This wonderful voyage travels up the Rio Negro into a rarely visited part of the Amazon rainforest, where the wildlife and flora is largely undisturbed.
Accompanied by a naturalist guide, you’ll visit different Amazonian habitats by boat and on foot, depending on the season. The almost constantly flooded igapó forest is draped with lianas; the strange seasonally flooded várzea forest features orchids and bromeliads clinging to overhanging trees that are home to hoatzins and iguanas; and the terra firme forest's towering hardwood trees with buttressed roots are perhaps most people’s idea of the Amazon rainforest.
Including each of these differing forest types provides a great overview of the incredible biodiversity the Amazon is famed for. Enjoy discovering the multitude of colourful birds, charismatic primates, charming sloths and river dolphins, magnificent trees, orchids and landscapes from the comfort of your vessel.
Typical Itinerary
Day1: Board the Tucano
Make your way to Manaus and transfer to the pier to board your motor yacht, the Tucano, your home for the next week early this morning.
Once on board you depart upstream on the Rio Negro, weaving through the numerous forested islands of the beautiful Anavilhanas Archipelago. You’ll see that both shores are covered by dense rainforest, and from the observation deck you can scan the magnificent tangle of vegetation, keeping watch for wildlife.
As you cruise, the striking Amazonian pink river dolphins will likely join you, and in the forest canopy, several species of primates and sloths are likely to be spotted. On the exposed sandbanks and overhanging vegetation, a wide range of waterbirds will be a feature, as well as macaws, parrots and toucans passing overhead. This afternoon, you may also have an opportunity to go for a refreshing swim.
Over the coming days, you'll discover the least inhabited river in the Amazon - the Rio Negro. You'll have the opportunity to explore on foot, by kayak or in motorised canoes, swim in the world's purest water, visit local villagers who live deep in the forest, and enjoy time spent in the forest with the greatest range of wildlife on earth.
On a typical day, you'll be greeted by a morning serenade of toucans, hear and hopefully see howler monkeys and learn about the fascinating ecology of the Amazon on forest walks and boat rides. Throughout the day, your guides will help you search for a variety of wildlife. Some of the highlights include howler, squirrel, capuchin and saki monkeys, and three-toed and two-toed sloths amongst the riverside trees. Amazon River dolphins and the smaller tucuxi dolphin, black and spectacled caiman, yellow-spotted river turtles and abundant terns, kingfishers, storks, egrets and herons all feature along the waterways.
On night walks and boat rides, some of the secretive residents of the forest may be revealed, such as beautifully marked tree boa, large-eyed tree frog or shy paca.
After sunset, a chorus of insects, frogs and nightjars begin, and evenings are spent observing nocturnal creatures or marvelling at the glorious night sky, littered with stars. Another highlight you enjoy is the Encontro das Águas (meaning Meeting of Waters), where two of the world's largest rivers, the Amazon and the Rio Negro, join in a turbulent maelstrom.
Your last overnight anchorage is north of Manaus, one of the world's largest and most vibrant port cities, where you spend a final night on board.
Day7: Disembark in Manaus
Early this morning, after a hearty breakfast, you disembark and continue your travels either back home or with an extension in Brazil - contact us to arrange this.
Please note: Daily flights connect Manaus to all major airports in Brazil, and we recommend at least one overnight in Manaus prior to embarkation. A shorter 4-night river trip aboard the Tucano is also available for those limited on time, please contact us for details.
Key info
Duration and price excluding international flights: 7 daysfrom £3,095 pp
Single supplement:
On request – please contact us.
The basin of the world’s largest river contains its oldest tropical forest and most diverse ecosystem, with at least 40,000 plant species, and a variety of wildlife. The lodges offer outings on foot and by canoe to explore the rainforest. Alternatively a riverboat voyage can take you deeper into the rainforest.
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Where: Amazonas
Ideal for viewing: capybara, giant otter, red and blue macaw, tapir, yellow anaconda
Excellent for: River safaris, Jaguar watching, Birdwatching
Rio is legendary for its stunning beaches and the iconic peaks of Sugar Loaf and Corcovado, with the statue of Christ the Redeemer. Nearby attractions include Tijuca National Park, where you can walk rainforest trails to see a variety of wildlife species such as iguanas and monkeys.
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Excellent for: Beach stay, City stopover, History & culture
This itinerary is available on the following
cruise vessel:
The motor yacht Tucano is a traditional Amazon riverboat with nine comfortable cabins, each fitted with en suite bathrooms, panoramic windows and air conditioning. With a large observation deck and promenade balcony, you can look for pink river dolphins, squirrel monkeys and macaws as you sail.
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