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Peru Tours and Travel

Suggested Packages / Amazon / Cusco / Lima / Lake Titicaca / Arequipa / Nazca
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Amazon Voyages on Historic Riverboats

Over the past quarter of a century a small team of dedicated scientists have fulfilled their dreams in the heart of the Amazon. Beginning as young ecologists in the early 1980’s, Richard Bodmer, Alfredo Begazo, Pablo Puertas and Tula Fang, explored the tributaries of the vast Peruvian Amazon in search of knowledge and adventure. They gained invaluable experience studying the animals, forests and people.

As the forests and animals began to disappear around us we became involved with rainforest conservation. Our vision is to work with local indigenous people, community based conservation and sustainable use as a long-term strategy to conserve the Amazon rainforests. But only dreamers move mountains, so the team expanded their horizon and began to merge rainforest conservation with historical restoration.

By the late 1990’s the old steamboats used during the rubber boom era between 1880 and 1914 were being totally lost. These Victorian relics, used in films such as Fitzcarraldo, were broken up, rotted away, or sunk. We wanted to save some of these boats and began the arduous task of restoration.

After a long journey through the flowing roads of the Amazon, overcoming illusions and hardships, and enjoying the reality of dreams, we would like to share with you the wonders of this magnificent tropical paradise, its wildlife, its people, and its history. After years of experience running expeditions with students and institutions, we have decided to share our experiences and passion to the general public. We invite you to join one of our voyages through the blue mist of time to help conserve animals, help indigenous people and appreciate the history in our riverboats on the Amazon.

The team has authored hundreds of scientific papers and presented countless lectures at conferences and universities. They have been at the forefront of rainforest conservation and work closely with numerous international organizations. They have organised and guided tours in the Amazon and have extensive experience in providing the services and safety necessary for Amazon travel. Their knowledge of the animals and habitats means they know where to go, and how to see wildlife. Their long-term commitment to local people insures genuine and meaningful visits. They understand the balance between comfortable boats with air conditioned, en suit cabins, buffet meals and clean service with the reality of the Amazon environment and the level of difficulty that different people expect, ranging from easy boat tours to adventurous exploration.

This cruise is designed to give you a unique Amazon experience that combines travel on historic boats restored to their Victorian splendour, wildlife and wilderness experience in pristine forests and rivers, and encounters with indigenous Amazon villages where locals are helping to conserve the rainforests. Our cruises have a strong historic component to them. The boats are restored and furnished with many of the elements used when they were new and navigated the Amazon as rubber boats. Then there is the Casa Morey a beautiful rubber-boom era mansion in Iquitos equally restored to its Victorian splendor (our guest spend the first night in Iquitos there). The other differing aspect is that we are all naturalists with many years of experience in the very areas we take our guests to. Other companies offer luxury expeditions, we offer natural history expeditions aboard historic river boats. Folks that wish to go on a luxury cruise would not come with us, and folks looking for what we offer would not take a luxury cruise.

Reminisce in the comfort of a historic Amazon riverboat. As you cruise through the glassy calm of an Amazon tributary watch dolphins swim in the black majestic water, gaze at butterflies fluttering in the hot midday sun, and observe monkeys leap from tree tops. At night spy caimans splashing in the moonlit glaze, in the morning awe at flocks of macaws flying in the twilight mist, and at midday play with fish jumping in oxbow lakes. Take your tea with cake as the forests slip past, or sip your gin and tonic as the tropical sun slides into a fiery sunset.

The Peruvian Amazon is home to some of the most diverse animal and plant communities on Earth and the Samiria River, where you voyage, abounds with these species. The Samiria is situated within the immense flooded forests of the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, an area spanning over 20,000 square kilometres, or the size of Wales. This is one of the largest expenses of protected flooded forests in the world.

Flooded forests are a unique environ where water and land have no boundary. Each year waters from the mighty Maranon and Ucayali Rivers flow through the forest inundating the reserve. The forests become aquatic and fish, caimans and dolphins swim between the trees in search of food. Terrestrial animals such as peccaries, tapir, anteaters and armadillos retreat to floodplain islands finding refuge from the floods. When the waters recede after months of flooding the terrestrial animals regain their land and the aquatic life rejoins the lakes, rivers and channels. Wading birds, such as egrets and cormorants, flock in great numbers to the muddy banks pecking out young fish that were born in the fertile waters of the flooded forest. Monkeys and birds live tranquilly in the canopy above, unconcerned about the floods below.

The Cocama Indians who live in the flooded forests of the Samiria have learnt to cope with the yearly cycles, living off the land and caring for the rivers and forests. They have changed little over the past one hundred years and still fish and hunt as their forefathers before them. Their traditional way of life depends on a healthy Amazon rainforest which they are adamant to keep.

Day 1 - The Amazon voyage begins in the bustling city of Iquitos in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, after a short flight from Lima, the capital of Peru. You will stay in the Casa Morey mansion. Rubber barons who made fortunes in the 19th century lined the Amazon riverfront with handsome mansions covered in colorful Portuguese glazed tiles, or azulejos. In 1913 Luis F. Morey was one of the wealthiest rubber barons. He built his mansion in the heart of Iquitos overlooking the Amazon. The Casa Morey is now considered one of Peru’s historical monuments in the Peruvian Amazon. This boutique hotel offers an ambiance of bygone times in spacious accommodation and personalized service.

Day 2 - The following morning, after a buffet breakfast, you will take a chartered air conditioned bus two hours to the town of Nauta, situated near the confluence that forms the mighty Amazon River. You will board one of the historic boats (Ayapua, Clavero or Rio Amazonas) to begin your Amazon voyage into the Amazon rainforest. Friendly guides will explain the surroundings as you enjoy a buffet lunch. An afternoon excursion will take you on your first exploration of the forests along the Nauta Cano stream, observing water birds and pink and gray river dolphins amongst the wonders of the evergreen forests. Afternoon tea and a sunset bar await you on your return to the riverboat. After dinner you can either enjoy the starlit night or watch the classic film "Fitzcarraldo" with popcorn and wine.

Day 3 - The next morning you awake to the sights of the Maranon River, with its strong currents and broad horizons. The bird life will be pointed out by the on board naturalist guide, along with the villages and sights. A talk on the Amazon will be presented in the late morning by the accompanying scientist. The riverboat will arrive at the Samiria River in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve after lunch and you can see the mixing of white and black waters. A short stroll in the forest will bring you to rubber trees, forest birds, and the jungle sounds of the forest.

Days 4, 5, and 6 - Over the next three days you will explore the scenic Samiria River and discover its magic. During our Voyage on the Amazon, a variety of excursions will be undertaken each day and you can pick and choose from these as you like. Activities are planned and discussed the night before when you will choose the activity you wish to join the next morning or afternoon. Activies include: Morning and afternoon macaw watching enjoying magnificent sunrises and sunsets; treks through the forest in search of monkeys, and if lucky sightings of tapir, otters, and wild cats; fishing excursions along streams, channels and oxbow lakes; observing the majestic pink dolphins from a historic launch; searching for caimans under starlit nights. You can also arrange other activities with the voyage leader and our friendly guides.

Day 7 - After breakfast during your final day on the Samiria River you will visit a local Cocama Indian community involved with rainforest conservation work. You will see how the Amazonian people live and meet with the villagers. In the afternoon the riverboat begins its voyage back to Nauta.

Day 8 - After breakfast during your final day in Nauta you will visit the local market, strol along the narrow streets at this small Amazonina town and visit other local attractions. Direct airport transfers from Nauta or from Iquitos will be arranged depending on your flight schedule. Additional visits to sights around Iquitos can be arranged.

2012 Rates: $ 2,800 per person in double occupancy. Single supplement $ 420.

SINGLE OCCUPANCY - Single rooms will be provided upon request when available. For participants traveling alone, but wishing to share a room, we will try to arrange for a roommate. If a roommate is not available, the single supplement will be charged.

2012 Dates: January 14-January 21, January 28-February 4, February 4-February 11, March 3-March 10, March 31-April 7, April 14- April 21, April 28-May 5, June 9-June 16, July 28-August 4, August 11-August 18, September 15-September 22, September 22-September 29, November 17-November 24, November 24-December 1, December 1-December 8, December 11- December 18

Note: We reserve the right to designate the historic river boats to each of the departures listed above.

Includes:
•All meals on the boat and breakfast at Casa Morey..
•All guided excursions during the voyage.
•One night at the Casa Morey.
•All transfer to/from the airport and the riverboats.

Excludes:
•International and domestic air fares.
•Alcoholic beverages onboard.
•Travel insurance
•Beverages at the bar
•Meals in Iquitos other than breakfast at The Casa Morey.
•Personalized tours in Iquitos.
•Trip extensions

RESERVATIONS & PAYMENTS
a) Reservations made 61 days or more before departure: A deposit of US $200 per person is required to confirm the booking. The final balance is required 60 days prior to departure. If the payment is not received on time, the space(s) will be automatically released.
b) Reservations made 60 days or less prior to departure: A full payment is required to confirm the booking.

Frequently Asked Questions

CANCELLATION POLICY
a) Cancellations made 90 days or more before departure: The deposit will be refunded, less a US $100 service charge per person.
b) Cancellations made 90 to 61 days prior to departure: All deposits are non refundable.
c) Cancellations made 60 days or less prior to departure: Full payment will be applied as the cancellation penalty.

Please keep in mind that wire fees and credit card commissions will be deducted when calculating refunds.