We arrived at Manu Learning Centre just in time for lunch. We were introduced to the staff and showed our rooms which housed only beds with overhead mosquito nets. Toilets and Showers were communal in an adjacent outbuilding.

Straight after lunch we set off to explore an oxbow lake. An oxbow lake is a U - shaped body of water formed when a wide meander from the main stem of a river is cut off to create a lake. This landform is so named for its distinctive curved shape. It is quite typical for the Amazon and I already had a chance to see then from the plan when flying over Brazilian and Peruvian Amazon rainforest. We jumped into our wellies and took a boat, wellies off in the boat for safety in case boat capsizes. First animal we sw from the boat was a family of capibaras. So so cute! Probably my favourite seen animal so far. Just like a massive hamster. They are the biggest roddents in the world and are related to guinea pigs…. Cuy is a Spanish for guinea pig and I am still to taste this delicasy.We also seen yellow birds called Oropendolas, which create lovely hanging down nests and we will see them a lot during our visit to Manu.

To get to the oxbow lake we had to get off the boat then walk through a river bank, a forest and swamps - hence the wellies. We got to the bank of the oxbow lake and switched onto a balsa boat, very light boat owned by the community. The place was extremely green and the trees were reflecting in the water. Ronnie navigated the boat, I sat at a very goos location at the front. Ronnie forbid us to speak so we don't scare the birds so we moved slowely through the lake in silence. Only sounds were the ones made by the forest. We managed to get really close to many of the birds as you can see in the pictures. Also I spotted a lizard. Ronnie showed us wasps nest and also massive termites nest.

We got back to the Centre just in time before the sunset, I got cold shower and rushed for the dinner that we ate with the Centre's volunteers and our guide. After dinner a few volunteers gave us an introduction in what research project they are involved in Manu, such as butterflies, frogs or mammals. I ask Ronnie in the past if we will be able to see Reynaldo, the rainforest hero they call him, about whom I found out from the video watched on YouTube. Unfortunately he wasn't going to be in the centre but after the information session Ronnie played for the others this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnOTbVxOPZw

Early start tomorrow, 5am. Again...