Pacaya Samira Reserve
The Pacaya Samira Reserve and is bordered by the Marañón River to the north, the Ucayali River to the south and a third river to the west. It consists of 5 million acres protected by 60 rangers who live there for 40 days at a time. We are exploring the southern perimeter.
Our guides explained this is a Reserve, vs. a Park - the difference being that people live inside the Reserve. Our guide (Segundo) told us there are 208 villages and 92,000 people at the Reserve. 92 villages (24,000) people live inside, and the remaining live outside in the edges called buffers. 95% of the Reserve is flat forest; so the mammals have a hard time when water is high like now.
Sloth Day!
Sunset/After Dark (Pacaya River)
Tonight we park the skiff in the middle of giant lily pads (Victoria Amazonica). Our boat driver and guides pass out hot ginger tea and snacks at sunset. After sunset it is Mosquito Happy Hour (!), followed directly by the arrival of many bats. Many bats.
- long-nosed bats
- jamaican fruit eating bats
- fishing bats
Bug Band!
<To my sister, Jenny!>: The Bug Band performed flawlessly!!! Here is a second link from the Bug Band at Dusk (aka Mosquito Happy Hour!)
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| Photo by Renzo |
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| Caimin. Segundo scooped it right out of water, in the dark & in moving skiff! |
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Eyes glow read - just like I read about!
This was a White Caiman. Other two species are Black & Dwarf. |
Stargazing
Stargazing that takes my breath away. The guides tell us they use the southern cross there, not the north star to navigate. Makes sense. I laid on my back to take in the full night sky.
On the skiff ride home, we pull the skiff up under a Great Potoo (nocturnal bird and related to the nightjar) perched high in a tree. I am in awe at the skiff driver's ability to night-navigate through the creeks, with trees limbs and night wildlife, back to the river and big boat.
Anti-Malaria Pills
Few of us are still taking these. I am though. Several were ill (top & bottom ill) and attributed it to their pills. I have had no side effects, and suspect it may be because when given the choice between the two, I chose the one (Malarone) with fewer/diminished side effects.
Hot Sauce
At the end of every dinner’s buffet, there is freshly made hot sauce or pico de gallo. Each night it’s a different color and heat; and I have enjoyed them all. Colleen and Kim from Canada speculated this was intended as a natural flush of potential parasites from our bodies. This was later confirmed by the crew.
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| Dung Beetles are ALL over the top deck's floor when we wake up. The crew sweeps early morning; so most guests never see them. I was fascinated with the quantity and daily recurrence! |
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| Moth on my patio window |
Link to next post:
Swimming & Piranha Fishing!
Harpy Hour included a new band (same 7 crew members plus Renzo). This band was named 'The Yellow Anacondas' in honor of today’s sighting in the jungle!
