Amazonia

My voyage into the Amazon jungle begins on a cargo boat. There is only one road that goes to Iquitos, but it is only within the jungle. As a result, the only way to get into Iquitos is by air or water. I chose the boat route. Every few days, cargo boats will leave Yurimaguas and float downriver for three days (during the less rainy season, more during the rainy season). While most passengers choose to just sling up a hammock on deck for 80 soles, I opted for a bunk bed in a cabin for 140 soles.

Food was basic, chicken over rice or chicken soup and milk flavored with cinamon or bananas for breakfast.  Not the best of food, but it kept me satiated for the trip.

sunset along the Rio Marañon

do I see a cowboy in the clouds? or have I been on the boat too long?

 pink dolphins lurk in these waters- they move rather quickly and getting a photo of them proved difficult

double rainbow on the Amazon River

Upon arrival into Iquitos, I was able to book a tour at the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve for three days and two nights with eight other people. We took a speed boat (or rather a boat with a motor attached in the back that is speedier than a cargo boat) for three hours back up the Rio Marañon and along another river to our first camp. Along the way, we saw many birds, including macaws, storks, and a few hawks.  

After dinner on the first night, we took a hike through the forest for a couple hours to look for nocturnal animals. It was amazing how easily these things can be found in the dark. Our guides would just shine  a light at trees or ruffle up some leaves and branches on the floor and something was bound to show up.

froggy long legs

this tarantula was missing three legs. perhaps that is why we were able to catch him

bullfrog

 itty bitty frog that is the size of a fifty cent coin

 piranha fishing.  It´s true about the powerful teeth. Our guide put the machete in the mouth and we could hear the teeth chomping down on the metal.

I think our guide called this a kingfisher bird in the center of this photo

a prehistoric fish. The fins on the side and the white stripes on the side were made of an almost sharp but soft cartilege

 a flock of macaws flying overhead

the body of this piranha was used as bait for fishing.  Apparently fish are cannibals

on the second day, we floated along the river in search of alligators and eventually found this girl.  At first, she kept making honking noises, in search of her mama. We saw the mama nearby, but she did not attack us. 

 another flock of macaws

 a sloth is pulled down from a tree along the river

the sloth returns to her spot up in the tree

a friendly lizard lurks near our hut

 more backs of the elusive pink dolphins

It´s really hot and humid down here, of course. The mosquitos are always about, but I suspect that it would be much worse towards the end of the year, when the rainfall doubles. During our three days, it only rained once and it was on the way back to Iquitos.

I am going back into the jungle, about 50 km upriver, along the Rio Ucayali for a week. Hopefully I will only see a jaguar and not get eaten by a jaguar.