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Wonders of the Amazon: An Incredible 2,000-Mile Voyage between the Atlantic and the Peruvian Rain Forest
Rising from a chain of lakes near the western edge of the Andes, the mighty Amazon is an awe-inspiring 2.5 million square miles comprised of river, basin, and rain forest. The river holds two-thirds of the world’s flowing water, as well as 15,000 of the known animal species. People have long been drawn to its wild waterways and dense forests, from northern tribesmen who escaped to the Amazon from the last Ice Age to spice traders and rubber-seeking industrialists. Embark Clelia II in colonial Belem to explore the tropical channels of the Lower Amazon, including possible visits to Rio Pucurui, a tributary known for its birding, and Boca de Valeria, home to the local caboclo people. In Manaus, enjoy a touch of modern civilization, including historic mansions and the famed Teatro Amazonas opera house. Then spend five full days in the Upper Amazon visiting Indian villages, attending ritual ceremonies and possibly making nighttime excursions into the jungle before concluding in Iquitos with a renewed respect for the delicate balance that exists between Man and Nature.
Enjoy special early booking rates and no single supplement on this unforgettable voyage!
Itinerary
.jpg "Wonders of the Amazon Voyage Map")
Day 1 • FLY FROM THE USA
Day 2 • BELEM, Brazil
Day 3 • BELEM | EMBARK
Day 4 • BREVES STRAIT
Days 5 - 8 • THE LOWER AMAZON TRIBUTARIES
Rio Guarjara | Rio Curua-Una | San Miguel | Alter do Chao | Boca Dos Botos | Albano
Day 9 • MANAUS
Days 10 - 16 • THE UPPER AMAZON
Rio Badajos | Cuxui Mun | Lago Uara | Rio Jutai | Rio Urutubinha | Tabatinga, Brazil & Leticia, Colombia | Rio Ampiyacu, Peru
Day 17 • IQUITOS | DISEMBARK
Day 18 • ARRIVE IN THE USA
Click here to view the voyage reading list from Longitude Books.
View Detailed Itinerary
Our voyages in the Amazon will be led by an Expedition Leader and a team of naturalists, all familiar with the Amazon and all experts on various subjects that pertain to the river. The Expedition Leader and the naturalists will plot our daily activities and conduct our shore activities. In addition, we are pleased to be joined by the following lecturers, whose lectures and discussions will enhance our understanding of the amazing world of Amazonia:
March 20 - April 6 Departure
A prominent professor will discuss the geopolitics of water in the Amazon Basin, the region’s environmental issues, and the role of the river in the economies of the countries of Amazonia.
A specialist in international relations will address the politics of environmental control and global warming, both globally and the challenges facing the region we are visiting.
April 4 - 20 Departure*
John Hemming is one of the world’s foremost Amazon experts. His expeditions include first exploration and mapping of the upper Iriri river in central Brazil, visits to 45 indigenous peoples in Brazil (including four at time of first contact), and many other expeditions/visits. His books and papers include a 3-volume history of Brazilian Indians, The Conquest of the Incas, The Search for El Dorado, and Tree of Rivers: The Story of the Amazon. He is founder-trustee of the tribal-peoples charity Survival International and is involved in many other environmental charities. He is Director and Secretary of the Royal Geographical Society, London, for 21 years.
*operates in the reverse, from Lima to Belem
Day 1
FLY FROM THE USA
Day 2
BELEM, Brazil
Arrive in Belem, transfer to the Crowne Plaza Hotel. A vibrant port situated near the mouth of the Amazon River, Belem was founded by Portuguese explorers in 1616.
Day 3
BELEM | EMBARK
In the morning, explore Belem, including the 18th-century Cathedral with its marble altar and fine paintings; the Basilica de Nazare, built in 1909; the Emilio Goeldi Museum, with its botanical exhibits and zoological gardens; Ver- O-Peso, the city’s main market; and the Teatro da Paz Opera House. In the afternoon, board Clelia II and begin our voyage.
Day 4
BREVES STRAIT
Clelia II will navigate the narrow and scenic Breves Strait, one of the most beautiful stretches of the entire river. Barely wider than the width of the ship at places, we will have the opportunity to observe the wildlife in the overhanging tree canopy.
Days 5 - 8
THE LOWER AMAZON TRIBUTARIES
Spend the next four days exploring the tributaries of the Lower Amazon. Among the places we may visit are the following:
RIO GUAJARA, a beautiful area rich in birdlife, where we may also spot Amazon River dolphins, with their characteristic pink hue.
RIO CURUA-UNA, which forms a large floodplain
lake at its confluence with the Amazon. The marsh grasses and tall trees house a variety of birds and wildlife, including Orange-fronted Yellow Finch; Hoatzin; Snail Kites; Chestnut-fronted Macaws; and Red-handed Howler Monkeys.
SAN MIGUEL, a small community on the Rio Tapara, which has a conservation program for the famed Pirarucu, the largest scaled fish of the Amazon.
ALTER DO CHÃO, on the clear Rio Tapajos, for swimming at one of the most beautiful river beaches in Amazonia, and a visit of the village, known for its handicrafts.
BOCA DOS BOTOS, a narrow channel meandering through thick forest, home to Toco Toucans, Blue and Yellow Macaws, and other wildlife.
ALBANO, a small tributary where giant water lilies and other aquatic plants attract a variety of bird species, including the Black-capped Donacobious and Crested Caracaras.
Day 9
MANAUS
As the ship approaches Manaus, witness the “Wedding of the Waters,” a swirling mixture of the silt-laden Rio Solimoes and the clear, dark waters of the Rio Negro. Located 1,100 miles from the Amazon delta, Manaus is a former colonial boomtown whose fortunes were made from the export of rubber in the late 19th century. Visit the famed Teatro Amazonas Opera House, built in the Italian Renaissance style in 1896, and the Museum of Natural Sciences.
Days 10 - 16
THE UPPER AMAZON
As we travel upriver from Manaus to Iquitos, the Amazon narrows. Our exact itinerary will depend on the level of the water and weather, but we expect that our landings will include the following:
RIO BADAJOS TRIBUTARY, where we will search the grasslands for birds such as Wattled jacanas and Horned screamers. Also see the unusual Victoria amazonica water lily, one of the world’s largest flowers and a rare botanical species whose leaves can exceed seven feet in diameter. The pink-colored Boto dolphins cavort at the river’s entrance.
CUXUI MUNI, a traditional village where we learn about local farming methods. We also hope to spot three-toed sloths that live in the nearby forest, as well as squirrel monkeys, bush babies, and other rain forest inhabitants. Here, beneath the canopy swarm butterflies, colorful frogs scramble along the forest floor, and the air vibrates with the sounds of wildlife.
LAGO UARA, an Amazon black water lake, where we will explore one of the region’s most unusual and exciting habitats. Its mirror-like waters are home to over 1,300 different species of fish, including the unusual giant Amazon catfish, piranha, and colorful cichlids. Along the banks of Lago Uara live several colonies of hoatzins—strange, primitive-looking birds that build their nests over water.
RIO JUTAI, a pristine stretch of river ideal for birding. A walk along the shore allows us to interact with the local people and learn about the types of plants grown and their uses, including medicinal purposes.
RIO URUTUBINHA, a narrow forested tributary, rich in bird life, including White-eared jacamars, Cocoi Herons, macaws, and toucans.
TABATINGA, BRAZIL & LETICIA, COLOMBIA: Leaving the Brazilian sector of the Amazon at Tabatinga, call at Leticia, Colombia’s only Amazon port, and explore the busy and colorful town, known for its handicrafts.
RIO AMPIYACU, PERU, a remote outpost, where we will visit villages of the Huitoto and Bora Indians for a closer look at typical traditional Peruvian life.
Day 17
IQUITOS | DISEMBARK
Clelia II arrives in Iquitos, deep in Peru’s Amazonia. Disembark and transfer to the airport for return flights to the U.S.
Day 18
ARRIVE IN THE USA
Please note that the April 4 - 20 departure operates in the reverse direction, from Lima to Belem.
