1/8 Amazon Day 3

After breakfast we took a ride in the boat down the river to visit the Saina community - The community to which our guide Jorge belongs. On the way we stopped at one of the oldest trees in the Amazon - a massive Ceiba tree, which scientists have dated to be at least 200 years old.

We arrived at the village and had a quick game of 5-a-side on the very muddy football field.

During our visit we got to observe and participate in the traditional process of making Yuca flatbread. We harvested the yuca tubers (similar to potatoes), peeled and then grated the yuca, dried the grated yuca, then sieved and cooked the prepared yuca flour. Finally we served and ate the yuca bread with some other fresh ingredients.

We were also lucky enough to get visited by a mum and baby Capybara while we were having lunch.

After the food we went and met the sharman, who turned out to be Jorge's (our guide's) dad. He demonstrated some of the traditional medicines and healing methods used in the village. We all got to try several shots of a strong alcoholic medicine used (toasting "gracias pachamama"). We got to experience lashing with stinging nettles, which is another traditional form of treatment - it was more painful than expected.

In the evening we went back to Laguna Grande for a rainy sunset.Read more