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Amazon Expedition Cruise

Our 8 day expedition on board the M/Y Tucano is no ordinary tourist cruise. We offer a genuine, thrilling experience on a voyage to the heart of the Amazon. By beginning where most other tours end we explore some of the most untouched wilderness in the Amazon.

Voyaging from Manaus, Brazil, we navigate about 200 miles of the Rio Negro, the least inhabited major arm of the Amazon River. We explore the flora and fauna of the small tributaries where the forest is wild and undisturbed and even visit the villages of deep forest settlers and talk with them about their lives and traditions.

Together with our naturalist guides we get out and explore the pristine forest - not simply watch from the deck of the vessel. There are daily walks into the forest and we use our launches to observe wildlife on the shorelines and small streams that branch off the main river.

Village scene

Some days, as the calls of howler monkeys and exotic birds carry through the air, we swim off deserted river beaches in water as pure as rainwater. We are sometimes graced by the presence of pink dolphins, anteaters, porcupines and caiman – a close relative of the crocodile and are always treated to breathtaking vistas of wild rainforest along the way.

We observe magnificent plants of every imaginable shape and size on our daily forest walks, and a wealth of bizarre and intriguing creatures. In the evenings we have a brief discussion about the wildlife we’ve witnessed and the extraordinary ways in which the plants and animals have evolved to live in this ancient rainforest. On clear nights we are awarded the spectacle of an unpolluted sky radiant with stars.

On the last day of the voyage we travel to the ‘Encontra das Aguas’, the meeting of the waters of the world's two largest rivers: The Amazon and the Rio Negro. The light coloured water of the Amazon and the dark water of the Negro do not readily mix and the two rivers flow side by side for many miles – an incredible sight. We also explore the beautiful and fabulously rich environment where these rivers meet and visit the Lago Janauari Ecological Park.

Sunset as seen from the M/Y Tucano

With a group size of only 18 guests and a large professional crew you can be assured of personal attention and spend more time with the expert guides who will really enrich your expedition experience.

Although guests can have an enjoyable trip by simply staying on board the M/Y Tucano and joining our launch excursions, participants in our fascinating forest walks must be able to walk comfortably for two or more hours at a time. Since guests like to walk at different paces, we usually divide into two groups, each with a guide and a skilled woodsman. One group can quietly observe life in the forest and the other group can go for a more vigorous hike. Guests can also choose to stay on the air-conditioned vessel and relax on the observation deck with a cold drink, binoculars, and a good book. We aim to combine an up-close experience of nature with relaxation, friendship and fun.

A trek on your expedition cruise

More information about M/Y Tucano

Your cruise expedition vessel

AM455: Cruise Departure Dates 2010/11
2010: Apr 10, 24; May 8, 22; Jun 5, 19;
Jul 3, 17, 31; Aug 14, 28; Sep 11;
Oct 2, 16; Nov 6, 20; Dec 4, 18;
2011: Jan 1, 15, 29; Feb 12; Mar 5, 19;
Apr 2, 16, 30; May 14, 28; Jun 11, 25;
Jul 9, 23; Aug 6, 20; Sep 10;
Oct 1, 15, 29; Nov 12, 26; Dec 10, 24
AM455: Amazon Expedition Cruise 2010/11US Dollars price per person
Departures in 2011 have a supplement of $250 per person
Costs in US dollars are per person, based on two people travelling together and sharing a cabin. Cabins are allocated on arrival. If however you would like to guarantee a particular cabin, or bed configuration, there is a reservation fee of $600 per cabin to do this.
Single Travellers & Triple Cabins: No single supplement is charged if the passenger is willing to share with another same sex passenger. Please note that single cabins are not as large as the double cabins. Triple occupancy and childrens rates also available. Please contact us for details.
The prices above include the cruise and transfers, but not the flights. We can book your flights for you. Please contact us for advice and assistance.
Two Years in a Row! National Geographic Adventure magazine has recommended this Amazon Expedition company as among the 'Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth'. Their criteria are education, sustainability, quality of service, and spirit of adventure.
Call our dedicated Cruise Team
UK: 01756 706526
International: +44 1756 706526
Call our dedicated Cruise Team
UK: 01756 706526
International: +44 1756 706526

Itinerary
Day 1
Manaus, Brazil/Embark 7.00am

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 vegetationat 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 cannot predict 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
Lago Turia, Rio Negro, Brazil

Early this morning we explore the rainforest along the waters edge in our launches. We should hear and perhaps see howler monkeys and we should hear 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 again explore the forest in our launches and listen to the sunset chorus of birds and frogs. (BLD)

Day 3
Lago Buriti, Rio Negro, Brazil

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. 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 crowdedwith stars. (BLD)

Day 4
Scouting along the Rio Jauaperi

After our two morning excursions the M/Y TUCANO will navigate along the heavily forested shore, scouting forwildlife. 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. Here we will see a kind of forest known as the varzea. 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)

Day 5
Rio Negro, Brazil, downstream

Today we depart the Rio Jauaperi and head downstream on the Rio Negro exploring a new collection of rainforesthabitats. In the daytime we will continue to scout in our launches and walk in the forest, and at night we will continue our hunts for nocturnal wildlife. (BLD)

Day 6
Village of Novo Airao

After a walk in the forest we cross to the west side of the Rio Negro, exploring as we go. We will stop at the boat-building village of Novo Airão. As we walk through the streets we'll marvel at how the 19th Century still thrives in this remote corner of the globe. Tonight our motor yacht TUCANO goes downstream to arrive by morning 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' and perhaps try a bit of samba on the top deck. (BLD)

Day 7
The Meeting of the Rivers

This morning we explore the Lago Janauari Ecological Park where seasonally the thick water of the Amazon flows swiftly through the forest. This area is usually a very good place to observe wildlife. Around midday the Tucano will travel to the 'Encontra das Aguas'a stark several mile long line where two of the world' 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' beautiful and bizarre creatures. Tonight there will be one last excursion looking for nocturnal life. (BLD)

Day 8
Return to Manaus, disembark 8.00am

In the morning, after a hearty breakfast, all guests disembark from the M/Y TUCANO. (B)

Please note that the schedule must be considered approximate. The order and specific features may change due to navigational considerations. Good health is necessary. While guests can have a quite enjoy enjoyable trip by simply staying on board the M/Y Tucano and participating in launch excursions, participants in the walks in the forest must be able to comfortably walk for two or more hours at a time. There are several daily excursions off the vessel, and many guests will choose to participate in some but not all of them. The vessel is air-conditioned in the middle of the day and during the night.

Canoeing in the amazon

The cruise price includes
  • 7 nights cruise accommodation
  • Full board during the cruise
  • Bottled water throughout the cruise
  • Transfers between the international airport and the Hotel Tropical, Manaus

Rio Negra beach

Additional Information
For this cruise you will require flights to Manaus. The flights are not included in the price. We recommend flying to Miami, and then from Miami to Manaus. TAM Brazilian Airlines operates a nonstop direct daily service from Miami to Manaus. The flights leave Miami in the early evening. We can advise and/or book the flights for you. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.
Blue Water Holidays, Bridge House, Brook Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 1PP - 01756 706526
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