You'll want your binoculars and camera for this early morning boat excursion to the Yarapa Creek for birdwatching. The Yarapa is known for it's many hidden lakes where you'll find the primitive Hoatzin Birds nesting in thorny palm trees, and Horned Screamers roosting on giant lily pads. Breakfast.
Leave the Yarapa behind continuing south up the Amazon, (remember, the current of the river flows south to north) where you´ll pass through the joining of the river the Ucayali and Maranon. This is the actual point where the two great rivers meet to form the Amazon River.
Continue up the Marañon River making a brief stop in the small town of Nauta before arriving at the mouth of the Yanayacu-Pucate River, the entrance into the Reserve. Look for large groups of pink dolphin feeding here.
Stop in the village of 20 de Enero (January 20th) to visit forest police checkpoint. (You will also get a chance to see the artificial beaches where villagers are raising Taricaya and Charapa Turtle eggs as part of the reserve's conservation efforts). Continue up the Yanayacu to the village of Yarina.
Interchange experience about local and native life. Yarina is the last settlement on the Yanayacu River and will be our base. Here you'll get a chance to stretch your legs with a late morning hike along the Shushupe Trail, where you may see Squirrel Monkeys, Huapo Negros, Pichicho, or White Mustachioed Tamarins. We have also seen larger rodents like Anuje, and Majaz scurrying along the path, and endless trails of Leaf Cutter Ants. Lunch.
Continue up river to Japon Cocha (Lake Japan) where you will discover an amazing diversity of giant trees and palms. This lake is literally teeming with aquatic fauna such as King Fishers, Horned Screamers, White Heron wading on the banks of the lake, and trees filled with Cormorants, and Anhingas. Squirrel Monkeys, Woolies, and Tamarins are abundant. You and your guide will also paddle your way into the Quebrada Martin Caño to explore. Return to Lake Japan. Dinner camp out in tents at the lake. |