Amazon Riverboat Adventure: 9-Day River Cruise & Wildlife Adventure

Amazon Riverboat Adventure: 9-Day River Cruise & Wildlife Adventure 9 Days

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Amazon Riverboat Adventure: 9-Day River Cruise & Wildlife Adventure
Amazon Riverboat Adventure: 9-Day River Cruise & Wildlife Adventure
Amazon Riverboat Adventure: 9-Day River Cruise & Wildlife Adventure
Amazon Riverboat Adventure: 9-Day River Cruise & Wildlife Adventure
Amazon Riverboat Adventure: 9-Day River Cruise & Wildlife Adventure
Amazon Riverboat Adventure: 9-Day River Cruise & Wildlife Adventure
Amazon Riverboat Adventure: 9-Day River Cruise & Wildlife Adventure
Amazon Riverboat Adventure: 9-Day River Cruise & Wildlife Adventure
Amazon Riverboat Adventure: 9-Day River Cruise & Wildlife Adventure
Amazon Riverboat Adventure: 9-Day River Cruise & Wildlife Adventure

Overview
Itinerary
Nuts & Bolts
Experts
Operator
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Overview

Highlights

Duration: 9 Days
Comfort: 66.6666666666667%
Language: English
Rating: 0%
Trip ID: 126316
Start Location: Monserrate, Peru
End Location: Monserrate, Peru

Guaranteed:
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Primary Activities: River & Canal Cruising, Amazon
Other Activities: Rainforest, Architecture, Wildlife, Local Markets, Local Culture, Local Food, Nature Reserves, riverboating
Activity Level: Basic

Hop aboard a riverboat and experience the Amazon in style. The cuisine onboard is regional and provides a unique—and delicious—window into local culture. Led by an Amazon Reserve Naturalist guide, your cruise will include daily excursions by motorized skiff designed to reveal the exotic wildlife that calls the rainforest home—with any luck you’ll spot sloths, toucans or pink dolphins! And, with two full days for exploration in Pacaya Samiria Reserve, you'll have the chance to experience the jungle up close. Gain a rare glimpse of how life ‘on the river‘ is lived and experience the magic of the Amazon on this once-in-a-lifetime riverboat adventure.

Note: The itinerary may vary slightly depending on the weather and water levels which affect our ability to enter areas. It may also be run in reverse to minimize the number of people from different boats visiting areas at one time.

Whaa's Included:

6 nights aboard the Amazon Riverboat
Canopy walkway excursion in Pacaya Samiria National Reserve
All meals on board the boat
Launches and land excursions with our expert naturalist team
Arrival transfer and breakfast daily in Lima.
8 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 6 Dinners
Meals and unlimited bottled water on board the Amazon Explorer, drinks extra
Amazon riverboat (6nts), comfort hotels (2nts)
Amazon riverboat, plane, private bus
Certified Amazon Reserve naturalist guide and support staff on board the Amazon riverboat
Small group experience; Max 24, Avg 20

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive at any time in Lima: Upon arrival from your international flight, you will be transferred to your hotel and overnight in Lima, the nation's capital and largest city.
Day 2: Fly to Iquitos and cast off on the Amazon River.: Today will begin very early, to give us time to eat breakfast and catch our flight to Iquitos, where we’ll transfer to our Amazon River ship, our privately chartered home for the next seven days.

But before boarding, we get acquainted with this jungle port city an orientation tour. This is the country’s main river port, established in 1864 in the heart of rubber country on the Amazon’s deep waters. Like any port, it has a hustle-bustle feel, yet it is not without its places of quiet and shaded retreats. Much of the architecture we see is a 19th-century vestige of the era when European commercial barons held sway over life and culture here. And while Iquitos has seen many fortunes rise and fall, its isolation has remained constant: access to the city is by air or river only.

We will also make a brief stop at the Amazonian Manatee Rescue Centre. The Amazonian Manatee is very rare and endangered mammal unique to the Amazon Jungle. This centre focuses on rescuing orphaned manatees who have been victims of poaching. The centre helps rehabilitate and reintroduce these wonderful creatures back into the Amazon Basin. Here you will have a see the efforts of the rescue centre as well as have the opportunity to feed these amazing and loveable animals.

Once on board ship, you can just relax and let the wild rainforest surround you. Step out on deck to watch the riverbanks go by—but keep your eyes peeled for wildlife such as gray and pink dolphins.

Our ship casts off and wends its way to the confluence of the Marañon and Ucayali Rivers. Here, it is generally (but not universally!) considered that the Amazon River begins, at least in name.

Approximate Distance: 1020km
Estimated Travel Time: 3 hours
(1B,1L,1D)
Days 3: Spend the first day sailing to the confluence of the Marañon and Ucayali rivers: After breakfast, we have an excursion on the Amazon and some of its tributaries to see the wonders of the rain forest. This is our chance to see monkeys, sloths, and a variety of birds.

Back onboard , we’ll gather for lunch, followed by a presentation on the Amazon River. Afterwards, we’ll walk along the shores of the Ucayali River, located in the Yucuruchi region of the Amazon. Here we’ll have an opportunity to see the Victoria Regia water lily—a gigantic aquatic plant

(1B,1L,1D)
Days 4: Your expert guides will lead jungle walks in Pacaya Samiria National Reserve: Today we rise early to visit the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve for a full day of discovery in Peru's largest national park.

Then, keep your eyes wide open and your binoculars at the ready to catch sight of cocoi heron and striated herons, colorful macaws, squirrel and woolly monkeys, caimans, sloths and many more primate, bird and mammal species. Current counts record more than 200 bird species and 10 primate species within its boundaries. Our route takes us over the tributary waters of the Marañon. Along the way, our guides will point out the interesting wildlife species that inhabit the riverbanks—not to mention unusual fish and vegetation in the river.

Back onboard, we'll gather for breakfast followed by a presentation on the life, history, and culture of the Amazon's main tribes.

After lunch, we have an introductory discussion about shamanism that will help us understand the traditions of the rain forest people. Our ship then arrives in the Amazon Natural Park where we'll take a short walk to the Enchanted Lake. Here a catamaran waits to sail us along the lake's tranquil waters, where we'll listen to the local birdsong and keep our eyes peeled for sighting the different animal species found in this area.

Before dinner, we'll touch upon the spirit realm, paying a visit to a local shaman. Mystic ... minister ... healer—one might consider a shaman to be "all of the above." But to understand shamanism requires something of a leap of faith, a leap into the spirit world that is the shaman's domain.

Shamanism is practiced around the globe, and is universally distinguished by a trance state called shamanic ecstasy. In these "out of body" travels, the shaman enlists denizens of the spirit world to help him with a variety of duties, from healing the sick to assisting a deceased person's soul into the afterworld—and all the while, the shaman remains conscious. Before you leave the Amazon jungle, you'll gain rare insight into the complexities of this phenomenon when you meet an actual practicing shaman in a river village. He'll introduce us to his spiritual healing craft and tell us about rain forest plants that indigenous peoples have for untold centuries held to possess curative properties. Your experience may not be "out of body," but it's sure to be out of the ordinary.

(1B,1L,1D)
Day 5: Excursions in the Pacaya–Samiria National Reserve will provide remarkable wildlife viewing op: The early morning offers another opportunity to watch the world awakening in the rain forest. Perhaps you'll spy iguanas, river turtles, cormorants, or wattled jacana during this excursion.

We return to our riverboat and prepare to meet a local Indian family. They will welcome us into their home to share conversation over the midday meal, introducing you to their culture, costumes, and way of life. This is a rare and unforgettable opportunity to gain new insight into a world truly apart from our own.

Be sure to be well rested, so that you won't miss our late-night excursion to discover who comes out at night in the jungle! As we join our Trip Leader for a nighttime boat ride in the wild, be on the lookout for mammals, bats, and reptiles such as capybara, black caiman, poison frogs, and a vast number of other species.

(1B,1L,1D)
Day 6: Go piranha fishing and explore the mangroves in a dugout canoe in Pacaya Samiria: Today we rise early and set out to explore the impressive biodiversity of this unusual ecosystem. We’ll look for a quiet spot to enjoy our picnic breakfast, followed by a trip to explore Choroyacu. We’ll also ride up the Nahuapa River for a little fishing expedition. What’s biting? Piranhas, of course! Reputedly “the most ferocious fish in the world” (to quote Teddy Roosevelt), piranha are a dietary staple for many of the Amazon rain forest’s indigenous people. While fearsome, they’re also esteemed as some of the best eating fish in South America. They have a light, nutty-tasting flesh that lends itself wonderfully to any number of cooking methods, which we’ll discover when we cast our lines today. Piranha aren’t terribly selective about what they eat, making piranha fishing fairly easy. No hand-tied flies or special casting technique required. It’s often enough just to drop a line—usually baited with raw meat or chicken—where they’re swimming.

We will also visit Choroyacu Creek where we’ll have the opportunity to climb in a dugout canoe and explore this scenic area with the locals.
After lunch, you’re invited to plunge into the river for a swim, perhaps sharing the water with some pink or grey river dolphins. Back onboard, we’ll enjoy a video about the flooded forest. Then we can kick up our heels as we learn a local dance.

Get a taste of the jungle later this afternoon as we attend a jungle cooking lesson—and then sample our results at dinner.

We’ll have another chance to witness the nocturnal life of the rain forest after dinner this evening, as we venture out in small boats onto the Marañon River. Perhaps our flashlights will reflect the red eye shine of the black caiman—or even the glowing yellow eyes of a jaguar!

(1B,1L,1D)
Day 7: Visit the port town of Nauta and visit a local market: It’s back to civilization today, as our ship returns to its home port of Iquitos. But before we dock, we have a few more unique experiences to look forward to.

This morning, we’ll call on the town of Nauta, where the Ucayali and the Marañon—the major headstreams of the Amazon—join together. On our included tour, we’ll ride the local motorcars and browse the local market. You’re welcome to try your hand at bargaining!

Continuing on our way, we visit the Sapisapi River to look for charapas and turtles. The river has given up its secrets—or at least some of them.
Tonight, we’ll celebrate our discoveries at our Farewell Dinner and Party, complete with live music, aboard our ship.

(1B,1L,1D)
Day 8: Disembark at Iquitos, transfer to the airport for the flight back to Lima: Disembark at Iquitos. We will transfer to the Iquitos airport for our flight back to Lima. Once arriving in Lima you will be met by a G Adventures representative and transported to your hotel.

Spend a final night in the City of Kings and enjoy a Pisco Sour or try some Peruvian ceviche!

(1B)
Day 9: Depart at any time in Lima: Depart at any time.

(1B)

Nuts & Bolts

Trip Includes

6 nights aboard the Amazon Riverboat
Canopy walkway excursion in Pacaya Samiria National Reserve
All meals on board the boat
Launches and land excursions with our expert naturalist team
Arrival transfer and breakfast daily in Lima.
8 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 6 Dinners
Meals and unlimited bottled water on board the Amazon Explorer, drinks extra
Amazon riverboat (6nts), comfort hotels (2nts)
Amazon riverboat, plane, private bus
Certified Amazon Reserve naturalist guide and support staff on board the Amazon riverboat
Small group experience; Max 24, Avg 20

Trip Excludes

Allow USD50-80 for meals not included in Lima.
Drinks and tips extra on board the Amazon Riverboat.
Visas
Tipping
Travel insurance
Fees for Optional Activities
Personal expenses

Trip ID#: 126316

CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable

Operator

For the specifics on this tour operator, please contact AdventureLink directly.

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