We walked on terra firme today, which is land that is never covered by the fluctuating waters of the Amazon River. The pristine primary forest of this protected area, which buffers and helps preserve the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve, was astounding. We hiked under massive trees that towered dozens of meters above our heads, and the suspended bridges that we crossed gave us a different perspective of our surroundings. Back onboard, we had a presentation by the Shaman Carola, one of very few women to achieve this status in the area, who explained the use of some medicinal plants, many of which we had seen during our hike. In the afternoon we investigated Nauta Caño, finding monk saki and squirrel monkeys, and some saddleback tamarins, plus dozens of birds. The very successful day was not over yet, and after dinner many of us took the chance to go ashore for a night walk.
10/8/2022
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Delfin II
Amazon Village and Casual Forest
We have had an astonishing week full of the kind of unfathomable experiences that only happen once in a lifetime. Tomorrow, we will be back to another jungle built with cement and other kinds of wildlife. But this morning, we are visiting a very small community at the foot of the Amazon River. People living here are poor in possessions but rich in a very natural way of living, and you see very happy people everywhere. Our guests enjoyed interacting with locals, eating their food, and learning how they use local materials found in the jungle for agriculture, fishing, and handicrafts. Minga Peru is a non-governmental institution. The Lindblad Fund supports these communities in the Upper Amazon through education and by empowering people, especially women, to develop job skills, create jobs with better incomes, and eradicate domestic violence. In the afternoon, we went to Casual Forest. With the help of some local, expert guides, we explored the jungle. The site is home to many creatures, like tarantulas, tiny frogs, and boas. We observed many medicinal trees. This outing was a great learning experience for our guests. Once we got back on board, we enjoyed a farewell cocktail party with all the crewmembers. Our guests were very happy after a great week exploring the Amazon of Peru. Our week was very special. We found capybaras and large caimans during our nocturnal outing, and the highlight was spotting a big jaguar resting on the riverbank of the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve. To celebrate the end of our memorable journey, our talented crew performed in the dining room. They played some local music and danced. We will depart in the morning for Iquitos, where we will visit the Manatee Center and the city’s boulevard. We had a wonderful time together. We made new friends and will remember this trip forever. Cheers to Peru!
