The meeting of the Ucayali and the Marañon Rivers is the start of the river known as the Amazon. This time of year, the volume of water passing this point is gigantic. The river currently is well over its banks, extending in all directions, and reaching nearly to the floors of many of the houses in the area. Every year, the river fluctuates in this area, approximately 30 feet. To us, this seems shocking. To the wildlife and the people living here, this is normal.
At sunrise, we found ourselves in the skiffs on the Amazon. We swirled with the current, watching as parrots flew overhead. From here we entered a beautiful small stream called Piraña Caño. Eagle eyes spotted a five-foot olive whip snake, a dead stick mimicking Great Potoo, and a sloth perched high in a tree. Weaving our way inside the flooded forest, we were surrounded by flowers, birds, and tranquility.
After breakfast we visited the village of Puerto Miguel. Here, the school was flooded, which is normal. What this means was that all the kids were out and about, and excited for our visit. We learned about daily life here in the Amazon, but mostly enjoyed the many smiles we received. Of course, the handicrafts were well received as well.
Our afternoon was spent in the blackwater of Cedro Caño. Kayaks and skiffs were again deployed. Much of the water was filled with floating vegetation and made for an incredible experience. We quietly paddled our kayaks through the vibrant green water lettuce, contrasting with the reflections in the black water. The symphony of the forest was intense, with the deep roar of the howler monkey leading the way. While we didn’t see the howlers, we did enjoy the antics of many squirrel monkeys.
Once again, another beautiful day in paradise.
