Delfin I & Delfin II (4 days / 3 nights)
DELFIN I
4d/3n program: Fixed departures on Fridays
DELFIN II
4d/3n program: Fixed departures on Sundays
Day 1: Iquitos – Delfin
In the afternoon transfer by bus to Nauta, 95 km northwest of Iquitos, by the Maranon River.
On this tour we can appreciate ‘Terra Firme’, a non flooded forest. Upon arrival (approx. 7 pm), we board the Delfin and start navigation. We will have a fantastic panoramic view from the observation terrace while we enjoy an exotic cocktail.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Yanallpa, Belluda Stream or Jungle walks and El Dorado River
Rainy season (December-May) – Belluda Stream exploration
At 7 am aboard the skiffs, we explore this black water stream and start learning about the rainforest. We are now in the Pacaya-Samiria national reserve, where we have the chance to see its amazing wildlife. From the skiff we can easily spot parrots, macaws and monkeys, such as the monk Saki monkey and we might see the saddle-back tamarin monkey.
Dry season (June-November) – Hiking at the community of Yanallpa
We disembark at Yanallpa to start our morning hike where we have the opportunity to spot species such as the snail kite, black tailed ant bird, manikins, tanagers, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, nun birds, orioles, blackbirds, etc, as well as tall trees filled with epiphytes, woody vines and many varieties of palm trees. After an hour we reach a lovely lagoon where we will enjoy sailing in a couple of dugout canoes. Here we can watch a great number of birds. This lagoon is filled with endangered fresh water fish, such as the Paiche, the largest in the Amazon basin, which can weigh more than 80kg (170 lbs). At 11:00 hrs we hike back to the skiffs, which take us to the boat to continue upstream towards our next destination.
In the afternoon we explore the El Dorado River, a beautiful black water river within the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve. Here we encounter gray and pink river dolphins, and we can enjoy a unique opportunity to swim among them! In this area we search for monkeys, macaws and toucans. We can also spot iguanas laze in the sun and Squirrel Monkeys. At sunset, we return to the boat to continue our trip to our next destination.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3: Puinahua Pacaya River – Atun Poza Lagoon
Today we wake up very early. At 06:00 hrs we enter the beautiful Pacaya River, protected area within the National Reserve; we pass by the guardhouse and continue our exploration. Filled with lakes, palm swamps and streams, the reserve becomes a flooded forest in the rainy season, where we can see parrots, macaws, toucans, kingfishers, black collared hawks, among others, as well as troops of squirrel monkeys and small family groups of red howler monkeys. We also spot the huge ceiba or kapok trees, mahogany trees, strangler figs, epiphytes such as bromeliads and orchids, palm trees and woody vines and enjoy watching the dolphins while they feed.
At 11:00 hrs we return to the boat to continue our trip.
Rainy season (December-May) – Atun Poza expedition by skiff
In the afternoon we arrive at Atun Poza Lagoon on board our skiffs, where we spot several species of egrets, herons, hawks, long-legged neotropical cormorants. We also have a chance to explore other black water lagoons linked to this huge lake, where Wattled jacanas as well as a wide variety of spiders, grasshoppers, dragonflies, butterflies, moths, beetles, etc. We will have an excellent opportunity of seeing social spiders and how their webs embrace huge parts of a tree.
Dry season (June-November) – Hiking to Atun Poza
This afternoon we hike through this pristine and unique ecosystem, passing through a classic tropical rainforest with emergent trees and canopy trees reaching up to 55 mts. in height. Many trees have buttress roots which often extend high up the trunks while palms are abundant and many of them have stilt roots. Biologically, this kind of forest is probably one of the richest habitats on earth, supporting the most species of plants and animals per unit area. Our target is the giant ceiba or kapok tree with its large diameter. In this scenery it is also possible to see giant otters, bluish-fronted jacamars, collared trogons, red-capped cardinals, etc.
By 18:30 hrs we return back to our boat.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4: Puerto Miguel Village – Yarapa River – Nauta
On board our skiffs we stop at the village of Puerto Miguel to meet local villagers, where we have the chance to learn about their culture, traditions and folklore. Then we explore the Yarapa river; where there’s a good chance to see squirrel and capuchin monkeys, herons, egrets and green iguanas. Then we reach Uvos lagoon, with a great variety of bromeliads and orchids and we can spot pink river dolphins.
At 11:00 hrs we return to our vessel to continue our sailing downstream to the confluence of the Ucayali and Maranon, birthplace of the Amazon River.
After lunch we disembark in Nauta, where a bus will be waiting to take us back to Iquitos. At 15:30 we arrive at the airport.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Note: All the itineraries are subject to change due to weather conditions and other non predictable issues. All hours mentioned are approximate and are also subject to change.
