|
 
Tour
Description: Depart
from the river-town of Leticia (Colombia)
and explore the Upper Amazon River system in small motorized
canoes, en route to the bustling city of Iquitos. The
scenery will provide some fascinating opportunities to
photograph people who live on the river, many of them in
floating houses right on the river itself … Observe birds
and monkeys play in the trees and butterflies of every
conceivable color, description and size ... Visit narrow
rivers with luxuriant vegetation ranging from grasses to
giant Kapok trees and go fishing for piranhas while spotting
caimans sunning on the shore at nearby inland black water
lakes. Feel a hands-on experience while the sun begins to
set behind fleecy thicket of clouds tingeing them with hues
of purple, light blue, and gold colors.
A day on the M/F Arapaima begins with a hearty
breakfast which will normally be served between 7:00 and
8:30 AM followed, or preceded, by daily excursions. During a
"normal" day in the Amazon we will take three excursions
which may focus on bird
watching, fishing for piranhas, short and long day and night
jungle walks into primary and secondary forests and visits
to local Indian communities and small Amazon villages. Lunch
is ready between 12:30 and 2:00 PM and dinner is served
between 7:30 and 9:00 PM. The bar opens from 9:00 AM till
11:00 PM. |
Day 1
- Tuesday
-
Arrive Tabatinga (Brazil) or Leticia (Colombia) / Cruise
AM or PM -
Upon arrival in
Leticia /
Tabatinga
airport, or hotel, you will be met by a ships' representative and
transferred by car, through these frontier cities, then by boat,
across the Amazon River, to Santa Rosa Island (Peru)
for embarkation and boarding the
M/F Arapaima. The onboard naturalist English-speaking guide
gives passengers a general ship orientation and provide ship’s
safety information. From the observation deck, you will have
spectacular views of the forest as the ship winds along a narrow
section of the Amazon River on its way to
Iquitos.
Late afternoon, and If time permits, we make a brief stop at "La
isla de los Micos" (Monkey Island), located on the Colombian side of
the Amazon River, to spot a great number of monkey species and huge
Victoria Amazonica Lily pads which are blooming in an estuary of the
river bank. Later, stop by the Cayaru River where we have chances to
see a huge variety of colorful birds, and with luck, three toed
Sloths and some monkeys.
|
Contact us for services in
Bogota and airfares from Bogota to Leticia or Manaus to
Tabatinga |
EVE -
Dinner aboard and as our ship moves
against the river current through the night, we can observe, from
the observation deck, the stars presenting a marvelous and
incredible spectacle of both Southern and Northern constellations.
(L, D)
Note
We
suggest our customers to arrive one day prior or in the early
morning hours of the ship's departure day. We can help you book
additional services, such as airport
transfers, overnight or day-use rooms at local hotels and other, if
needed.
Day 2 -
Wednesday
- Cruise / Camucheros
AM -
An early wake up
call give us time for a cup of coffee or tea before leaving on
motorized canoes for a bird watching excursion at one of the many
oxbow lakes in the area. Right after breakfast, get ready for an
extensive jungle walk through primary and secondary forest nearby
the village of San Juan of Camucheros - Guides show how to survive
in the jungle; finding food, water, learn how to make a fire; and
point out termite nests, lizards, big trees, medicinal plants, and
other type of wildlife. Here, we get a good start on understanding
Amazon ecology.
PM -
After lunch aboard
the M/Y Arapaima, we experience a new venture into the virgin
rainforest by entering Terra Firma for a jungle hike
and chances to spot a great variety of blossoming bromeliads,
delicate orchids, ferns, huge Ceiba trees, strangler figs, lianas,
vines, medicinal plants, frogs, caterpillars and ants. Then visit a
nearby colpa to watch for blue-and-yellow macaws, white-throated
toucans, tanagers, woodpeckers among other birds. Also we have
chances to observe the distinctive red shining eyes of the black
caimans along the narrow shorelines of a stream.
EVE - Tonight
ship continues sailing up the Mighty Amazon River while we are
relaxing and absorbing the sights, sounds and smells of the lush
forest from the top deck of the ship.
(B, L, D)
Day 3 - Thursday - Cruise
/ Pebas
AM - Very
early in the morning, we grab our binoculars and set off to a small
black-water lake, home to a myriad of birdlife. As we move on the
tranquil waters of the Ampiyacu River, enjoy breathtaking views of
the rainforest and spot pink river dolphins and a large collection
of exotic birds. On returning from our bird watch, a filling
breakfast will be served, then get ready to visit a Yagua Indian
village to get a first-hand look at the daily lives of their people.
The tour through the village lets us see the virtues of rainforest
life, and highlights the problems facing a people
caught between their own culture and traditions, and the imposing
Western way of life. It is an amazing experience to chat with the
village chief and his relatives who teach us their unique blowgun
hunting techniques and perform some typical dances. Try out our
bartering skills, or just buying their handicrafts, with westernized
articles. The breeze on the river is quite comforting once we reach
cruising speed, and the views are excellent from the observation
deck of the ship.
PM -
After lunch, we go out fishing for black and red piranhas at the
Apayacu River, also habitat of other fish species such as Arawana,
sardine, and zungaro catfish. Sunsets are a special time in the
Amazon as they can provide an unbelievable myriad of colors so this
last afternoon have our camera at hand to take pictures when the sun
begins to set behind the trees.
EVE - Cruise up the Amazon River towards Iquitos.
(B, L, D.)
Day 4 - Friday
- Arrive Iquitos
AM - At
mid-morning we arrive in Iquitos, and following breakfast and
disembarkation, we have time to browse on our own pace by visiting
some of the city’s tourist sights, relaxing, shopping or just taking
a motorized rickshaw, with a very inexpensive price, to ride around
this exotic town. Transfer to the airport for flight to
Lima.
(B.)
END OF SERVICES
|
