Amazon Adventures

Brazil Tours and Travel

Heart of Amazonia 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 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.

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.

Land Cost: 2009-2010 departures = US$2400 per person double occupancy.

Single supplement: there is no single supplement if you are willing to share. If you want a cabin to yourself, there is a 40% supplement. The single cabins are not as large as the double cabins. Cabins are assigned by lottery. A $500 fee is required if you want to reserve a specific cabin. There are 5 twin cabins and 4 with upper/lower beds. A few of the cabins can accommodate a small 3rd bed, which makes it good for families

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.

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

Dates and availability as of June 24, 2009 - Jul 12-19 (2009) / FULL, Jul 26-Aug 02 (2009) available / 2 cabins , Aug 09-16 (2009) available / 4 cabins , Aug 23-30 (2009) Vessel in Drydock, Sep 20-27 (2009) available / 5 cabins , Oct 04-11 (2009) available / 3 cabins , Oct 18-25 (2009) available / 1 cabins , Nov 01-08 (2009) available / 4 cabins , Nov 15-22 (2009) available / 6 cabins , Nov 29- Dec 06 (2009) available / 6 cabins , Dec 20-27 (2009) FULL / , Jan 02-09 (2010) available / 6 cabins , Jan 16-23 (2010) available / 5 cabins , Jan 30-Feb 06 (2010) available / 8 cabins , Feb13-20 (2010) available / 9 cabins , Mar 13-20 (2010) available / 9 cabins , Mar 27-Apr 03 available / 9 cabins, Apr 10-17 (2010) available / 9 cabins , Apr 24-May 01 (2010) available / 9 cabins , May 08-15 (2010) available / 9 cabins , May 22-29 (2010) available / 8 cabins , Jun 05-12 (2010) available / 9 cabins , Jun 19-26 (2010) available / 7 cabins , Jul 03-10 (2010) available / 9 cabins , Jul 17-24 (2010) available / 9 cabins , Jul 31-Aug 07 (2010) available / 9 cabins , Aug 14-21 (2010) available / 9 cabins , Aug 28 -Sep 4 (2010) available / 9 cabins , Sep 11-18 (2010) available / 9 cabins , Oct 02-09 (2010) available / 9 cabins , Oct 16-23 (2010) available / 9 cabins , Nov 06-13 (2010) available / 9 cabins , Nov 20-27 (2010) available / 9 cabins , Dec 04-11 (2010) available / 9 cabins , Dec18-25 (2010) available / 9 cabins

On the family departures (Jul 12-19, Aug 9-16 in 2009), 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

Private Charters: The boat can be chartered for a 6 day itinerary for private groups. The price will be US$2400 in 2009. Groups smaller than 12 are allowed if the minimum revenue is met (12 x $2400 in 2009). See charter itinerary.
Possible charter dates will be:
2009 - Mar 30-Apr 04, Apr 13-18, Apr 27-May 02, May 11-16, May 25-30, Jun 08-13, Jun 22-27, Jul 6-11, Jul 20-25, Aug 3-8, Aug 17-22, Aug 31-Sep 05, Sep 07-12, Sep 14-19, Sep 28-Oct 03, Oct 12-17, Oct 26-31, Nov 09-14, Nov 23-28, Dec 07-12, Dec 14-19, Dec 28-Jan 02, ‘10

Prices Include: All accommodations, transfers to and from the Hotel Tropical (if passengers arrive on Monday or Tuesday before the trip and if they depart on Thursday or Friday after the trip, meals as indicated in the itinerary (Codes: B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner). Bottled water and fruit juices are served on the boat Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages available at modest additional expense.
Other Transfers: If you arrive or depart on other days or want transfers to and from another hotel, add $25 per person

Prices Do Not Include: Any airfare, visa fees, gratuities, hotel in Manaus, airport departure taxes, excess baggage fees, items of a personal nature, soft drinks or alcoholic beverages.

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.

About the boat...... The boat used is 80 feet long and probably the nicest excursion vessel on the Amazon. It has 9 large cabins with private bathrooms containing a shower, toilet and sink. All the cabins are air-conditioned, as is the enormous salon. There is a large observation deck with a sun canopy and a wide balcony around the entire front of the boat. For those of you who have had problems getting into top bunks on other cruises, we want to let you know that ladders are provided.

Brazil Tours and Travel

Heart of Amazonia Cruise

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