DAY TWO
Today was a true expedition day—nearly 10 hours of exploration. Because low water levels prevented the Manatee from anchoring closer to our destination, our motorized canoe became our primary base for the day. While it meant a lot of time on the water, it was the necessary price of admission to reach Yasuní National Park.
Yasuní is one of the most biodiverse spots on the planet. While much of the Amazon shriveled during the last Ice Age, this area remained a lush, wet forest that acted as a “lifeboat” for thousands of species. Today, it’s an unparalleled sanctuary: a single hectare (or about two soccer pitches) holds more tree diversity than the U.S. and Canada combined!
Blushing Pink Dolphins
We began our morning searching for the Amazon’s legendary pink river dolphins. Unlike their acrobatic ocean cousins, these dolphins don’t leap, making them a challenge to photograph. We did spot several, watching as their color intensified with activity—much like a human face flushes during a workout.
Search for the Anakonda
Next, we wound our way into Jatun Cocha, a blackwater lagoon, in search of green anacondas. As our canoe slid along the tall grasses, we nervously scanned for sunbathing snakes. While the anacondas were keeping a low profile, the jungle provided plenty of “consolation prizes:” leaping white-fronted capuchin monkeys, massive kapok trees with buttressed roots, and electric-blue morpho butterflies that looked like flickering neon lights against the green canopy.
Piranha Fishing 101
After a sack lunch on the boat, we tried our hand at piranha fishing in the tea-stained water. The secret to catching a piranha? Raw beef, of course. While it was slow-going at first, patience paid off when a few fellow passengers landed a catch. Our guide, Kevin, carefully pulled back the lip to reveal the razor-sharp teeth that give these fish their fierce reputation.
[ Related: Amazon River Cruise with Teens & Young Adults: What You Need to Know ]
Secoya Village Visit
Our last stop of the day was a Secoya village, an Indigenous community of about 800. Online, this visit is often framed as deep cultural immersion, but the reality can feel quite different. On the day we arrived, the men were away on a hunt, and the interactive parts of our tour—like the making of casabe (yuca flatbread) and traditional face painting—simply didn’t happen. Instead, the visit was brief and primarily centered on a small market of handcrafted jewelry. The experience felt more like a quick commercial transaction than a meaningful look into jungle life.
KidTripster Tip: At most village visits, there’s an opportunity to buy handicrafts. Bring small denominations of U.S. cash to make purchases.
We returned to the ship 10 hours after we’d left—tired, windswept, and very ready for a hot shower, cocktail, and multi-course dinner.
Keep reading: On our third day we had a Nat Geo moment we’ll never forget.
