Boca de Valeria, Brazil, Sunday, February 26, 2017

Boca de Valeria is a small village on the Valeria River, a tributary to the Amazon. It is the home of the "River people" and and it is one of the most unique destinations in the Amazon.

It is made up of 13 buildings including most dwellings, a school, a church and a town meeting place (bar). A few dozen houses on stilts graced the waterfront. For US$5.00 we could enter and visit one of the houses. For US$1.00 you can take photos of kids in their native garment. You can also pose with them and their pet parrots, sloths, toucans and budgies. There are literally so many kids grabbing our hands and we were all made to feel so welcomed!

Locals are proud to share their sacred customs through cheerful greetings as well as performances, especially through their artful handicrafts

Brightly dressed children and natives, who welcome their guests with open arms

Boca da Valeria, Brazil is an unusual stop but it is definitely worth the visit.

Boca de Valeria gives everyone an in -depth look into the Amazonian culture,

Boca de Valeria has a population of about 75 welcoming us and showing their simple undisturbed life.

We are greeted by adorable children. Many of them are dressed in their ancestral attire.

**Adorable kids posed for a photo in exchange for a dollar.**

There are also a good number of handicraft for sale which are undoubtedly made by the residents themselves.

There are no roads here so boats are the main mode of transportation. Most of the village boats were small and a few had outboard motors. Before exploring the town, we managed to negotiate with the locals for a boat ride. For US$5.00 per person, our guide took us to the surrounding area in his river canoe to see the field of lilies. Some of the lily pads were blooming with flowers and many of these pads were over four feet in diameter.

For an extra US$10.00, he took us to a nearby village which is about ten- minutes away and where he actually lives.

We rode on handcrafted wooden boat to see the essence of life among the Amazon river.

Victoria amazonica is a visual high point of the Amazon River. This is the world’s largest water lily. The huge circular leaves can span ten feet.

For 5 US Dollars we were able to navigate around Boca de Valeria.

There, we met his parents and his brother and nephews and nieces. His mother was grating the manioc (cassava) and toasting it in a giant cauldron. His father was mending the fishing nets. We learned that there are thirty (30) people altogether in their village consisting of one extended family. The kids went wild when I offered them chocolates. They absolutely loved it.

Sloth is a common pet held by Boca de Valeria children.

This man proudly displays his elaborate native costume.

Healthy and happy kid in Boca de Valeria.

Back to the main village of Boca de Valeria, I spent the afternoon with "One Dollar Moment" photographing kids and their pets.

It is truly one of the most unforgettable port stop on this cruise. Although their civilization is very different to the rest of the country and the rest of the world, there is much to be cherished from a civilization who have survived the test of time and preserved their own traditions. I'm happy that I was able to experienced this in-depth look into the Amazonian culture!

Charmed By An Amazon Tribe In Boca De Valeria

“Inspire & Inform”