Sirena 2018

 

Sirena April 2018 - Rated 10!

MS Sirena was on time. It was about 1pm when we had got to the van.  I had 14 guests I guess. Knowing the market would be slow in the afternoon, I went there in the morning, bought several species of fish and also hired a friend to lure the amazing Amazon River Dolphins. Everybody had the chance to photograph them greatly as well as Great Egrets and Cormorants. The market is also a great place to give the best perspective of human impact on the fish fauna. Having done we cruised to along and between the meeting of the waters and the city. It was cloudy so Tapajos and The Amazon river encounter was not that fantastic.
It takes some 45 minutes to reach the wildlife rich Maica river. During this time I lecture about my Jewish family. My grand-father Julio Serique helped the Wickhams with the 70.000 seeds.... my father had founded the school in the little village I was born...My mother was the church caretaker...When we moved to Santarem the American priest that we received at home had an amazing school where I learned English..The confederates had done businesses with my grand father who was a merchant. The upper deck of the boat looked more like a library combined to an art gallery to best make my guests understand about the local history. The lower deck turned into a small market with native fruit and several species of fish I had previously got. The first 15 minutes of our journey we spotted band of Howler Monkeys and a Sloth.

I guess the pictures below can get you more details...

Sloth on Cecropia tree

On Trip Advisor

Reviewed by aylward57

4 Mar 2018

Amazing Amazon

We had booked Gil Serique from England and on our arrival at Santarem, Gil was waiting at the harbour gate. Unfortunately several other persons from the ship failed to turn up however this did not cause Gil a problem and we started our trip. He was so enthusiastic right from the start about what we would be seeing and experiencing throughout the day. Initially going to the local fish market we saw pink dolphins being fed but the water of the Amazon being cloudy it was only when they surfaced you had a view of them. After this we went to the quay and boarded our boat. The boat was large and spacious with more crew than passengers but again this did not affect the welcome, enthusiasm or friendliness of Gil and the crew. We were served fried fish and drinks soft and alcoholic whilst we travelled further into the river passing other boats from our cruise ship who were fishing for piranhas. As we travelled Gil gave a talk on the rubber plantations and the slavery which existed there showing paintings relating to this time. After mooring we went on smaller canoes and was able to land at other points on the river. After returning to the main boat we had barbecued fish and returned to Santarém. All in all a wonderful day with a man so into the environment it was great to see. On returning to our cruise ship and hearing what other passengers had experienced from the local trips it was apparent how much more we had experienced. I have since returning recommended this trip to our friends who will be going to the Amazon next year without any worry.

TA new review

The Amazing Amazon

Our cruise took us to Santarém and we wanted to make the very best of our trip to the Amazon. I researched other reviews and e-mailed Gil. He and his team are absolutely amazing and the enthusiasm, especially Gil’s, is beyond all bounds. Each sighting produces an effect as though this was Gil’s first time. We saw pink dolphins, many different birds and sloths in trees but the latter were high up and visible as a grey ball. All of a sudden, Gil dived into the Amazon, clearly unafraid of piranhas and headed to a tree with a three toed sloth on a lower branch. He carefully unwrapped the little fellow and brought it aboard. He showed us and then carefully returned the little fellow to his branch. Anyone heading to Santarém would be so much better with Gil than any ship excursion.

Sirena at Alter do chao

We left on time to visit Terra Rica, an area that belonged to my family from my mother side.
During the 45m drive I had a chance to share the history of my families, occupation of the area, some environmental issues, contemporary history as we drive through Belterra and above all make a short hike to my new place where I do overnight camp. I have decided not to use the trails made by my grand-parents and uncles but we still visit what is left by my family, like rubbet tree plantation, cocoa plantations, the huge kapok tree where I use to play hide and seek with my cousins and my family used to store Brazilnut sheel, avocados, piquia etc. This is place is also where the had been built and there is a nice view of the Tapajos river and it is also nice to contemplate rainforest from far away. The tour has quite been emproved!!!

On the way back we drove through Belterra and finally arrived at my property 4 hours later. We spend some 20 minutes eating drink and chatting and then the group was driven back to the tenders dock only 3 minutes from my place.

I would rate the tour 9.5 out of ten, but you better wait for a review on Trip Advisor.
Below you will find some pictures and I will post a few more (actually I am working on a video which can be more fun to see.

The gate to Terra Rica, a name given by my grand-father

At home for snacks etc

Sirena at rest

at a Kapok tree

Sirena at Alter do chao and Santarem

 The Floodplain Exploration (Maica River area)

I must say that I spent many many days and nights worried about this tour with passengers from this amazing ship. The major reason was the fact that I would not get enough water in the Maica river area.
Days before the tour I had seen on Erik Jenning's s facebook some aerial pictures he had taken recently. I gave him a ring to receive several shots he had taken of the area I like exploring. Gosh, it looked so dry!!!

My next step was to get a fast boat and check in loco. I had to see it! Cruiseship passengers have only 5 hours and I value every second.
During the morning of the previous day of the tour(16th) I took a cab to (I live at Alter do chao of course) rented a car, checked in my mother's place (she loves it) and took took care of the papers to access the port. After eating lunch with my old lady and bros I drove Flora to the school and headed to catch the fast boat for checking the site.
When I was doing the inspection trip that very afternoon I met a young man who was fishing and I hired him to help me finding a nice place to hike with my guests that would arrive on the following day. We checked an area he had recently seen a 4-metre Anaconda, I did not like the area and the snake was not there anymore anyways. I checked my second favourite place but it did not look good enough, the access was not easy.
I found a place and  I actually decided to hire the young fisherman's entire family to work for me and in the end he brought his brother who brought his family as well (how cool)!

Just to make sure I also hired 4 canoes with outboard engine, those pec pec like, to make sure I can get my guests the closest to nature.

THE DAY OF THE TOUR
I dont think I slept the previous night, I was too excited.
At ninish I drove to the port to make sure all was clear with the guards, after september 11th, they act like they working at Heathrow.
When I was driving to the port I saw a young man (about 40s) with only one leg asking for a lift.
He joined me and I learned he was from Macapa (Amazon river delta area) and was planning to return home after trying an unsucceful living in Santarem.

My time at the port's office was quite brief, I saw a bunch of old and smily friends, including my dearest brother in law, they were fun to be with and extremelly effective with the paper work. When I left the office, the man with only one leg was just standing there. I offered him a ride back, he accepted it like a child accepts a lollypop.

During the ride I learned about his misfortunes including the fact that he was broke and was sleeping on the street. He wanted to go to a local radio station and ask for help. He also mentioned that he used to roast and sell cashew nuts on his original town.
I was needing someone to roast cashew nuts for the trips and offered him that work, I invited him to come and stay at home with me as well. - You know what? Let me help him better. I decided to take him on my tour!!! - Be here at noon!! You gonna love it. I told him. 
We shared an orange juice and I drove to the port to meet my guests.
Two boats, over 15 people hired including Denise Maia (Raul's wife), as a photo and film maker. That could not go wrong! all my trips turn out great, that was not going to be an exception. 
Sloths were seen, several pink dolphins and lots of birds. Great time, great fun. You have done it again Gil!

When I was changing dollars with a business friend of mine, he offered me a windsurf sail for free, well, he wanted me to place a sticker with his new shop logotype on it in return. I had just bought a new second hand sail and I offered him to do it for free.

Wait! The four boats had no cushions...The following day I saw this young and quite successful business man again and suggested him to share the cost with me of some confortable cushions which are actually ready, I will stick his logotype on them and the owners of the canoes, that did an excellent work will be happy have them I guess. I will get them on Monday and use on my next cruiseship tour in November.

What about the man with one leg, for god sake???
He disappeared, just like he had appeared. He was god checking me out. I hate when God does it!!! Give me a break man, you dont trust me right, come on.....Enjoy the pictures!!!

Sirena on the catwalk

Contemplating one of the 5 sloths found

During inspection

Pink Dolphin watching