Right after sunrise, we all gathered in the dining room of Delfin II for breakfast. This fresh morning was perfect to begin our exploration of the Yanayacu River. The black water of this river flows into the Maranon River.

Our naturalist spotted several herons that were fishing for their morning meal. One of the colorful herons, the capped heron, was seen perched right above the river’s edge waiting patiently for a fish to pass. His patience was rewarded when an unaware fish passed by and ended up in the heron’s beak.  What an experience we had.

Going into the flooded forest was also an experience enjoyed by all. The diversity of wildlife seen in the area was unbelievable. Reptiles, amphibians and, birds, paraded in front of us, one by one, as we cruised through the river.

In the afternoon, our guests visited a private reserve, Amazon Natural Park. After rowing through a man-made lake, they hiked a trail that led to a set of hanging bridges. Here, we could see the different levels of the tropical forest as we passed by them.

A lovely sunset was our farewell to this private heaven. In the lounge, we all gathered to share our thoughts about the wonderful diversity of the Upper Amazon. A good way to finish our second day exploring this paradise.