Amazon River Cruise
August 10-19, 2012
We have chosen to partner with International Expeditions for this NEW Naturalist Journey’s adventure, set for August 10-19. We admire this company’s commitment to local communities and the environment, and trust them based on their 32 years of experience leading Amazon River cruises, providing guests with unrivaled access to the rainforest’s most pristine areas in the company of the river’s most knowledgeable local guides.
This August we embark on a ship they have totally refurbished and just brought into service, the 24 passenger Aquamarina. The cabins are spacious (161 sq. feet), air-conditioned with private bath, with dramatic picture windows looking out at Nature’s abundance along the river. The crew prides itself in service, and the inviting dining room staff prides themselves in offering innovative, local cuisine. This ship has a shallow draft, allowing it passage into new areas of the Amazon from those explored on previous 
voyages. From the Aquamarina, we launch smaller skiffs to navigate myriad small channels on our outings. This is a beautiful ship, well designed for safety and comfort on the river. We are very pleased to be among the first groups to use it!
Our daily excursions include pre-dawn birding and searching for six or more species of primates, school visits in local villages and even piranha fishing! Nature’s abundance, from large insects such as katydids, rainbow-colored beetles, colonies of leaf-cutter ants, butterflies on the wing, to possibilities of seeing rare Pink Dolphins and other mammals make every outing significant. Explore a rainforest that pulsates with an unrivaled diversity of wildlife.
WHAT WE ADD!
Two additional guides: CAROL SIMON and HOWARD TOPOFF. These two entertaining and personable experts in animal behavior travel with you to provide in-depth lectures and commentary throughout the voyage. Carol and Howard are popular lecturers for a number of destinations, but the Amazon is one of their favorites – there is simply no better place to teach tropical ecology. They have accompanied over a dozen Amazon voyages, and look forward to navigating new sections of the river on the Aquamarina, which can take us to places even new to the experts! In addition to the great opportunity to learn with Carol and Howard, you will earn Naturalist Journeys Travel Bucks on your voyage, and have our attention to pre- departure details.
Go Deeper Into the Rainforest
Joining forces with International Expeditions, our Amazon River journey covers more than 600 miles on the Amazon and its tributaries. A highlight is travel deep into the protected Pacaya-Samiria Reserve where we explore three different habitats where we have the best chances of spotting rare wildlife! On our Amazon River cruises, we look for monkeys, birds, sloths and other mammals, pink and gray dolphins and so much more.
Authentic Amazon Experience
Aboard our Amazon River cruise you’ll create a lifetime of memories: the joy in the eyes of a village child when you visit their school; the enveloping darkness of the jungle; or the awe of floating along narrow streams accompanied by inquisitive Pink Dolphins. Drawing on insight from our native Amazon travel guides, the Captain and crew intentionally vary the villages and tributaries we visit, ensuring you get the most authentic rainforest experience possible.
Why Partner with International Expeditions for the AMAZON?
International Expeditions (IE) pioneered travel to the Peruvian Amazon, and their nature- focused, small-group expedition travel remains the standard for Amazon Voyage expedition cruises. IE not only pioneered travel to this region, they made long-term investments. Indeed, they still work with many of the naturalist guides they helped to train. Ensuring a worry-free and educational journey, these expert local naturalist guides — along with an expedition leader and our guest lecturers Carol Simon and Howard Topoff — accompany this August Amazon Voyage. Each day, your guides use their decades of learning and guiding experience to serve as lecturers, field guides and friends as you explore the rainforest.
ITINERARY
Fri., Aug. 10 U.S. / Lima
Fly independently to Lima, Peru, the nation’s capital and largest city, and transfer to our first night’s hotel. Dinner is not included as it is typically on the plane; if you arrive early you can dine at your leisure in the city or at our hotel. Be sure to try one of Peru’s wonderful Pisco Sours!
Accommodations at the Swissôtel, Lima
Sat., Aug. 11 Lima / Iquitos / Embark Amazon Riverboat / Amazon River
In the morning, tour historic Lima, visiting Casa Aliaga, a private home dating back to the Conquistadors. See the Cathedral, where Francisco Pizarro is entombed, and Plaza 
de Armas, and the monastery and vast catacombs of the Iglesia de San Francisco. Mid-day, we fly over the Andes Mountains to Iquitos. Here we board our riverboat, the Aquamarina, home for the next seven days of our Amazon cruise. During the first of subsequent nightly briefings, we review the following day’s Amazon Voyage itinerary and meet the crew. Tonight, we journey slowly toward the confluence marking the beginning of the Amazon River, stargazing and storytelling with our local guides. (B,L,D)
Sun., Aug. 12 Confluence of the Amazon River / Río Ucayali
Awaken to a cacophony of sound this morning. You are on the Amazon River, seeing some of the ever-changing panorama of jungle life as our Amazon River cruise ship continues upriver. Small villages dot the shoreline, and channels weaving through island mazes provide close- up views of a variety of birds. The confluence of the Ucayali and Marañón Rivers is famous as the beginning of the Amazon River in Peru. Amazingly, we are about 2,400 miles from where the river flows into the Atlantic.
The river drops only about 350 feet the entire way! On our Amazon Voyage, we travel smaller waterways aboard sturdy excursion boats to areas where we may find marsh 
birds such as Oriole Blackbirds, Green Ibis, Yellow-headed Caracaras, Black-capped Donacobis and White-headed Marsh-Tyrants. We turn into the Río Ucayali, where we’re aptto find Gray River Dolphins and Amazon Pink Dolphins cavorting near the boat and along the shoreline. Later we take an excursion into the surrounding rainforest in search of giant water lilies and elusive wildlife such as monkeys and sloths. With a bit of luck, we could see an anaconda, as they do much of their hunting in the water. As dusk approaches, Fishing Bats begin their night’s foraging. (B,L,D)
Mon., Aug. 13 Río Ucayali / Pacaya-Samiria Reserve
After a peaceful breakfast along the black-water Sapote Creek, we explore a small tributary of the Ucayali. We look for animals including primates, sloths and an enormous variety of birds. Our Amazon Voyage adventure continues upriver to the 
Pacaya-Samiria Reserve. Although scientific studies are far from exhausted, the Pacaya-Samiria is the known home to 450 bird species, 102 species of mammals, over 130 species of reptiles and amphibians, and countless plants. This afternoon, an excursion into this largest wetland reserve in the world provides the opportunity to see many of the 13 species of primates here, including Monk Sakis, Red Howler, Saddle-backed Tamarin and Squirrel Monkeys. We explore Caro Lake, connected to the river by way of a very small stream, where we may find flocks of Greater Ani, often seen following monkeys in search of insects disturbed by the monkeys’ foraging. We enjoy a nighttime boat excursion for a chance to find caimans, capybaras, common potoos, frogs and other nocturnal wildlife. (B,L,D)
Tues. Aug. 14 Rio Pacaya / Pacaya-Samiria Reserve
We spend the day exploring this flooded realm, seeing wading birds such as herons, Wattled Jacanas and Horned Screamers. Venturing deep into the rainforest, tour an Igapo (seasonally flooded forest), where plant life is very different from what we see along the main course of our Amazon cruise, and walk through the forest. Once we reach the reserve's second checkpoint, hike around the ranger station, where we may see colonies of Leaf-Cutter and Army Ants. Lucky guests may release turtle hatchlings. A delicious lunch energizes us and our expert naturalists for afternoon excursions, where we may find Scarlet Macaws, Hoatzins, Black-collared Hawks and
Red Howler Monkeys. (B,L,D)
Wed., Aug. 15 Pacaya-Samiria Reserve
After an early breakfast, we board our excursion boats for access even farther into the heart of these vast wetlands. As our Amazon Voyage adventure cruises the narrow waterways, we find birds such as Canary- winged Parakeets and spectacular Blue-and-gold and Scarlet Macaws. Primates also are fairly common, including noisy Squirrel Monkeys. We arrive at a ranger station, where we may take a short hike to explore the forest. After a picnic lunch, we gradually make our way back to our riverboat through the maze of waterways. Visit a village along the river, with the chance to learn about the lives of the“Ribereño” people who live there. Accompanied by guides who grew up along the river, this is a fantastic opportunity to stroll through gardens learning about medicinal plants and folklore, visit a school, or join in a game of soccer. The children are especially excited to see their faces on digital cameras and to show off their school and sing Peruvian songs. Depending on the villages visited during your Amazon River tour, you may also have the opportunity to see an IE-funded water treatment plant. The clean drinking water provided by these plants is having an enormous positive health impact in remote river villages. Learn about medicinal plants and enjoy a blessing ceremony by a respected village shaman. (B,L,D)
Thurs., Aug. 16 Río Ucayali / Pacaya-Samiria Reserve
This morning we head back downriver at a leisurely pace, with a morning wildlife cruise or other activity. Aboard the ship, take advantage of the open-air top deck, learning to make traditional Peruvian dishes or enjoying an enriching lecture. After dark we’ll go out in our excursion boats to listen to the sounds of the rainforest and look for nocturnal wildlife. (B,L,D)
Fri., Aug. 17 Amazon River
Wake up early for a morning birdwatching excursion along the Yarapa River. After breakfast, try your hand at piranha fishing in Ubos Lake. Piranha are very common in the slower-moving water. With luck, we may catch Red-breasted, White or Black piranha, and feast on our catch this evening at dinner. Once back aboard our Amazon River cruise ship, we enjoy a farewell dinner. (B,L,D)
Sat., Aug. 18 Disembark the Aquamarina / Iquitos / Lima / Depart
In the morning we disembark in Iquitos. Enjoy a walking tour of this frontier city. 
Take a boat excursion to tour the Belen Market before visiting the IE-funded Las Mavinas urban garden project. After lunch, we fly back to Lima in time to connect with your overnight flight to the U.S. Or, stay on to explore more of Lima at your leisure, or join one of the trip extensions. (B,L)
Sun., Aug. 19 Arrive U.S.
We arrive back in the USA Sunday morning and connect with flights home.
(Meals Aloft)
Please note: Because conditions at the time of our visit and new opportunities always determine what is possible on the Amazon, our Amazon cruise expedition itinerary is flexible. The itinerary shown is a guide to what we may do, but it’s always subject to change.
Our Amazon River Boat
Explore the Amazon in comfort aboard the authentically designed 24-guest Aquamarina. Each spacious cabin — a generous 161 sq. ft. — is air-conditioned with private baths and dramatic picture windows. During meals in the inviting dining room, enjoy the passing panorama of the rainforest while enjoying delicious cuisine. Daily naturalist-guided excursions aboard sturdy 19-passenger skiffs, equipped with 100-HP motors, are ideal for delving into narrow creeks and tributaries. With their flat bottom and spacious seating, you’ll have unobstructed views of the surrounding wildlife.
PLAN AHEAD!
Protect yourself with Allianz Travel Insurance (formerly Access America).
Offset your Carbon Footprint. Show us the receipt and we'll take 50% - up to $50.00 - of your carbon offset fee off your final payment!
COST
OF THE JOURNEY:
The tour price is $3898.00 per person, shared occupancy, from Lima, Peru.
The tour price includes airport transfers, 8N accommodations (1N Lima, 7N aboard the Aquamarina) 23 meals, tour of Lima and Iquitos, park and preserve entrance fees, professional guide services and complimentary laundry while on the boat. Note that an additional night is spent on your overnight return flight back to the USA, or you may wish to stay on in Lima, or for one of the tour extensions. Single occupancy price is $5647.00. Please note that International Expeditions will advertise no single supplement on some voyages this month; those places are very limited and none are available for our cruise. In addition to the tour price, you will need to pay for in-country air, currently $368 per person, round trip from Lima to Iquitos.
Cost of the journey does NOT include airfare from your home to Lima, or items of a personal nature, such as drinks from the bar, telephone, and local crew and guide gratuities (at your discretion, we will give some guidelines).
TRAVEL INFORMATION:
The in-country flights will be arranged by International Expeditions and we will collect this fee for air with the tour billing. If you wish to take advantage for their Travel Desk to help with air to Lima, you are most welcome to do so. At times they can get very good rates on American and LAN, and you would have time to request help and compare rates with what you can find. You may arrive in Lima at your convenience, for many dinner will be on the plane, and for those arriving early, you can meet in the lobby at 6:00PM to join others for a meal, or dine at your leisure. The tour is designed to coordinate your return as an overnight flight, as you fly back from Iquitos to Lima, and can meet your flights from there.
Naturalist Journeys, LLC is an equal opportunity service provider and committed to the goal of ensuring equal opportunity for all in employment and program delivery.
Photo Credits:
Guide Carol Simon with baby Caiman, Army Ant Soldier, Red Howler Monkeys and Two-toed Sloth, Howard Topoff; all other photos by INTERNATIONAL EXPEDITIONS. |
