We arose bright and early for our very first excursion into the Amazon, and it was like someone had put in a request to the dolphins. Pink and gray dolphins appeared in abundance as we entered the Flor de Castaño, feeding and courting. Our day would be full of bird and other wildlife sightings as we explored deep into an oxbow lake, where the river pinched a meander as it shifted course over the years. Later in the day after several aboard enjoyed a kayaking exploration, we ventured into Supay Creek. We looked for elusive pygmy marmoset monkeys, the smallest in the world, and were treated to a rare sighting as a little group of monkeys licked sap from a tree. Our day was full of such creatures as sloths, yellow-headed caracaras, osprey, cormorants feeding and black-collared hawks and even a paradise tanager. The day proved to be but an appetizer for all the wonders yet to come.
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!
