12 Days / 11 Nights
Day 1 -
Tuesday
Arrive MANAUS early this morning; transfer by hotel shuttle to the beautiful
5-Star TROPICAL HOTEL and spend the rest of the day relaxing poolside,
strolling the expansive grounds and acclimating to the AMAZON. (B)
Day 2 -
Wednesday
Morning tour of Manaus, a remarkable city built deep in the Amazon Basin
by the 19th century Rubber Barons. Visit the river market, Indian Museum
and the fabled Opera House, where Caruso sang and Isadora Duncan danced.
This afternoon, board The AMAZON CLIPPER, a regional-style Amazon riverboat,
to begin your four day/three night journey through the Amazon Basin and
up to the Anivilhanas Archipelago. On this comfortable and authentic vessel,
you will explore the jungle, view the diverse flora and fauna and meet
the local inhabitants of the river. Leaves the Tropical Hotel landing-stage
at 14:30 hrs. Presentation on board of the staff, route and facilities.
Navigation to the Pagodão river (tributary of the Negro). Canoe trip shortly
before sunset, returning after dark, with the possibility of observing
nocturnal animals and perceive the change in the forest as night falls.
Dinner. Navigation to Acu Creek or nearby tributaries. (B,D)
Day 3 - Thursday
Breakfast. Walk in the forest with commentaries by the specialist. Observation
of the flora. Visit to a "caboclo" family. Chance to see the local way
of life, preparation of manioc flour (the staple foodstuff of the Amazon),
the health and education situation of the children etc. Lunch. Navigation
through the Anavilhanas, the world's largest fresh water archipelago,
more then 1000 miles from the ocean. Visit to the village of Novo Airao,
with its handicraft boat yards where the "AMAZON CLIPPER" was built, sawmills,
market and other activities. Navigation. Dinner. Night trip to see caimans
and possibly frogs, sloth, snakes and other species, depending on the
season. (B,L,D)
Day 4 -
Friday
Navigation to Praia Grande or other white sand beach. Swimming if conditions
permit, and observation of the vegetation of sandy areas. Canoe trip in
lake Acajatuba or adjacent lake domains to see typical flora (rubber trees,
Brazil nuts, useful palm trees of various types). Fishing for piranhas.
Lunch. Stop at the Paricatuba community to see old abandoned rubber-boom
buildings, now overgrown with strangler fig trees. (B,L,D)
Lake Janauary. Canoe trip at sunrise for bird watching. Breakfast. Navigation to the "Meeting of the Waters". Return to the Tropical Hotel landing-stage, with fine views of Manaus' waterfront. Arrival in Manaus at 11:30 hrs. Transfer by shuttle to the airport and your flight to CAMPO GRANDE, the southern gateway to the vast PANTANAL wilderness. Transferred to an in-town hotel for overnight (B)
Met and transferred for a 4 hour overland journey to the REFUGIO ECOLOGICO CAIMAN to begin your four night/five day Pantanal adventure. (B,D)
Enjoy the many activities offered at Caiman, arguably the finest ecologically oriented lodge in all South America. All meals and activities are included. (B,L,D)
Trekking: around the lodges for animal and vegetation observation. At night, one can also observe caimans and other nocturnal animals.
Horse back ride: is the best way to get into the heart of the Pantanal getting to places, which normally can not be reached by regular means of transportation.
Truck ride: on specially adapted vehicle to distant places, where a wider variety of animals and, sometimes, thousands of birds can be observed. On such rides one can notice the peculiarities and contrast of habitats along the way.
Row boat outing / Motor boat ride: on Sede and Baiazinha lakes. Row boat rides are very peaceful and one can enjoy the sounds of Nature. Motor boat rides allow the observation of flocks of birds at sunset.
Slides and video shows: lecture on the Pantanal ecosystem
Morning return to the airport. Arrive later today in IGUASSU FALLS, and transfer to the DAS CATARATAS HOTEL for an overnight stay. (B)
BRAZILIAN SIDE FALLS Depart from your hotel for a visit to the Iguassu Falls on the Brazilian side. If we are staying on the Argentine side, we will cross the Tancredo Neves y Juan D. Peron Bridge which connects the city of Puerto Iguazu (Argentina) to Foz do Iguassu (Brazil). We will enter Do Iguacu National Park, one of the biggest flora and fauna reservations in the country. We will walk through the paths to enjoy wonderful panoramic views of the falls and maybe its rainbows.
ARGENTINA SIDE FALLS This tour will introduce you to one of the wonders of the world: the Iguazu falls. Visit to the Argentina side falls They are located inside Iguazu National Park, one of the first protected natural areas in America, declared Natural Patrimony of Humankind by Unesco. We will walk through the Lower path and Higher path admiring the breathtaking 275 cascades which spread across a gulf of nearly 2 miles and pour past lush tropical vines as they crash into the waters below. After the walk the will drive to Puerto Canoas and take a boat ride to the Devil's throat observation deck to enjoy the most impressive view of the very heart of the falls
OPTIONAL NAUTICAL ADVENTURE BOAT EXCURSION: Boat excursion to the Argentinean and Brazilian side of the Falls, to admire the falls from the bottom. Take a short walk down from the Inferior Path to board your speed boat to San Martin Island. You will have a view of the Brazilian side of the falls, navigate along the island shore for a view of the Argentine side of the falls. You can buy this 15-minute boat tour locally for only $20, tour starts from a side walk of the Lower Path. Another great optional tour is a Samba Show and Dinner. Lunch is included today. (B,L)
Free morning to enjoy the beautiful grounds of the hotel, visit Itaipu Dam, San Ignacio Ruins or relax by the pool and enjoy a Brazilian Barbeque lunch. Mid-afternoon transfer to the airport for flight home or extend your vacation and visit Rio de Janeiro or Buenos Aires in Argentina. (B)