April 21st - Day 2 Amazon

We started out our second day in the rainforest with a hike to an ox-bow lake that was near the lodge. An ox-bow lake is a natural formation created when the river carves out a new path, leaving a lake that is separated from the rest of the river. We paddled in a canoe around the lake and saw wild turkeys, crested birds called hoati and heard the cries of howler monkeys. On the way back from the lake we saw a family of saddle-back tamarins make their way across the middle level of trees in the forest by jumping from branch to branch. 

Our next stop was the canopy tower and a 40 meter climb up to the top of the viewing platform where we stood above the forest looking down at the trees. From there we were able to see black and white toucans and macaws. It was pretty incredible to be that high up and be able to look down at the top of the trees and the students got some spectacular pictures. Of course I forgot my camera below. 

When we got back to the lodge it was time to pack up and take the boat to our final destination, Tambopata Research Center (TRC). The TRC is a four hour boat ride past Refugio Amazonas and to get there we had to pass the second check point that indicated that we had now entered the reserve zone. The reserve zone is a protected area and although the native communities are allowed to hunt and fish there, there is no habitation. It is supposed to be one of the best places in the Amazon for viewing wildlife and we were looking forward to getting there. Our four hour boat ride was serene and blissful. On the way we saw lots of capybaras on the riverbank and stopped for a while at a clay-lick to see if we would be able to watch macaws feeding on the clay. Although we didn't see them feeding we saw lots of macaws in the trees, scarlet, blue and yellow, and green macaws. They were just gorgeous and we watched them flying in pairs as they crossed the trees. Totally worth the half hour we spent waiting for them.

As soon as we got to the lodge we were given a quick orientation before setting out for our first hike on one of the trails. The TRC is a much smaller lodge than the previous one and they are not planning to expand in order to minimize the environmental impact. There are only 18 rooms and part of the staff includes three scientists who are researching macaws as part of a macaw conservation project. Tomorrow night we will get to hear a lecture by the scientists on the project.

The TRC has several distinct habitats surrounding it. Our first hike was over the flood plain and we donned knee high rubber boots and went sloshing through wet sticky mud (actually we were told this would happen each time we went hiking since we are still at the end of the rainy season). Some of us enjoy this more than others (personally I think it's great fun). Listen pointed out many trees and plants including a 1000 year old massive tree known as the 'iron tree'. We later found out that there are trees as old as1500 years in the rainforest. Pretty unbelievable. We also saw brown capuchin monkeys high up in the tree tops. 

After returning from our hike we met as a group before dinner to discuss the readings that the students had done to prepare for the class and also evaluated last week's experiences on the trek and in Machu Picchu. It was a tired group that went to bed at night and we have to wake up and be ready by 5 a.m. the next morning to visit another colpa (clay lick) to see if we can spot the macaws feeding at it. No rest for the adventurous : ) I am telling the students that they can sleep after they get home. Hopefully they'll keep buying that line a bit longer. On the plus side, everyone is in bed by 9:30 p.m. I bet that hasn't happened in over a decade for them.