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DAY 1 IQUITOS/NAUTA/PACAYA-SAMIRIA NATURAL
RESERVE
Our bilingual naturalist
guide will meet you at the arrivals area of Iquitos airport (or if already in
town, will pick you from your Hotel) and transfer to the city wharf, to board
the speedboat that will take us to the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve
(P.S.N.R.), via the Amazon river.
This is an approximately a six-hours journey in which we shall
also have the opportunity to see the confluence of the Marañon and Ucayali
rivers,
where the luscious Rio Amazonas - concealing the greatest biodiversity of life
on the planet - originates.
After a four-hours 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 navigate 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 it 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.
At the entrance of the Yanayacu-Pucate River, a less-powered
motor-boat will be waiting for us, to enter the reserve. Only 25 hp or less
motor-boats are authorized to operate inside the P.S.N.R., to maintain noise
levels down.
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, 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 journey down 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)
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 may also spot macaws, toucans and capybara, among
other species. Lunch in the camp. In the afternoon we shall explore a jungle
trail close to the camp. Follow endless trails of Leaf Cutter Ants along the
path, as the jungle gets thicker. Look at the trees canopy above you to discover
primates and other interesting creatures which live the area. We shall also have
the chance to observe a Macaw clay lick near a place called Chingana. Supper in
the camp. Night jungle hike, to listen to the sounds of the forest after dark. A
symphony of the countless amphibians, insects, hawks, owls and potoos living in
the Reserve.
Overnight in the encampment, in tents.
(B, L, D)
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DAY 03
PACAYA-SAMIRIA (YANAYACU-PUCATE)
Early morning breakfast followed by a two hours hike
to
the
German Caño area. Following the
jungle trails we shall see howling and woolly monkeys and a vast variety of medicinal
plants. There are many fish species in the river, including the red
piranha (Serrasalmus natteri), the arahuana (Osteoglossum bicirrhosum) and
the peacock
bass (Chichla ocellaris). We shall see local fishermen in action and -
given the chance - you may try out your fishing skills too!
Lunch along the way. If fishing has been
successful, you may request your catch to be cooked native style.
We continue our journey upriver to Huarmi Isla where it
may be possible to see Giant River Otters (Ptenerura brasiliensis) and
fresh water turtles.
Towards dusk we will set up
our camp for the night.
Dinner and overnight staying in the encampment, in
tents.
(B, BL, D)
DAY 04
PACAYA-SAMIRIA (YANAYACU-PUCATE)
Morning breakfast
in the encampment.
We continue our journey up to the Yarina
settlement, where local people have been developing a repopulation project for
the endangered river turtle (Podocnemis unfilis). There are over 200 communities
around the reserve many of them taking part in conservation and reforestation
projects. Lunch in - or near - the village.
In the afternoon we shall explore more oxbow lakes, where pink
river dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) and the largest fresh water fish of the
world, the Paiche (Arapaima giga) may be found.
Dinner in the campsite.
Before going to bed, it may be a good time to go on the lookout
for caimans along the river. Get yourself prepared for the adventure!
Overnight
staying in the encampment, in tents.
(B, BL, D)
DAY 05 PACAYA-SAMIRIA
(YANAYACU-PUCATE/COCHA EL DORADO)
Early
morning breakfast and birdwatching
on the way to Cocha El Dorado.
The reserve is home to different 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). The trip continues down river heading back
to the Marañon with a few stops on route, looking out for high
biodiversity spots. The river habitat is home to other interesting
species, including the Giant River Otter (Ptenerura brasiliensis),
a semi-aquatic carnivorous which loves to gather in social groups, and
easily recognizable by its groans; it is also possible to find in the
reserve the heaviest (and one of the largest) snakes on earth, the
Anaconda (Eunectes murinus), which may reach up to nine metres in
length and spend most of its time in water.
Lunch will be served on the boat since it is important to
reach the lagoon by noon. At Cocha El Dorado we shall have amazing
views of the pink dolphins swimming playfully in the dark waters of the
lake and herons gracefully gliding the water surface in search of fish.
Cocha El Dorado is a large lagoon bursting with life, offering
unparalleled opportunities
of superb wildlife viewing and photography.
It will require most of the afternoon to be explored, thus our camp site
will be placed nearby.
Dinner.
Overnight
staying in the encampment, in tents.
(B, BL, D)
DAY 06
PACAYA-SAMIRIA
(EL DORADO/YANAYACU-PUCATE)
After breakfast, we shall begin our return trip.
The motorboat will stop periodically to offer the
opportunity for further sightseeing or wildlife watching. Cold lunch along
the way.
Our
camp
site will be near the German Caño area.
Dinner.
Overnight
staying in the encampment, in tents.
(B, BL, D)
DAY 07
PACAYA-SAMIRIA
Breakfast. The return trip continues.
Cold
lunch along the way.
Our last camp site will be near the Arequipa village.
Dinner.
Overnight
staying in the encampment, in tents.
(B, BL, D)
DAY 08
PACAYA-SAMIRIA/NAUTA/IQUITOS
Breakfast and last chance to take pictures in the Pacaya-Samiria
National Reserve. After changing boats in the Santo Domingo Ranger
station, we shall continue our journey through the Marañon and Amazon rivers, to
reach Iquitos approximately by noon.
(B)
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