Amazon River area exploration

Another early morning (5:30 wake up) as some of the group opted to go on a morning excursion to do some bird watching before breakfast. It was peaceful out on the water and we did see several different kinds of birds.

After breakfast we took a short hike through the jungle to a Yagua Village. There we learned about how the natives lives have been impacted by various developments over the past several hundred years. Just recently the Peruvian government has implemented a program to give each family solar panels so they can have some electricity which has led to the installation of satellite dishes and TVs. Some of the tribal members did a few traditional dances, of which we were invited to participate. 

Then they gave a demonstration on how they use the poisonous blow darts for hunting. 

I got to try my hand at the blow gun and actually hit the post. 

We browsed through the local crafts and made some purchases. I bought a small blow gun and a handwoven basket from this lady.

We then had some free time before visiting the local medical clinic. As many of you know, the travel company I use puts money back into the communities we visit. This medical clinic is one that they help support. We met with Dr. Linnea Smith, who is from the US, that oversees the clinic. She shared information about the medical problems the local people have to deal with and how the clinic tries to address those problems with very limited resources.

Pharmacy room

Exam room

Dentist room 

A little hammock time before lunch.

After lunch we took a boat ride down river to do some piranha fishing. We went past this village that was settled by the Spanish in the 1500's. Notice the Catholic Church. 

We pulled the boat into a swampy area to do our piranha fishing. Celso showed us how to swish the water to attract the fish then drop our hooks baited with raw red meat. You could feel when they attacked the meat and jerked the hook to catch them. 

We had a lot of fun and caught several piranhas which we took back to the lodge for our dinner.

On the way back to the lodge we went dolphin hunting. There are fresh water dolphins in the Amazon and a pink tinted dolphin. You can barely see them break the surface of the water.

We had a pan full of grilled piranhas from our afternoon outing. 

You start by pulling out the top fin, then you eat the tail fin first. It was very crunchy. Then you peel the meat from the back bone. Next you gently pull apart the ribs and scrap the meat off with your teeth. Lastly you pull the meaty part from inside the head. 

They were delicious.

After dinner we had an interesting talk with a woman from Florida who spends her summer in the area doing research on the dolphins. Then it was time for bed.