One of the most important components of our expedition in the Upper Amazon in Peru is to learn about, appreciate, and interact with the local people who inhabit this amazing region of our planet. Today we visited the lively Amazonas Community. We were greeted by the locals, who were eager to share their lifestyle and their culture with us. Minga Perú is the nonprofit organization that Lindblad chose as beneficiary of the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Fund for the conservation of the Upper Amazon. Minga is a Quechua word that means “collaborative community work.” Our joint dream — which is becoming a reality — is to design a sustainable and equitable future for communities in this part of the world. By empowering local women, Minga Perú seeks to improve the lives of the people in this region. The generous and constant funds that our guests have provided are vital for the well-being of many people in the area.
5/24/2025
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Delfin II
Yarapa River, Amazonas Village, Peru
Leaving Delfin II at 06:00 for our morning skiff ride, we explored the Yarapa River and monkeys were everywhere! We saw common wooly monkeys, monk saki monkeys, and common squirrel monkeys. We weren’t monkeying around! In addition to the monkeys there were woodpeckers galore! We photographed crimson-crested, yellow-tufted, and cream-colored woodpeckers as they were busily hammering away at trees and termite nests. Our afternoon was spent at Amazonas Village getting an introduction to life along the river. We enjoyed demonstrations of food preparation, basketmaking with palm fibers, and hand-dying with local plants to give the baskets vibrant colors. We also had an introduction to Minga Peru, a group serving 40 different communities in this area. Our evening was topped off with a toast to the beginning of the actual Amazon River, where the Marañon and Ucayali Rivers converge. Salud!
