Every day there are at least two activities. A morning activity, lunch/rest time and then an afternoon activity. After dinner there are also options of walkabouts or going out on the river for a night paddle.
For our morning activity we headed back up river to complete the canoeing into the jungle that was rained out the afternoon before. After switching to the canoe we headed directly into the jungle. This is when we first started to appreciate Nixon's amazing skills. He pointed the canoe into an area of trees and brush. He carefully weaved and bobbed his way through until we came to an opening which was actually a grass covered lake. He carries with him at all times a machete that he uses to clear small brush (and hopefully protect us if we were ever attacked by an anaconda). Watching him use the machete is a site to behold. Even though the brush is thick he clears only the smallest path. Anything that needs to be taken out that is less than about an inch and a half in diameter is usually removed with one swing. How he got us in and out so easily is beyond me.
We spotted the Hoatzin Bird almost immediately after getting to the opening. This bird is about the size of a chicken. They live mainly in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins. Their head has a very distinctive crown of colorful feathers. One other unusual trait about them is that their stomach is similar to a cows with multiple stomachs. Very unique looking which is why it has been incorporated into the Amazonia Expeditions logo.
In the afternoon we went down river to a large beautiful lake for a swim. The water felt really nice. It was spring fed by numerous springs so the temperature would constantly change as we moved around alternating from warm to refreshingly cool. There are two types of freshwater dolphins (Gray and Pink) that live in the lake. We saw several of them close up, however they only surface for a short time for a quick breath so we never caught them on the camera.
On the way back to the lodge we enjoyed another refreshing afternoon rain (aquatic massage), after all we are in the rainforest.
For our morning activity we headed back up river to complete the canoeing into the jungle that was rained out the afternoon before. After switching to the canoe we headed directly into the jungle. This is when we first started to appreciate Nixon's amazing skills. He pointed the canoe into an area of trees and brush. He carefully weaved and bobbed his way through until we came to an opening which was actually a grass covered lake. He carries with him at all times a machete that he uses to clear small brush (and hopefully protect us if we were ever attacked by an anaconda). Watching him use the machete is a site to behold. Even though the brush is thick he clears only the smallest path. Anything that needs to be taken out that is less than about an inch and a half in diameter is usually removed with one swing. How he got us in and out so easily is beyond me.
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| Nixon paddled us straight in to what you see. I think we went about 500-600 yards in to the lake that was covered with grass |
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| He navigated us through here.....somehow |
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| Nixon calling caiman and various birds. His ability to imitate the sounds animals make was amazing |
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| This is a "walking tree. As the roots grow and spread the tree actually very, very slowly moves. |
We spotted the Hoatzin Bird almost immediately after getting to the opening. This bird is about the size of a chicken. They live mainly in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins. Their head has a very distinctive crown of colorful feathers. One other unusual trait about them is that their stomach is similar to a cows with multiple stomachs. Very unique looking which is why it has been incorporated into the Amazonia Expeditions logo.
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| Not a great picture but this is the Hoatzin Bird https://nerdist.com/miracles-of-weird-the-hoatzin/ |
In the afternoon we went down river to a large beautiful lake for a swim. The water felt really nice. It was spring fed by numerous springs so the temperature would constantly change as we moved around alternating from warm to refreshingly cool. There are two types of freshwater dolphins (Gray and Pink) that live in the lake. We saw several of them close up, however they only surface for a short time for a quick breath so we never caught them on the camera.
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| The water was cool in spots and warm in others. It was fed by multiple small springs https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/amazon-river-dolphin |
On the way back to the lodge we enjoyed another refreshing afternoon rain (aquatic massage), after all we are in the rainforest.
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| Red Squirrel and a mouthful |
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 Hawk |
