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On the fourth and final day of our Amazonas tour with On Vacation, we crossed the river to the small village of Puerto Alegría in Peru. It’s a farming community populated by speakers of the Cocama language. No passport was necessary and the excursion was included in the package.
Irapay Lodge
After arriving, we visited the Irapay Lodge and were able to see the Victoria regia. It’s a huge waterlily that has a leaf up to 3m in diameter and a flower that can grow up to 40cm in diameter. They weren’t blooming but the leaves alone were impressive.
At the lodge, we were also able to sample the tropical camu camu fruit. It’s rich in vitamin C and has a number of health benefits. The taste is quite sour but it makes a delicious juice.
Next, we saw a young rescued manatee which was kept in a small swimming pool. The conditions were appalling to me and many others.
Walking Through Puerto Alegría
We then walked through the town and it was pretty much like the other indigenous communities. The locals greeted us with a traditional dance.
After the dance, we had the opportunity to buy crafts and hold animals, including sloths, monkeys, toucans, caimans, and anacondas.
