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Tour
Description: The Amazon River
& Rio Negro cruise can be taken on either the
Premium or the
Amazon
Clipper. These two vessels will sail near each other
during most cruise departures. Your choice of accommodations
and amenities will decide which boat you prefer. Either way,
both vessels offer excellent
service provided by professional and friendly crews. This
cruise itinerary will take you on an exploration of the
Amazon and Rio Negro Rivers and the rainforest and lakes
alongside. During the entire trip you will be accompanied by
knowledgeable bi-lingual Naturalist guides
who will explain and teach you about the flora and fauna of the
Amazon while leading you on excursions by canoe and by foot.
A day on the cruise begins either with an early morning, pre-breakfast,
excursion or breakfast followed by an excursion. On each day
of the cruise the guides will take you on morning,
afternoon and sometimes evening excursions
either by canoe or by foot. During canoe trips you will
explore the rivers, lakes and their shores in search of birds
and
wildlife on the riverbanks and in trees and aquatic life.
During land excursions you will walk through the jungle or
visit communities. Every night the Naturalist guides will
give a briefing on the day's activities and the excursions
planned for the following day. Evenings are spend onboard
with fellow travelers. |
Day 1
- Monday - Manaus
(Amazon) - Amazon River and tributaries /
Sightseeing
PM - Welcome onboard -
Meeting of the waters - Canoe excursion
Services will begin at the dock / pier of the
Hotel Tropical
(*****) in
Manaus
where the crew and guides of the vessel of your choice will welcome
you.
Upon boarding you will check into your accommodations for the next six days
on either the "Premium"
or "Amazon
Clipper" for a 2:30 P.M. sailing.
|
- Contact us for additional services in
Manaus and
airfares to and in Brazil -
NOTE -
We strongly recommend
travelers to arrive in Manaus at least one day early and
book departure flights late on the last day |
Enjoy your welcome drink while the boat moves away from the dock and
begins the cruise down the Negro River toward the Xiborena region.
At this time the crew and guides will be presented followed by a
safety briefing and information on the route to follow
and the facilities onboard. On this first afternoon we will sail towards the juncture of the
Amazon and Rio Negro rivers to observe the "Meeting of the Waters".
At this point we will be able to see the brown waters of the Amazon
River meet with the "black" waters of the Rio Negro. For many miles
the waters will mix into each other until finally they will turn
brown.
We will continue by crossing the Amazon River to the Xiborena and Careiro region to
Curari where we arrive late in the afternoon. Here we will disembark for
the first shore excursion by canoe.
Observe life on the flooded plains while your Naturalist
guide explains about the use of some of the jungle and flood plain
products such as
Jute, market-garden produce and rubber trees that can be found
in the area. In season we can see the large “Victoria Regia” water
lilies.
EVE -
Sense the difference between day and night while the sun sets over
the horizon. Evenings and nights are full of activity in the forest.
While exploring the waters, we look for the Amazon caiman or
wildlife along the shores.
The excursion returns to the boat after sunset. Dinner will be
served while the boat navigates up the Amazon to lake Janauaca.
Overnight on board.
(D.)
Day 2 -
Tuesday
- Amazon River and
tributaries / Sightseeing
AM - Bird watching -
Jungle walk
You will get an early morning wake up call for a dawn bird watching
canoe trip. There are good chances of seeing Hoatzins and large
flocks of Egrets and Cormorants in the area. After breakfast back on
board we will visit the locals of the lake who live from their
manioc plantations, fishing, diverse fruit trees, rubber, Brazil-nut
trees, wood and other extractive products.
PM - Fishing trip
Lunch will be served back on board followed by a "fishing trip".
Try your luck at fishing "Amazon style" in a different part of the
lake. The legendary Piranha, and other species of fish, can be
caught in the entire area.
EVE - After dinner we will leave the boat on a night trip in search of
nocturnal animals. We will scan the shores while looking for night
hawks, monkeys and sometimes sloth. Back on board, the boat will
begin to sail down-river.
Overnight on board.
(B, L, D.)
Day 3 - Wednesday -
Amazon River and tributaries - Rio Negro River /
Sightseeing
AM - Janauary Ecological Park
 Early wake up call for a pre breakfast excursion to explore the
Janauary Ecological Park and nearby waterways where we may observe
monkeys and other wildlife. Breakfast on board while the boat will
begin navigation toward the entrance of the Rio Negro River. Some
time will be spend here before turning north, up the Negro River,
passing the city of Manaus, with a view of its floating dock,
market, old custom house and homes built on stilts. A stop will be
made at the dock as some passengers may disembark while others may
join us for the remainder of the trip.
PM - Navigation and Sunset excursion
After lunch we depart up the Negro River. Enjoy the
changed views and the waters of the river. Shortly before sunset we
will anchor at a small tributary of the Negro River, the Pagodao
river. Here we will leave the vessel on a canoe trip with good
possibilities to observe nocturnal animals of the region. Sense the
“magic” changes of the jungle when the sun sets and the night falls.
EVE - Dinner and overnight on board
while we navigate towards Acu Creek or nearby tributaries. Overnight
on board.
(B, L, D.)
Day 4 -
Thursday -
Rio Negro River and tributaries /
Sightseeing
AM - Jungle hike - visit locals
Enjoy your breakfast far away from the noise of the city and modern
life and get ready for a hike thru the forest. Observe the amazing
flora and fauna of the area while your Naturalist guide will explain
the characteristics of the surrounding jungle. Stop at the house of
a “caboclo” family where you have a chance to observe their way of
life, the
preparation of manioc flour (the staple foodstuff of the Amazon) and
also observe the health and educational situation of children in the
Amazon.
PM - Anavilhanas archipelago
Lunch will be served back on board while the ship navigates through
“Anavilhanas,” the world’s largest fresh water archipelago, located
more than 1,000 miles from the ocean. Here we make a short visit
to the village of Novo Airao, with its handicraft boat yards,
sawmills, market and other activities. We will also have time to
shop for handicrafts before returning back onboard. Relax and enjoy
the views of the river while we navigate towards our next stop.
EVE - Night excursion
After dinner, disembark in search of the Amazon caiman
and other nocturnal wildlife of the area.
Overnight on board.
(B, L, D.)
Day 5 -
Friday
- Rio Negro River
and tributaries / Sightseeing
AM - Beach and swimming *
Enjoy the river from the vessel while it navigates to Praia Grande or
another white sand beach. Swimming will be allowed *,
depending on weather conditions and season.
Observe the vegetation of the sandy areas and ... relax.
PM -
Acajituba lake - Fishing
After lunch
we disembark for
a canoe trip on lake Acajituba, or adjacent lake.
The typical flora of the region, including the famous Rubber and
Brazil nut trees can be seen here. Your guide will also describe the
use of various types of palm trees found here. Some travelers may
try their "improved" fishing skills on the lake.
Later we make a
stop at the Paricatuba community to see old abandoned rubber-boom
buildings, now overgrown with strangler fig trees.
EVE - Farewell dinner and overnight on board while sailing down the Negro
River.
(B, L, D.)
Day 6 -
Saturday
- Rio Negro River
and tributaries - Amazon River - Manaus /
Sightseeing
AM - Bird watching - Farewell
Early wake up call on the last morning of the cruise for a bird
watching trip on lake Janauary. Sunrise in the Amazon is always an
unforgettable time of the day. Surrounded by flooded forest and its
incredible flora, crossing lakes where giant water lilies grow, and
the unique fauna, the early morning excursion is sure to leave
long-lasting memories. Before returning to Manaus we make a short stop
at the “meeting of the waters” where you have a chance to observe
the pink and gray river dolphins before arriving at the dock just
before noon.
(B.)
END OF SERVICES
- Ask us for
transfers, additional services,
and
hotel accommodations in Manaus |
