The Upper Amazon is not only a vast wilderness. It is also home to many human settlements that are divided into small communities close to the riverbanks. Today, we visited Amazonas Community to learn about the local culture and life. We were very excited to meet the leaders of the community and hear stories about education, fishing, and agriculture.
Over the years, we have visited different settlements along the rivers of the Upper Amazon. We have seen local people’s lives improve in terms of education, empowerment, and the production of fine handicrafts. Today we had an opportunity to buy souvenirs produced by the women of the community. Their figurines and weaving are amazing, colorful, and high quality. These items are made from the natural palm fibers found in the surrounding forest.
In the afternoon, we explored Casual Rainforest. As the name suggests, it is a rainforest! We started with plenty of sunshine. Midway along the trail, we received the best gift that the rainforest gets from above…rain. Nice, warm rain that brings life to the organisms that are part of this ecosystem. Before the rain started, we had an encounter with the master of the jungle! A red-tailed boa slowly moved among the bushes. Its camouflage is impressive. Without the expert eyes of our local guides, we would have missed such an event. The forest is full of life. Besides the abundance of trees, we found inhabitants of the forest that we could see with our own eyes. Monkeys ran among the trees looking for food. On the ground, we observed snails, tarantulas, and plenty of insects. Some of these were camouflaged. The jungle is amazing, and it always has a concert of sounds ready for the ear of the visitor.
It was another amazing day in the heart of the rainforest!
