On our last trip to the Peruvian Amazon, we experienced firsthand one of the most biodiversity regions on the planet. The Amazon covers nearly 2/3rds of Peru, yet remains one of the least populated and protects an insane amount of flora and fauna diversity. During our Amazonian expedition, we saw pink and gray river dolphins, a jungle full of monkeys, and a collection of animals, insects, and plants that took our breath away.
It was hot, humid and absolutely one of the coolest experiences from our many travels.
As a part of our Peruvian Treasures Collection, A Few Pink Friends (one of our latest prints) was created to highlight the incredible wildlife only the Amazon could produce. It highlights a few, amongst the many, of the native species in the Amazon we came to admire, including the pink dolphin, the owl monkey, and the passion flower Passiflora.
Fun fact: Passiflora is one of our favorite plants because it produces maracujá (ma·ra·ku·ya) aka passion fruit. Maracujá is a common ingredient in Peru and can be found in juices, smoothies, desserts, and sweet and savory sauces. In Peru, you’ll find us eating maracujá all day long but a few of our favorites are maracujá cheesecake, maracujá ice cream, and the infamous maracujá pisco sour. Beware, the maracujá pisco sour is as strong as it is delicious.
Another one of our Amazon favorites is the mythical creature the pink dolphin. Though the subject of much South American folklore, the Amazon pink river dolphin is actually as real as can be. We’ve seent it!
Native to South America, the pink river dolphins are a species of toothed whales. As its name suggests, the pink river dolphin is most recognizable by its unique color making it a huge draw for explorers of the Peruvian Amazon. The dolphins are actually born gray but slowly turn pink as they age. Male dolphins are strikingly pinker than their female counterparts thought to be a product of scar tissue resulting from rough games or fighting over conquests.
One of our most memorable experiences was watching the sunset on the Amazon with the dolphins. Just before dusk, we boated along the Yarapa and Ucayali rivers until we reached the Amazon River. The famous freshwater pink and gray dolphins of the Amazon started to appear near our boat while the sunset provided the perfect backdrop.
We patiently waited and soon saw flashes of their sparkling pink and gray skin as they gently swam above the water to say hello. As we quietly observed the dolphins, the river became ablaze with the reflection of the setting sun. We watched peacefully as it bathed the clouds in golden light then disappeared behind the skyline of the Amazon rainforest. We took a moment to breathe in the freshest air on the planet and listened to the sounds of the Peruvian Amazon as we started to welcome nightfall.
Part 3 coming soon!
