Page 250 - River cruises

Amazon – Lima

his morning we watch the sun rise over the birthplace of the Amazon River - not quite, it is already up and
Training when we wake. We dress and go to breakfast then, at 08:00 into the skiffs and to the delta of the
Amazon and two other rivers where we stop for a talk from our local guide we continue on up the river and
disembark (with gum boots on) for visit to a riverside village and interaction with the local school children - quite
good. We return to the Aria and complete packing. 11:00 we go to the lounge for a talk on the preparation for our
tour into the high altitudes in the coming days.
e return to our cabin and pick up our carry-ons,then it’s farewell to the crew and into the familiar skiffs which
Wtake us to another riverside village where we join our transfer buses.

his is really part of the 3rd world environment, palm thatched roofs on rows of shacks that Peruvians call home -
Tits not without some concern that our bus negotiates the wet clay roads, once clear the driver stops gets out and
goes back to help the other bus out of the bog then it’s off for an hour and half trip to the Manatee Rescue Centre,
where biologists and volunteers care for endangered Amazon manatees that conservation authorities have seized
from local people and fishermen. After a talk about the centre we see and feed some of the rescued Manatee before
another 20 minute transfer ride to Iquitos Airport to catch our flight to Lima.

The landing at the school house