It’s late afternoon. Standing near the river’s edge at my lodging 100 miles upriver from Iquitos, Peru, I watch a weather-beaten skiff glide slowly to the dock. A child, perhaps three years old, reaches out while mom turns her back. I hold my breath. What if she pinches her fingers, or falls into the water? 

My apprehension turns out to be unfounded, as mother and child disembark safely. Life's tasks are learned at an early age here.  

I long dreamed of visiting the Amazon.  Inoculations, insects, humidity, 90˚ temperatures would not deter me. It all came true when I spent six days exploring the river delta with Explorama lodges as a base.

Rising before the sun and ending after dark, we hike in virgin rainforest, and boat along tributaries of the Amazon. My guide, Luis, is an encyclopedia of information on the fauna and flora of the habitats we scout. I fill my memory cards with photos of exotic birds, iguanas, snakes, monkeys, river dolphins, and other fascinating creatures. Each evening, after hanging my shirt and pants out to dry, I crawl under the mosquito netting hanging over the bed in my open air room. A deep and peaceful sleep falls over me as I listen to the sounds of the night.

Most memorable, however, are the scenes of river life on each passing day: wooden shacks on stilts (no electricity, no running water) hovering precariously over flood waters; chickens pecking in the dirt; fish and bananas grilling over a metal drum; children swimming, and dogs wagging their tails. 

This is life on the river’s edge. I’m anxious to return.