DAY
01 IQUITOS/NAUTA/PACAYA-SAMIRIA NATURAL
RESERVE
Pick-up form Hotel in Iquitos
and transfer
overland to the town of Nauta. After a two-and-a-half hour
ride we shall reach Nauta, located on the shores of the Marañon river, about 40
miles from Iquitos. Soon after, we shall board on our motor-boat, and reach the
wide confluence of the Marañon and
Ucayali rivers, where the luscious Rio Amazonas - concealing the greatest
biodiversity of life on the planet - originates. After a forty-five minutes
motor-boat ride, we shall disembark and climb to the top of an observation
tower, to enjoy some spectacular views of the rivers. Cold lunch.
Later on,
we
shall cross the Marañon river upstream, up to the
Yanayacu-Pucate river basin, in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve (70 miles SE
from Iquitos), the largest wetland reserve in the world. On the way, we shall be delighted
to see the green shade of a never ending rainforest and the blue sky above, with white puffy clouds reflecting upon the river’s
dark waters. This dark colour is a characteristic of almost all water passages and
oxbow lakes in the P.S.N.R., a feature that lends its nickname to the Reserve, as “The Jungle of the Mirrors”,
as dark waters reflect so well the jungle and sky above that one has the
impression of navigating through endless mirrors of water.
Flocks of parrots, macaws and egrets will be a
usual sight here, whilst a pink spot in the dark waters may signal the presence of
the mythic river dolphin.
We now cruise
along the Yanayacu river, making a short stop at
the reserve's Ranger station, in Santo Domingo. Then we shall go to a selected
campsite spot near the village of Arequipa. Complex lodging facilities are not
allowed inside the reserve, thus comfortable, large camping tents will be set up
by our guides as you sail along the Yanayacu. After a properly cooked dinner, we
shall enjoy a thrilling evening boat or dug-out canoe ride, looking for the
black and white caimans living in the area. Overnight camping in tents.
(BL, D)
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DAY 02
PACAYA-SAMIRIA (YANAYACU-PUCATE)
After breakfast we shall continue
our journey into the reserve. The boat will follow the Yanayacu river course
making routinely short stops, looking out for interesting sights. Great chances
that we may see the Monk Saki, and the Howling, Woolly and Squirrel Monkeys.
Along the way we should also see macaws, toucans and capybara, amongst other
species. Lunch in the camp site. In the afternoon we go cruising inside
beautiful oxbow lakes. There are many fish species in these cochas,
including red piranhas (Serrasalmus natteri), arahuana (Osteoglossum
bicirrhosum) and peacock bass (Chichla ocellaris). We shall have the
opportunity to see how local people catch these fishes and also have the chance
to try a catch ourselves! Dinner in the camp. Night jungle hike, to listen to
the sounds of the forest after dark.
Overnight in the encampment, in tents.
(B, L, D)
DAY 03
PACAYA-SAMIRIA (YANAYACU-PUCATE)
Early morning breakfast followed by a hike on
jungle trails to see howling and woolly monkeys and medicinal
plants. We shall have the opportunity to
visit one or two of the two-hundred local communities who have been
developing conservation and sustainable economy projects, like the repopulation
of the endangered river turtle (Podocnemis unfilis) and palm tree
reforestation. Lunch on board of the motorboat.
After returning
to the encampment, we may choose to rest surrounded
by the jungle, or else, to continue exploring the area off the river shore.
Dinner and overnight staying in the encampment, in
tents.
(B, BL, D)
DAY 04
PACAYA-SAMIRIA (YANAYACU-PUCATE)
Early morning breakfast, soon followed by a bird watching
excursion.
Birds of prey like the
Caracara (Mivalgo chimachima), the King Vulture (Sarcorrampus papa), the Black
Collared Hawk (Buteogallus nigricollis) and the beautiful Harpy Eagle (Harpia
harpiya) live in the Reserve.
The trip continues downriver heading back to the Marañon,
allowing a few stops on route to contemplate the rich biodiversity of the area.
The river is the habitat to other interesting species, including the Giant River
Otter (Ptenerura brasiliensis), a semi-aquatic carnivorous usually found
in social groups easily recognizable by their groans; in the reserve, we
may also look for the heaviest - and one of the largest - snakes of the world,
the Anaconda (Eunectes murinus), which spends most of its time in water
and can reach the impressive length of nine meters.
By noon, after stopping for lunch, we shall continue cruising along
the Yanayacu River. We may visit one of the local settlements, where most
of the population is engaged in sustainable farming and fishing activities.
Dinner.
Overnight
staying in the encampment, in tents.
(B, L, D)
DAY 05 PACAYA-SAMIRIA
(YANAYACU-PUCATE)
After breakfast, we shall
cruise onto more oxbow lakes, where pink river dolphins (Inia
geoffrensis) and the largest fresh water fish, the Paiche (Arapaima
giga), can be found. Box lunch and return to the campment. Time for resting
and packing for
the return trip, the following day.
Dinner.
Overnight
staying in the encampment, in tents.
(B, L, D)
DAY 06
PACAYA-SAMIRIA (MARAÑON)/NAUTA/IQUITOS
Breakfast and last chance to take pictures of the Pacaya-Samiria
National Reserve. Cruising on the Marañon river, until we reach Nauta. Return to Iquitos by
land.
(B)
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