The Elusive Pink River Dolphin in Ecuador

A legendary dolphin can be found roaming the Amazon’s waters

In the mysterious murky waters of The Amazon River resides a delightfully strange creature – the freshwater Amazon River Dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) or “Boto”. This pinkish-grey, semi-blind dolphin lives only in the rivers of The Amazon and Orinoco river basins through Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Guyana, Bolivia and Brazil and is one of the few freshwater dolphins in the world.

Just like their marine cousins, these incredibly unique mammals use echolocation to navigate the waters of the rivers, but since visibility is so low in The Amazon’s waters their eyesight is very limited and they rely even more heavily on vibrations. They eat a variety of fish and crustaceans and can grow to be over 2.8 meters (9 ft) long and weigh more than 140 kgs (300lbs)! You might notice the odd elongated snout of the river dolphin when compared to saltwater dolphins, this is said to be helpful in the digging up of different food items buried in the muddy river banks.

In local legends, these odd-looking, yet adorable, dolphins have the magical ability of turning into a man and coming ashore, and local guides may tell you intriguing stories of early foriegn researchers in the jungle who say they had been mistaken for these magical shape shifters.

Since most travel is done by boat along the river you have many opportunities to view these amazing animals, and though no wildlife sighting is ever guaranteed, continued protection of these areas for ecotourism helps to protect the dolphins and increase the chances of seeing one. Ask us about our Amazon Rainforest Journeys today! or even better visit us at La Selva Amazon Jungle Lodge offers opportunities for cultural exchange, photography, adventure, hiking, relaxation, birdwatching and wildlife observation. The area surrounding La Selva ranks among the word’s hotspots for bird species in the Neo-Tropics, due to its ideal location on the border of Yasuni National Park. Thanks to this stunning biodiversity and our top-notch guides, you will have the chance to see unique flora and fauna while visiting our Amazon lodge.