We are currently cruising the Upper Amazon in the final weeks of the rainy season. In this part of the world, there is no such thing as a truly “dry season,” but the change in season will indeed lead to less rain overall. The most dramatic feature of the Amazon River is that the water levels in the main river and all its tributaries drop considerably – as much as 30 feet by the end of the “dry season”! Right now, there is already a noticeable drop of about one meter. The constant presence of water over the last six months or so has left behind a clear mark along the shores. Due to high water levels, most places are accessible by boat. We enjoy spectacular sightings of abundant wildlife everywhere we go.
Our trip will be spent exploring the main tributaries of the Amazon River, the Marañon and the Ucayali. Today was our second day exploring the Marañon River, and we explored a pristine private property known as Amazon Natural Park. The location granted us access to a very rare primary forest, which is basically forest that hasn’t been touched where giant trees still stand. The owners of the property have protected this land for generations, making it available for visits by guests who have the means to get here. Access is only possible by boat, and it was definitely worth the visit!
We spent the afternoon touring Nauta Creek in our fleet of skiffs, and wildlife popped up like popcorn! It was hard to keep up with so many sightings. Various species of birds traveled back and forth over the creek. We spotted monkeys, and an elusive caiman lizard made an appearance.
Back on board, we were greeted by the always friendly crew. They taught us how to make pisco sours, a signature Peruvian drink.
