Come experience the spectacular beauty of the exotic
Amazon. Witness the crystal clear waters of ancient forest streams, the
thick dense canopy of the gigantic trees, and the tiny creatures on the
ground to the large colorful birds and mammals in the trees.
The ancient Amazon is the world’s largest rainforest
and has the greatest collection of species on planet Earth. The size of the
continental United States - the Amazon is mostly untouched by human
settlement and is one of the world’s last wilderness frontiers.
Day 1 Meet
with the tour guide at 7am in the reception area of the Hotel Tropical ,
Manaus, Brazil. This morning all guests board the vessel the Motor
Yacht Tucano and depart upstream on the Rio Negro. Through the morning we will cruise through the world’s
largest river island system, the Anavilhanas Archipelago. From the observation deck we scan the magnificent tangle of
vegetation at the water’s edge. By mid-afternoon the vessel has gone beyond the frontier
of settlement and entered a wilderness area. Both shores are covered by dense rainforest. Though we never know what
we will see, we have a good chance of observing pink river dolphins and a large collection of exotic birds. Most certainly
we will be treated to magnificent forest vistas and the spectacular trees themselves. In the late afternoon we embark
in the launches and hunt for wildlife. We may also go for a swim in some of the world’s most clean and refreshing water.(LD)
Day 2 Early this morning we explore the rainforest along the waters edge in our launches. We should hear and perhaps
see howler monkeys along with a morning serenade of toucans. After breakfast we go for a walk in the forest where
we will get a good start on understanding Amazon ecology. Around midday we return for lunch and the vessel will get
underway, perhaps stopping at a place to swim. In the late afternoon we will explore the forest in our launches and
listen to the sunset chorus of birds and frogs. (BLD)
Day 3 This morning there will be an early exploration of the waking forest. We will keep our eyes open for monkeys—
on most trips we see them often. We return for breakfast followed by either a walk in the forest or an excursion in the
launches. The M/Y Tucano will travel during the middle
of the day and we stop in the afternoon for an excursion. Tonight the vessel may travel a bit more as we marvel at the
night sky crowded with stars. (BLD)
Day 4 After our two morning excursions M/Y Tucano will navigate along the heavily forested shore, scouting for wildlife.
We may stop for a visit at a settler’s home carved out of the forest. In the early afternoon we will be near an extraordinary
river called the Rio Jauaperi. We will scout along the shoreline for some of the extraordinary creatures found only in this
unique environment. Weather permitting we will do a night excursion to observe nocturnal creatures.
(BLD)
Days 5 Today we depart the Rio Jauaperi and for the next two days proceed downstream on the Rio Negro exploring
a new collection of rainforest habitats. In the daytime we
will continue to scout in our launches, walk in the forest, and at night hunt for nocturnal wildlife.
(BLD)
Day 6 After a walk in the forest we cross to the West bank of the Rio Negro, exploring as we go. We will stop at the
substantial boat building village of Novo Airão. As we walk through the streets we’ll marvel at how the 19th Century
thrives in this remote corner of the globe. Tonight the Tucano
goes downstream to arrive at daybreak near the confluence with the Amazon River. As we glide through the starry
darkness this is a good night to sip the national drink of Brazil, the “Caipirinha”.
(BLD)
Day 7 This morning we explore the Lago Janauari Ecological Park where seasonally the thick brown water of the Amazon
flows swiftly through the forest. This area is usually a very good place to observe wildlife. Around midday the vessel
will travel to the “Encontra das Aguas” a stark several mile long line where the world’s two largest rivers, the Amazon
and the Negro, join in a turbulent maelstrom. Here the dark water of the Negro runs beside the opaque brown water of
the Amazon. In the afternoon we scout one of the hidden streams in the area to try to see more of the Amazon’s
beautiful and bizarre creatures. Tonight there may be one last excursion looking for nocturnal life.
(BLD)
Day 8 In the morning all guests disembark from the M/Y Tucano at Hotel
Tropical (around 8am) Some guests will participate in an optional tour of
the city of Manaus before transferring to the airport. (B)
Price
in 2012 (7nights)
Green Cabin category:US$ 3100 per person based on double occupancy
Yellow Cabin category:US$ 3400
per person based on double occupancy
Single supplement: 50% of the green category cruise
cost (non if traveler is willing to share a cabin)
Triple occupancy: Each passenger pays the green category rate even though
they occupy a yellow category cabin .
Cabin categories: All of the cabins on Tucano are outside cabins with
large windows, private baths with showers, and air -conditioning
Green Cabins: With bunk beds above and below berths - cabins: 1,2,7,8
Yellow cabins: Larger and have beds side by side
2012
departures (Saturdays):
Jan 07-14, Jan 21-28, Feb 04-11, Feb 18-25, Mar 03-10, Mar 17-24,
Mar 31-Apr 07, Apr 14-21, Apr 28-May05, May 12-19 (sold out), Jun
02-09, Jun 16-23, Jun 30-Jul 07, Jul 14-21, Jul 28-Aug 04 , Aug
11-18, Aug 25-Sep 01, Sep 15-22, Sep 29-Oct 06, Oct 13-20, Oct
27-Nov 03, Nov 10-17, Nov 24- Dec 01, Dec 08-15, Dec 22-29
Prices Include:
- All accommodations, excursions , meals as indicated in the
itinerary (Codes: B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner).
- Services of qualified naturalist guides
- Bottled water and fruit juices are served on the boat. Soft drinks and alcoholic
beverages available at modest additional expense.
Prices Do Not Include:
- Air Fare, Visa fees, gratuities,
- Airport departure taxes, items of a personal nature, soft drinks or alcoholic beverages.
- Airport transfers
- Optional city tour in Manaus: US$ 95
- Optional stay in Manaus at Hotel Tropical (standard room): US$120 per person per night based on double
occupancy
Single : US$ 220 per night
Airport to Hotel Tropical or v.v transfer: US$ 54 per person based on
two passengers US$ 92 per person based on 1 passenger and US$ 37
per person based on 3+ passengers
Degree of Difficulty: Soft Adventure. Though the trip does not involve endurance
hiking, passengers should be able to get in and out of launches and feel comfortable
walking at a leisurely pace for 2 hours at a time.
(Shorter cruises of 5 nights/6days also available)