Our last full day of exploration of the Pacaya Samiria Reserve in the upper Amazon of Peru took us to two remote locations that brought us great animal sightings and cultural experiences with the local inhabitants of the area.
Our first stop was Zapote River. Before breakfast, we had two choices to explore the area—one was kayaking and the other was a slow skiff ride. We had a strong rain that fell throughout the night, and it was a rather quiet and cool early morning. We spent most of our time photographing and watching local fishermen, some of them very young, in their daily activities. It never ceases to amaze me, how people in these remote locations use their skills and patience for their fishing activities. Nets, hooks and harpoons are broadly used to bring great quality food to their tables.
One of the fishermen showed us a beautiful fish, the “doncella” (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum). This catfish species (Loricaridae familiy) is considered one of the most delicious fish in this area of the Amazon. In fact, it is considered a delicacy. Some authors reported that approximately 70% of all the fish in the Amazon region are catfish species or related o them. We have had “doncella” a couple of times during this voyage, and it is a fish with a wonderful texture and flavor!
Before lunch time, we had a “Pisco sour” elaboration demonstration conducted by Delfin II barman Victor Cabanillas. Some guests showed off their skills, shaking the drink behind the bar. It was a lot of fun!
In the late afternoon we tried to explore Iricahua Caño by skiff rides. In the last couple of weeks it has not been raining as usual for this time of the year. Water levels in rivers and streams are surprisingly going down slowly but steadily, while in other years the water levels during this month have been much higher. In addition to this, a huge tree was blocking our entrance to the creek. Our naturalists and skiff drivers were armed with machetes, and with much effort we passed the first tree. The stream then became narrower than usual, so we took the decision to explore the Ucayali River shoreline instead. A misty persistent rain accompanied us during most of the outing. Despite of the rain, several species of colorful birds were seen, and some green iguanas as well.
Later in the evening, we all enjoyed the slide show of the pictures of the week during cocktail hour. Afterwards, we had a golden finale for our last full day of the expedition, a barbeque-style farewell dinner and lively music played by some talented Delfin II crew members.
