Amazon Adventures

Brazil Tours and Travel

Heart of Amazonia Cruise

Amazon Expeditionary cruise On February 19th, 2009 the Brasilian Environmental Authority, IBAMA, began to implement a new park in the Amazon: The Parque Nacional Anavilhanas. This is the last component of a mosaic of reserves which together form the world's largest rainforest reserve: the Central Amazon Ecological Corridor. Currently there is only one cruise vessel that conducts expedition cruises deep into this reserve: The Motor Yacht Tucano.

This new reserve contains tens of thousands of square miles of uninhabited wilderness rainforest. There are dense forests of giant trees and also one of the world's largest island archipelagos. Within the reserve there is a great variety of vegetation types and rich biodiversity of flora and fauna that is almost unparalleled in the Amazon. There are also many animals which are under threat of extinction elsewhere in the Amazon. Among these are the Amazon Manatee, the Jaguar, the world's largest freshwater fish, the Pirarucu, and several exotic species of birds. Other creatures commonly found in the area but which are becoming rare elsewhere are Pink River Dolphin, Gray River Dolphin, River Otter and also Giant River Otter. Still very common are Macaw Parrots, Toucans and spectacular birds like Harpy Eagles. Over 120 different kinds of birds are seen on each trip. The Amazon's s crocodiles, Caiman, including the giant Black Caiman, are still common in this area.

The Amazon cruise on the M/Y Tucano is called Voyage to the Heart of the Amazon and we venture deep into this new reserve. Over eight days and seven nights and we explore the narrow rivers and wilderness rainforest looking for wildlife. With naturalist guides and a thoughtful itinerary, the guests observe exotic plants and animals for which the Amazon is famous.

Voyage to the Heart of the Amazon is the most thorough, detailed, and sophisticated trip offered in the entire Amazon. The guides are accomplished naturalists and on the trip guests see creatures almost never seen by other visitors. The trip is an active trip and guests explore the rainforest on foot and in the ship's launches. The small groups will be led by skilled naturalist guides so that participants will be able to experience the wilderness in the most authentic way possible.

Why these cruises instead of other Amazon cruises? There are lots of reasons, but maybe the most compelling right now is that.....they are less expensive! Compare our trips to the longer Amazon cruises and "luxury" Amazon cruises. Our boat is quite comfortable, the crew very skilled, the experience more authentic, group size small, and..... they cost much less. The Amazon is a destination that lives in the world's imagination. There will always be travelers interested in visiting the wildest rainforest the world has ever known. Our boat, the M/Y Tucano goes farther into the forest than another other vessel, deep into the heart of the greatest wilderness on earth. Boat description

Brochure 8 day - 5 day	Compare Amazon Cruises
Frequently Asked Questions	Sustainability on the Tucano

It was an amazing trip. I really enjoyed it. The accomodations and food were excellent. The guides really knew their stuff - I learned a lot. Saw tons of wildlife, more than I expected actually. I'd do it again with the family. If I do, I'll do the exact same cruise. I guess that sums up how it went!
Bert C. Smith

Day 1 Passengers meet the guide at 7am in the reception area of the Hotel Tropical (hotel is not included in the price), then we will board the Amazon expedition boat . After settling in our cabins we will 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 will scan the magnificent tangle of vegetation at the water's edge. Around midday we will have a presentation by our guides about the fascinating rainforest creatures that we will observe on the trip. By mid-afternoon we will be beyond settlement and enter wilderness area. Both shores will be covered by dense rainforest where all of the beasts for which the Amazon is famous still roam. The top Observation Deck is a great place to keep an eye out for wildlife. Though we never know what we will see, there is a good chance that we wil see 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 will explore a small stream with our boat's launches, hunting for wildlife. We might also go for a swim is some of the world's most clean and refreshing water. (BLD)

Day 2 Early this morning we will explore the rainforest along the waters edge in our launches. We should hear and perhaps see howler monkeys and there should be a morning serenade of toucans along with a hundred other kinds of birds. After breakfast we will go for a walk in the forest where we will get a good start on understanding Amazon ecology. Around midday we will return to the boat and get underway, perhaps stopping at a place to swim. In the early afternoon we will explore the forest in our launches and listen to the sunset chorus of birds and frogs. This evening, after dinner,we may hunt for nocturnal wildlife and even catch a small caiman to examine closely. (BLD)

Day 3 This morning there will be an early exploration of the waking forest. On our walk in the forest we will keep our eyes open for monkeys--with luck we may observe some bearded sakis or squirrel monkeys. We return for breakfast and a swim and travel during the middle of the day. Mid-afternoon we will excursion in our launches. Tonight we will make some headway on our course and stop at a good place to make a morning excursion. (BLD)

Day 4 After an early morning excursion we 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. The thatched hut and the kindness of the settlers disguise an amazingly complex way of life. The warmth of our reception will be evidence of a centuries old tradition of hospitality. These visits with families so far in the forest are often the high points of our trips. We should arrive in the early afternoon at an extraordinary river called the Rio Lauaperi. Here we will for the first time see a kind of forest known as the varzea-a type of forest very rich in wildlife and very different from what we have seen on the Rio Negro. There will be orchids on the tree branches and bromeliads in bloom. This area is known for the large groups of caiman (the Amazon's crocodiles), especially the largest in the Americas, the Black Caiman. We will scout along the shoreline for some of the extraordinary creatures found only in this kind of environment. Weather permitting we will do a night excursion to observe nocturnal wildlife. (BLD)

Day 5 Today we will depart the Rio Jauaperi and proceed down the southwestern bank of the Rio Negro. This side of the river has different wildlife than we've previously seen. We will scout along the wilderness shore in our boat's launches. We may also stop and visit the homes of some forest settlers and marvel at their tremendous pioneering skills. During the night we will continue to travel down the Rio Negro. (BLD)

Day 6 Today we will cross to the other side of the Rio Negro, exploring as we go. Along with our several daily excursions in our launches we will make a stop at the substantial boat building village Novo Airao. We will walk through the streets and marvel at how the 19th Century thrives in this remote corner of the globe. Travelling through the night we will arrive near the confluence of the Amazon and Negro Rivers. As we glide through the starry darkness this is a good night to sip the national drink of Brazil, the "Caipirinha" and listen to some Brazilian music. (BLD)

Day 7 This morning we will explore by launch the Lago Janauari Ecological Park where the thick brown water of the Amazon flows swiftly through the forest. This area is thick with life and we are almost guaranteed to see monkeys. We will certainly see large and beautiful birds and have a good chance of seeing other large mammals like anteaters or perhaps a sloth. During breakfast the boat will get underway and we will travel to the "Encontra das Aguas" the 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 will cruise along the Amazon River and visit some of the interesting channels that shoot off into the forest. We will have an afternoon excursion exploring a hidden stream to try to see more of the Amazon's beautiful and bizarre creatures. In the evening we will return to Manaus and overnight on the boat. (BLD)

Day 8 After breakfast passengers can disembark at 8am. The day is without planned activities, but guests may go on an optional prearranged city tour ($60) or visit some other points of interest in Manaus. Later we will go to the international airport for our return flight to the United States. (B)

Please note that the day to day schedule must be considered approximate. The exact order of the days and specific features may be altered due to navigational considerations.

Cabin Categories: There are two double occupancy cabin categories on the M/Y Tucano:
Green Category Cabins: The four cabins in this category have above and below berths (bunk beds). These are cabins numbered 1, 2, 7, and 8. These cabins are significantly smaller than the Category Yellow cabins. They are nonetheless comfortable outside cabins with large windows, private bathrooms, and air-conditioning.
Yellow Category Cabins: The five cabins in this category are large and have beds side by side. They are numbered 3, 4, 5, 6, and cabin “0”.
Cabin “0” has a queen size bed beside a single bed, but a very small bathroom.

Land Cost for 8 day cruise:
2011 departures = Green Category Cabins (per person, double): $2,650. Yellow Category Cabins (per person, double): $2,950
2012 departures = Green Category Cabins (per person, double): $3,100. Yellow Category Cabins (per person, double): $3,400

Land Cost for 5 day cruise:
2011 departures = Green Category Cabins (per person, double): $1,600. Yellow Category Cabins (per person, double): $1,725
2012 departures = Green Category Cabins (per person, double): $1,650. Yellow Category Cabins (per person, double): $1,850

Prices include: accommodations, and meals as indicated in the itinerary. Bottled water and fruit juices are served on the boat. Prices and itineraries are subject to change without notice. On joining the group on Day One, passengers board the vessel on a short walk from the lobby of the Hotel Tropical.

Prices Do Not Include: airport transfers, airfare, departure taxes, visa fees, soft drinks or alcoholic beverages, or items of a personal nature.

Single supplement: there is no single supplement if you are willing to share. Passengers that request single accommodations pay a single supplement of 50% of the Green Category cruise cost. Single accommodations on the cruise may not always be available. The single cabins are the smallest on the vessel.

Triple Cabins: Some of the cabins on the M/Y TUCANO can accept three travelers. This is helpful for families. In cabins “3” and “4” a third narrow bed can be placed between the single beds. Cabin “0” has a queen size bed and also a single bed. There is no discount for triple occupancy; passengers pay the double rate.

Quadruple Cabin: One of the cabins on the M/Y TUCANO can accommodate four travelers. This is helpful for families. Cabin “0” has a queen size bed, a single bed and another single bed in a small adjoining room with a private interconnecting door. All four travelers share the single small bathroom of Cabin “0”. Each passenger in quad occupancy must pay the double rate.

Deposit: Confirm the reservation with a nonrefundable deposit of $300 USD per passenger.

"Absolutely wonderful! Best trip of my life. The entire crew of the Tucano was terrific and did a wonderful job making us feel welcome and assuring we enjoyed the trip. Edgebon, our tour guide has a great personality and he is extremely knowlegeable. It was highly educational and entertaining. I also enjoyed the Hotel Tropical, a very nice hotel. The food there was good, (we ate Brazilian style), and it had a first class staff. " Phil Sutherland

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Dates and availability as of Jan. 23, 2012 - Feb 04-11 (2012) 2 cabins + FS, Feb 18-25 (2012) full, Mar 03-10 (2012) 2 cabins + MS , Mar 17-24 (2012) 4 cabins + FS, Mar 31-Apr 07 (2012) FS, Apr 14-21 (2012) 4 cabins +MS, Apr 28-May05 (2012) 6 cabins, May 12-19 (2012) full , May 26-Jun 01 (2012) (Vessel in Port) , Jun 16-23 (2012) 8 cabins , Jun 30-Jul 07 (2012) 6 cabins +FS, Jul 14-21 (2012) 8 cabins + FS , Jul 28-Aug 04 (2012) 7 cabins, Aug 11-18 (2012) 4 cabins, Aug 25-Sep 01 (2012) 4 cabins +FS , Sep 15-22 (2012) 7 cabins , Sep 29-Oct 06 (2012) 7 cabins, Oct 13-20 (2012) 6 cabins & FS, Oct 27-Nov 03 (2012) 9 cabins
Nov 10-17 (2012) 9 cabins, Nov 24- Dec 01 (2012) 9 cabins, Dec 08-15 (2012) 9 cabins, Dec 22-29 (2012) 8 cabins, Jan 05-12 (2013) 9 cabins, Jan 19-26 (2013) 9 cabins, Feb 02-09 (2013) 9 cabins, Feb 23- Mar 02 (2013) call to confirm, Mar 09-16 (2013) 9 cabins, Mar 23-30 (2013) 9 cabins, Apr 06-13 (2013) 9 cabins, Apr 20-27 (2013) 9 cabins, May 04-11 (2013) 9 cabins, May 18-25 (2013) 9 cabins, Jun 08-15 (2013) 9 cabins, Jun 22-29 (2013) 9 cabins, Jul 06-13 (2013) 9 cabins
Jul 20-27 (2013) 9 cabins, Aug 03-10 (2013) 9 cabins, Aug 17-24 (2013) 8 cabins, Aug 31 - Sep 07 (2013) 9 cabins, Sep 21-28 (2013) 9 cabins, Oct 05-12 (2013) 9 cabins, Oct 19-26 (2013) 9 cabins, Nov 02-09 (2013) 9 cabins, Nov 16-23 (2013) 9 cabins, Dec 07-14 (2013) 9 Cabins, Dec 21-28 (2013) 9 cabins

Cruise Availability: 5 day Amazon Cruise: Amazon Odyssey - 2012 - Jan 30-Feb 03 (2012) 6 cabins , Feb 13-17 (2012) full, Feb 27-Mar 02 (2012) 1 cabin + MS + FS, Mar 12-16 (2012) 5 cabins, Apr 09-13 (2012) N/A, Apr 23-27 (2012) N/A, May 07-11 (2012) /( 1 cabin , May 21-25 (2012) 5 cabins, May 26-Jun 01 (2012) (Vessel in Port) , Jun 11-15 (2012) 6 cabins, Jun 25-29 (2012) Full, Jul 09-13 (2012) 7 cabins , Jul 23-27 (2012) 9 cabins, Aug 06-10 (2012) call to confirm
Aug 20-24 (2012) 7 cabins , Sep 10-14 (2012) 7 cabins , Sep 24-28 (2012) ( 5 cabins, Oct 08-12 (2012) 6 cabins , Oct 22-26 (2012) 9 cabins, Nov 05-09 (2012) 7 cabins , Nov 19-23 (2012) 9 cabins, Dec 03-07 (2012) 7 cabins , Dec 17-21 (2012) 9 cabins, Jan 14-18 (2013) 7 cabins, Jan 28-Feb 01 (2013) 9 cabins, Mar 04-08 (2013) 7 cabins, Mar 18-22 (2013) 9 cabins, Apr 01-05 (2013) 7 cabins , Apr 15-19 (2013) 9 cabins, Apr 29-May 03 (2013) 9 cabins, May 13-17 (2013) 7 cabins
Jun 17-21 (2013) 7 cabins , Jul 01-05 (2013) 9 cabins, Jul 15-19 (2013) 7 cabins, Jul 29- Aug 02 (2013) 9 cabins, Aug 12-16 (2013) 7 cabins, Aug 26-30 (2013) 9 cabins, Sep 09-13 (2013) 7 cabins, Sep 30- Oct 04 (2013) 9 cabins, Oct 14-18 (2013) 7 cabins, Oct 28- Nov 01 (2013) 9 cabins, Nov 11-15 7 cabins , Nov 25-29 (2013) 9 cabins, Dec 16-20 (2013) 7 cabins , Dec 30 ('13) - Jan 03 ('14) 9 cabins

Note that airport transfers to and from the Tropical are not included on the cruises. We can add transfers to the cost.

On the family departures, some additional activities suitable for children are included and children 12 and under travel for 1/2 price. On regular departures, children 12 years and under are eligible for a 50% discount off of the normal price. An enhanced children's program features an insect zoo capture, a netted onboard zoo to house captured insects that kids will observe and feed during the cruise. Also offered are lessons on how to paddle native canoes, a visit to a local school, a specially designed jungle survival course, fishing for piranhas and swimming whenever possible

Group Size: Maximum of 18 passengers, minimum of 8

"What an amazing trip! We all LOVED it! We really liked the Tucano boat and their guides and their crew. The boat was a perfect size, homey, well-maintained and was airconditioned. It was clean and didn't smell. The kids all agreed that this was truly a trip of a lifetime and really spectacular. The guides were fantastic. We absolutely loved the glassy water and isolation of the Rio Negro and appreciated the plentiful wildlife of the Amazon. We definitely loved the wilderness and the parts of our trip where we were the only people as far as the eye could see."
Lori Evenson

Degree of Difficulty: Good health is necessary. Though the trip does not include 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.

"The trip was fantastic! The crew was exceptional; they thought of everything. The boat and excursions were perfect. Outstanding trip! We have already recommended it to friends. Thanks for your attention to the details." Jerry, Bryan and Nohline