Imagine a boat full of tourist cruising up and down the Amazon River in the dark looking for snakes and caiman. It sounds like the plot of a bad horror movie doesn’t it? You know the one where the giant anaconda tips over the boat and eats all the tourists.
I can tell you that it was nothing like that. It was however one of my favorite experiences during a week long cruise on the Amazon River in Peru. During the week we spent a lot of time in small boats know as Skiffs looking for wildlife up and down the river. Only once did we do it at night so we could find the animals that were not active during the day.
One Of The Skiff Boats
The skiff ride this time took us about an hour away from our home ship up the Pacaya River, which is a tributary of the Amazon river. The destination for the ride was a large lake located on the river.
The ride to the lake was done at full speed and we did not spend much time looking for our usual photo prey; monkeys, birds and sloths. We did have one extended stop to check out some amazing giant lily pads. These lily pads were located in the middle of river plants and we had to pull the skiffs about 50 feet into the plants to see them. Our guides seemed to know exactly where to find them because there was no way we could spot them from the boat.
Amazon Giant Lily Pads
Giant Lily Pads on the Amazon River
After the stop for the lily pads we headed towards the lake. Once at the lake we watched one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen while drinking ginger tea and eating snacks.
Sunset on the Amazon River
Sunset Reflection on the Amazon
After the sunset it was time to search for some animals. We again pulled into some dense river plants and our guides instructed us to take out our flashlights and start looking for snakes, caiman and frogs. It did not take our guide long to spot the first small frog. The frog was only the beginning though.
Small Amazon River Frog
The next thing you know our guide was hanging off the front of the boat trying to grab something in the water. He then stands up with a small caiman in his hand. I have no idea how he caught it but I was glad the mother was not around to see what was going on. The caiman was shown around the boat and the required photos were taken before it was placed back in the water.
Amazon River Caiman
The only other creature that was found was a small snake. Definitely not something that was going to attack the boat.
Not so scary!
We were all satisfied with the animals that we had found and it was time to head back to the main ship. The ride back was in the dark with only moonlight and the occasional use of the spotlight to guide us. The guides really knew this river well to navigate us out of it at full speed in the dark. After about an hour we arrived back at the ship to find it was decorated in colorful lights for Christmas. We all enjoyed our Italian themed Christmas Eve dinner which include the piranha that we had caught that morning.
Would you like to take a boat ride at night on the Amazon River?
Traveling Ted says
January 29, 2014 at 3:17 PMIt looks like the trip was worth it just for the amazing sunset. Cool you saw a little caiman and snake too.
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Jeff says
January 29, 2014 at 3:23 PMIt was a great trip. The sunsets were unforgettable.
Gray says
January 29, 2014 at 5:36 PMYeah, I think I’ll enjoy it vicariously through you, Jeff. No snakes for me, I don’t care how small they are. But that sunset….wow! Beautiful.
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Jeff says
January 29, 2014 at 6:53 PMI will have more pictures up soon. There is only one more snake picture but I will warn you first.
EverywhereAmy says
January 30, 2014 at 7:57 AMGorgeous sunset photos! Looks like a grand adventure.
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Jeff says
January 30, 2014 at 8:49 AMThanks. It really was a great time.
Nicole says
January 30, 2014 at 11:34 AMWow great sunset shots! The colors are awesome. The Amazon is on my bucket list. One day…
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Jeff says
January 30, 2014 at 2:39 PMI am sure that you will make it there soon.
Katie Featherstone says
February 1, 2014 at 8:47 AMI’ve wanted to do this since I was a kid- the Amazon is fascinating. Love your sunset photos!
Jeff says
February 1, 2014 at 10:07 AMI really did not know what to expect before I went there but it was very interesting.
Elena says
February 2, 2014 at 7:52 PMBeautiful pictures! What an amazing journey.
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Jeff says
February 6, 2014 at 3:23 PMThanks. It was a lot of fun.
Matt says
February 6, 2014 at 5:14 AMYou’ll be hard pressed to beat a sunset on the water! And the snake just wanted to join in on the fun, get some pictures maybe lol
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Jeff says
February 6, 2014 at 3:24 PMI agree with that. We have some pretty spectacular sunsets here in Arizona but there is no water around.
Silvia says
February 28, 2014 at 11:38 PMWow, gorgeous photos – such colors! You’re really selling the Amazon to me, ha.
Jeff says
March 1, 2014 at 12:08 PMIt is a really amazing place.
Jamie S. says
March 27, 2014 at 1:59 AMAmazon always reminds me of the Klaus Kinsky movie, Fitzcaraldo..every time.. Hats off, the sunset pictures are stunning — I say whisky in one hand and a cigar in the other would be quite fitting, too:)
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Jeff says
March 27, 2014 at 10:27 AMIt’s funny that you bring up Fitzcaraldo. I went with my Dad and that is one of his favorite movies. We even saw the Fitzcaraldo house in Iquitos.
Marcello Arrambide says
March 28, 2014 at 8:58 AMI’ll definitely take a boat ride on the Amazon! Never had the chance to but maybe next time 🙂
Jeff says
April 7, 2014 at 5:21 PMIf you get a chance you should definitely do it.