As I journeyed toward Parintins on the riverboat, I couldn't help but feel excited. About 6mi (10km) before the town, the boat turned into a narrow channel, where I hopped off onto a two-person canoe, ready for my next adventure. A short paddle later, I entered a floodplain stretching before me, the water reflecting the vast blue sky above.
You may recall from my earlier postcard that a floodplain is formed when the river swells during the wet season, flooding the surrounding forests and creating a network of lakes and channels. One of the largest lakes I came across was the Lago da Madabá Grande, surrounded by several smaller lakes.
But what made this experience truly special was the slow, tranquil movement of the water. As I paddled gently, my senses were in tune with the sounds around me, the calls and songs of birds, creating a symphony in the background.
Venturing closer to the forest's edge, I couldn't help but admire the thick palm trees and dense underbrush. My eyes were drawn upwards when I spotted squirrel monkeys darting from branch to branch in large groups. These small monkeys, barely weighing 3lbs (1.4kg), rustled through the canopy, their noise echoing throughout the forest.
After some time, I found myself paddling in a narrow channel, branches looming over the stream, appearing as though they were suspended above the water. Other parts of the riverbanks were dry and sparsely vegetated, creating a fascinating contrast in scenery. Eventually, my journey led me to the Nhamundá River, one of the northern tributaries of the Amazon. This 187mi (300km) river acts as the north boundary between the states of Amazonas and Pará, which I am about to cross into.
For now, I will relish
floating on the river for a few more miles until I reboard the riverboat and
reunite with the Amazon River.
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