Strong current surged through the Ucayali River today; the morning started out foggy, but soon became warm and sunny. After breakfast, we went to Iricahua, a very narrow stream of the river. The riverbanks hugged our skiffs closely on each side, so the jungle is very close to us—thankfully, our skiff drivers are excellent at navigating this site, and they know all of the spots very well. Every day of our expedition so far, we have seen plenty of wildlife, and today was no exception. As soon as our exploration began, we spotted birds everywhere, including the elusive Amazon kingfisher, flying quickly along the riverbanks. Trogons, flycatchers, oropendolas, orioles, swallows, kites, and caciques are just a few of the species of birds that we saw along our ride. In our group we had some avid bird watchers; I like birds too, but even if you don’t, this place will turn you into a bird-lover. At the end of the tiny river, we found saki monkeys and red-bellied macaws.
Our three hours of exploration this morning ended with smiling faces, and lots of pictures and memories were collected by our intrepid explorers. We are almost at the end of our Amazonian journey, and this week has been so memorable. Some of our guests commented that “we have seen all what we expected”—but there was more to come, and after lunch we moved to another site.
At around 4:00 pm, we disembarked again to explore Cedro Creeks, which is a narrow stream very similar to the one that we visited this morning. It suddenly began to rain very heavy, but sure enough, it stopped a few minutes after we disembarked. We were very lucky to have the opportunity to be able to explore this unique site, and to encounter its unique wildlife. We rode up the river for about an hour, and finally the water of the river turned black. This gives to the jungle a different atmosphere; the trees reflect in the water and create a magical scene. Soon we arrived to a black water lagoon, where we decided to go for a plunge! There are no piranhas to bother us, it is just a myth than these creatures are dangerous for humans, and the water here is so refreshing. Our guests enjoyed this activity; it is a rare opportunity to spend time in the middle of the jungle, surrounded by huge trees and many types of animals, just floating so peacefully, drinking a beer and having fun. This is the jungle, and the jungle is an amazing place to have fun, to explore, to feel, and to learn about the importance of preserving places like this.
