It seemed we had been waiting forever for this trip! The arrangements with International Expeditions had been made early the previous fall and by mid-February, we were more than ready for a break away from the cold snowy days, the slippery streets and the ever-present gray skies.

So, on February 17, 2012, after a brief stopover in Grand Cayman to visit our son and his family, we made our way to Lima, Peru, to begin our journey. A couple of days later, we and our sixteen intrepid travelling companions flew to Iquitos where our river boat, the Aquamarina, was awaiting us.

What an incredible journey of discovery! Accompanied by two exceptional naturalists and a very efficient tour leader, we travelled 600 miles with the Aquamarina and a further 160 miles in motorized skiffs. We saw close to 60 different mammals and other animals and more than 120 different species of birds. We visited two small villages, explored the jungle on Terra Firma on a couple of occasions and attended a blessing ceremony by a Master Shaman. Add good food, good companionship and good music, and all in all, it was a wonderful, if too short, seven-day voyage on the Amazon.