Voyage to the Heart of the Amazon

12 Days

This one-week voyage explores the Amazon's most untouched rainforest, sailing far up the Rio Negro to explore a rarely visited area whose flora and fauna is largely disturbed. With a naturalist guide you'll visit different habitats by boat and on foot: igapo forest, the strange and lovely seasonally flooded forest where orchids and bromeliads cling to overhanging trees that are home to fishing birds and iguanas; the terre firme forest whose tall trees with buttressed roots are most people's idea of Amazon rainforest; and the fantastically rich varzea forest, to see colourful birds, magnificent trees draped with lianas and carpeted with orchids, and monkeys chattering in the branches.

The Tucano is a traditional Amazon riverboat converted to have nine comfortable cabins with private bathroom and windows, air-conditioned throughout. Certain departures are scheduled for families with children.

Day 1. Fly to Rio de Janeiro

Fly to Rio - Hotel Copa Sul 2 nights

Day 2. Rio de Janeiro

Half day tour of Rio, including visit to Corcovado Mountain, home of Christ the Redeemer statue

Day 3. Manaus

Fly to Manaus - Hotel Saint Paul 1 night

Day 4. Start Amazon voyage

Board the M/Y Tucano for a 6 night voyage.

Days 5-6. Rio Negro

Venture far up the least inhabited river in the Amazon, the Rio Negro. Explore the forest on foot or in motorised canoes, swim in the world's purest water, visit local settlers who live deep in the forest, and spend time seeking out - and then watching - observing the greatest range of wildlife on earth.

Day 7. Rio Jauaperi

Arrive at the extraordinary Rio Jauaperi and spend the whole day in this lush, unspoilt rainforest area.

Day 8. Rio Negro

Sail down the south bank of the Rio Negro, watching the different wildlife found on this side of the river; enjoy walks and expeditions into the forest

Day 9.Village visit

Visit the village of Novo Airao, walk through the streets and marvel at how the 19th century thrives in this remote corner of the globe. Sail through the night to the confluence of the Amazon and Negro Rivers.

Day 10. Manaus

Morning visit to Lago Janauari Ecological Park, where the dense brown waters of the Amazon flow swiftly through the forest. This area teems with wildlife and monkeys will almost certainly be seen. Then make for the spectacular "Meeting of the Waters", where the world's two largest rivers, the Amazon and the Negro, flow alongside each other for several miles before finally blending. Evening return to Manaus to spend a final night on the boat.

Day 11. Depart

Disemark in Manaus fly to Rio or Sao Paulo to connect to your international flight to the UK

Day 12. Arrive UK

Note: If you don't have a lot of time, but still wish to experience the essence of the Amazon, a shorter four-night river trip aboard the Tucano operates from Manaus on alternate Mondays. Although these do not penetrate the Rio Negro as far as the Rio Jauaperi, you'll still see and learn a lot.

Extensions

If you'd like a relaxing end to your holiday, why not extend your stay with a few days of pure hedonism on an idyllic Brazilian beach either near Salvador, or closer to Rio in Parati or in Buzios? We can recommend a variety of different hotels or pousadas (inns) to suit all tastes.