared a cooking class, where we learned how to make "Juane," which is a traditional dish made with rice, chicken and heliconia leaves. Later we enjoyed another wonderful lunch, which we had already learned how to make ourselves.
We went for a swim at Clavero Lake after our siesta time. The experience was a relaxing one, and it was refreshing as well. The swimming was followed by a skiff exploration through tributaries of Clavero Lake, where we found the smallest primates in the world, the pigmy marmosets. These little monkeys, which are smaller than an average squirrel, are known locally as "leoncitos," or "little lions," due to the fur that surrounds their head, which reassembles a mane.
After a wonderful dinner, our talented crew played amazing music in the dining room, which inspired plenty of clapping whistling and dancing!
