South America Vacations

Brazil Adventure Vacations

8 Days Voyage to the Heart of the Amazon Tour Package

Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights
Priced From: $2,400 pp dbl. occ.
Dates: Mar - Dec

 



Voyage to the Heart of the Amazon is different from all other cruises offered in the Amazon. It is an "expedition cruise". We go far into the forest and are able to see creatures that are hidden to other visitors. We explore some of the most untouched rainforest in all of the Amazon. The voyage begins in Manaus, Brazil and over eight days the Motor Yacht Tucano navigates far up the Rio Negro [pronounced NAY-GRO]. In the daytime and often at night we seek out the wildlife that still lives in the world's greatest of wilderness. There are very few settlers so the plants and animals are still abundant.

Day 1. 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 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.

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 again explore the forest in our launches and listen to the sunset chorus of birds and frogs.

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. 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.

Day 4. After our two morning excursions 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. 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.

Day 5. Today we depart the Rio Jauaperi and head downstream on the Rio Negro exploring a new collection of rainforest habitats. 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.

Day 6. 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 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 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.

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 two of the world's 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 will be one last excursion looking for nocturnal life.

Day 8. In the morning, after a hearty breakfast, all guests disembark from the M/Y Tucano.

The voyage on the M/Y Tucano is quite active. Together with our naturalist guides we get out into the forest and explore – not simply watch from the deck of the vessel. There are daily walks in the forest and we frequently scout in our launches the small streams that branch off the main river. Some days we swim off deserted beaches in water as pure and clean as rainwater and we are always treated to vistas of wild rainforest stretching as far as the eye can see.

On our excursions into the rainforest we observe magnificent plants of every imaginable shape and size. We listen to the exotic calls of birds and mammals and watch them from a forest trail or while scouting the river's edge our launches. In the evenings we have a brief discussion about the creatures that we observed and the extraordinary ways in which the plants and animals have evolved to live in this ancient rainforest. Some nights we explore the river's edge in our launches and with spotlights we see caiman, close relatives of crocodiles.

Our basic navigation plan is to voyage upstream Northwest on the Rio Negro as far as a major river called the Rio Jaueperi, about 200 miles from Manaus, Brazil. Along the way we explore many small tributaries where the forest is wild and undisturbed. Our journey takes us to many different rainforest habitats which allows us to see a great diversity of wildlife.

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 River and the Rio Negro. The light colored 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. We explore the beautiful and fabulously rich environment where these rivers meet and visit the Lago Janauari Ecological Park which lies in a wedge-shaped delta that divides these two storied rivers.

• Transfer from and to hotels and vessel
• Manaus accommodation on arrival
• Bilingual Guides
• Entrance fees where applicable
• All meals when on board the vessel
• Vessel accommodation based on twin share

• Passport & Visa Costs
• Entrance fees
• Vaccination Costs
• Personal Spending Money
• Meals where not listed
• Drinks
• International Flights
• Travel Insurance
• Airport departure taxes

Departs Sunday returning following Sunday.

While all cabins are identical, a cabin of your choosing is available to reserve for a additional cost.

Prices based on twin share. Single supplements and triple rates available on request.

Prices & itineraries are correct at the time of printing. Itineraries & prices may change due to currency fluctuations, local conditions or events outside the control of A.I and her local operators. Please see our booking terms & conditions for full details.

South America Brazil Adventure
Vacation Planners

Book your Brazil Adventure Vacation or Tour Here