Remote Upper Amazon Peru Expedition Cruise - P1 of 6

24 February to 3 March 2018

Quest Nature Tours and University of British Columbia Alumni

Zafiro was our comfortable riverboat with luxurious cabins, beautiful lounge and dining room, and open upper deck for wildlife viewing. During our cruise we travelled 1095 km on the Ucayali, Marañon and Amazon Rivers in Peru.

A special thank you to all the travellers for choosing this expedition and bringing along energy, enthusiasm, fun and good spotting of wildlife. I'd like to recognize everyone who made our trip so successful: Captain and crew of Zafiro; Freddy Avalos, expedition leader and our three naturalists guides; and our study leader, Darren Irwin of the University of British Columbia. I also thank Justin Peter of Quest Nature Tours and Laurielle Penny of Worldwide Quest for asking me to be the leader on this Amazon Adventure.

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VIDEO LINK: The Amazon River starts here in Peru at the confluence of Marañon and Ucayali Rivers just upriver from Iquitos.

During the Rainy Season from December to May the Ucayali, Marañon and Amazon Rivers flood in this area. While we were cruising, waters were still rising and expected to reach highest levels in late April-May. This annual cycle of life is fascinating.

VIDEO LINK: We explored rivers and tributaries in our skiffs.

We carefully explored flooded areas along the rivers and tributaries looking for birds and other wildlife.

Lush vegetation coats the banks of the rivers.

Early morning skiff ride and picnic breakfast at Pacaya River on 28 February 2018. Our guides and drivers did many amazing things to make this an adventure to remember.

The Amazon is an essential transportation route to the city of Iquitos and surrounding areas since there are no connecting roads in and out of Iquitos.

When the river is flooded more vessels can make it upstream.

We are in the main plaza of Iquitos in front of The Iron House (Casa de Fierro), a famous piece of architecture. Its design is generally attributed to Gustave Eiffel in France. During the rubber boom in 1890 it was brought to Peru, where men carried each sheet through the Amazon jungle to Iquitos because there were no roads. The pieces were reassembled to build the house we see today. This version of the building's origin is now disputed, but for me it's still The Iron House. 24 February 2018.

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