We set out on our morning skiff excursions under a brooding sky that quickly turned into a torrential downpour; reminding us how the waters we’ve been navigating can rise so high in the wet season. Photo instructor Michael Nolan and I led an iPhone photography class while the rains died down and then we headed to the small village of San Francisco de Loreto. There we spent time meeting the local people and getting a glimpse of daily life along the Marañon River. Before lunch we toasted with pisco sours while passing the official head of the Amazon River at the confluence of the Marañon and Ucayali Rivers. The afternoon gave us an opportunity to take a skiff ride on Lake Clavero.
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!
