Amazon Riverboat Cruises on the Tucano (4 or 7 nights)

Itinerary in Brief:  Experience a First Class Riverboat Cruise on the Amazon

• Classic riverboat cruising
• First class accommodations
• Abundant wildlife and biodiversity
• The Amazon and the pristine Rio Negro
• Canoeing and hiking into the rainforest
• 18 passengers maximum
• Can be combined with other areas of Brazil
• Please call or email us with any questions

Day by Day Itinerary

Included meals are indicated in parentheses (B,L,D)

The Tucano Riverboat Cruise Overview

This itinerary varies depending on whether you choose the 4 or 7 night cruise.  The 4 night cruise departs every other Monday, and the 7 night cruise ruise departs every other Saturday, from the dock outside the Hotel Tropical Manaus. Typically travelers arrive to Manaus the day prior to the cruise departure, spending the night at the first class Hotel Tropical Manaus. We generally arrange this part of the trip as well, or we can arrange just the river cruise.

Day 1      Arrive to Manaus

Upon arrival to Manaus you will be met at the airport by a local representative and transferred to your hotel, located on the banks of the Rio Negro. Depending on the time or your arrival we can arrange for a city tour including a visit to the spectacular Teatro Amazonas Opera House, built in 1896.
Hotel Tropical Manaus

Day 2       Embark on your Amazon Cruise

In the morning you will transfer to your 82 foot long riverboat and depart upstream on the Rio Negro. As you cruise through the world’s largest river island system, the Anavilhanas Archipelago, you will be able to watch the vegetation and surroundings change as you leave behind the frontier settlements and enter true wilderness. In the afternoon you will have a chance to disembark in search of wildlife, or take a swim in the clean refreshing water before dinner.
Tucano (L,D)

Day 3       Excursions into the rainforest

In the early morning you can explore the rainforest along the water’s edge, listening to the sounds of toucans and howler monkeys. After breakfast you will enter into the rainforest once again with your naturalist guide, receiving an education in the diverse Amazon ecology before returning to the boat for lunch. After lunch you will continue upstream, stopping once more for a quick swim and to explore a bit more of the river in your launches (small river boats).
Tucano (B,L,D)

Day 4       Travel up the Rio Negro / Rainforest excursions

Before breakfast you can enjoy an early trip into the forest as it comes to life. Following breakfast you will set out in the launches, exploring the surrounding rainforest and tributaries. In the afternoon and into the night the Tucano will continue up the Rio Negro. From the observation deck you will have spectacular views of the sky as it changes colors and fills with stars in this area with virtually no man made light.
Tucano (B,L,D)

Day 5        Join the Rio Jauaperi

After your two morning excursions the Tucano will navigate along the densely forested shore, searching for wildlife and potentially stopping at a settler’s home carved out of the forest. In the early afternoon you will encounter the Rio Jauaperi and a forest known as the “varzea.” Here you will search for various animals unique to this particular environment.
Tucano (B,L,D)

Day 6        Night excursion / Viewing nocturnal animals

Today you will depart from the Rio Jauaperi and navigate back down the Rio Negro, exploring new rainforest habitats all the while. In the evening you will have a chance to disembark in search of nocturnal animals that have come out from hiding.
Tucano (B,L,D)

Day 7        Visit the Novo Airao Village

Crossing the West bank of the Rio Negro, you will stop at the boat building village of Novo Airao. Passing through the streets you will have an opportunity to see how these communities thrive in this remote part of the world. The Tucano will continue downstream through the night and by daybreak you will find yourself at the confluence of the Amazon River.
Tucano (B,L,D)

Day 8        Lago Janauari Ecological Park

In the moning you will have a chance to visit the Lago Janauari Ecological Park, where the thick brown water of the Amazon River flows swiftly through the forest. By midday you will find yourself at the “Encontra das Aguas” (Meeting of the Waters), a several mile long stretch of river where the world’s two largest rivers, the Amazon and Rio Negro, join together. Here the almost black water of the Negro runs beside the obscure brown water of the Amazon.
Tucano (B,L,D)

Day 9       Return to Manaus

After a final morning waking to the sounds of the Amazon, your riverboat cruise will come to an end. You will disembark outside the Hotel Tropical, where you will transfer to the airport for your flight out. We can combine this cruise with any of our other destinations in Brazil or the rest of South America. Please inquire if interested. (B)

7 Night Trip Departure Dates 2011 (Saturday to Saturday):

Jan 01-08, Jan 15-22, Jan 29-Feb 05, Feb 12-19, Mar 05-12, Mar 19-26, Apr 2-9, Apr 16-23, Apr 30-May 07, May 14-May 21, May 28-Jun 04, Jun 11-Jun 18, Jun 25-Jul 02, Jul 09-16 (Family Departure), Jul 23-30, Aug 06-13 (Family Departure), Aug 20-27, Sep 10-17, Oct 01-08, Oct 15-22, Oct 29-Nov 05, Nov 12-19, Nov 26-Dec 03, Dec 10-17, Dec 24-31

7 Night Trip Departure Dates 2012 (Saturday to Saturday):

 Jan 07-14, Jan 21-28, Feb 04-11, Feb 18-25, Mar 03-10, Mar 17-24, Mar 31-Apr 07, Apr 14-21, Apr 28-May05, May 12-19, Jun 02-09, Jun 16-23, Jun 30-Jul 07, Jul 14-21, Jul 28-Aug 04 , Aug 11-18, Aug 25-Sep 01, Sep 15-22, Sep 29-Oct 06, Oct 13-20, Oct 27-Nov 03, Nov 10-17, Nov 24- Dec 01, Dec 08-15, Dec 22-29

4 Night Trip Departure Dates 2012 (Monday to Friday):

Jan 16-20, Jan 30-Feb 03, Feb 13-17, Feb 27-Mar 02, Mar 12-16, Mar 26-30, Apr 09-13, Apr 23-27, May 07-11, May 21-25, Jun 11-15, Jun 25-29, Jul 09-13, Jul 23-27, Aug 06-10, Aug 20-24, Sep 10-14, Sep 24-28, Oct 08-12, Oct 22-26, Nov 05-09, Nov 19-23, Dec 03-07, Dec 17-21

7 Night Trip Departure Dates 2013 (Saturday to Saturday):

Jan 05-12, Jan 19-26, Feb 02-09, Feb 23- Mar 02, Mar 09-16, Mar 23-30, Apr 06-13, Apr 20-27, May 04-11, May 18-25, Jun 08-15, Jun 22-29, Jul 06-13, Jul 20-27, Aug 03-10, Aug 17-24, Aug 31 – Sep 07, Sep 21-28, Oct 05-12, Oct 19-26, Nov 02-09, Nov 16-23, Dec 21-28

4 Night Trip Departure Dates 2013 (Monday to Friday):

Jan 14-18, Jan 28-Feb 01, Mar 04-08, Mar 18-22, Apr 01-05, Apr 15-19, Apr 29-May 03, May 13-17, Jun 17-21, Jul 01-05, Jul 15-19, Jul 29- Aug 02, Aug 12-16, Aug 26-30, Sep 09-13, Sep 30- Oct 04, Oct 14-18, Oct 28- Nov 01, Nov 11-15, Nov 25-29, Dec 16-20, Dec 30 – Jan 03 (’14)

• Please note: the first night prior to the cruise at the Hotel Tropical Manuas and airport transfers are an additional cost of $150 per person.

Vessel Specifications

• Length: 82 feet
• Maximum Width: 21 feet
• Passenger Capacity: 18
• Cruising Range: 1000 miles
• Electricity: 110 volt/ 60 cycle

Accommodations

9 cabins for up to 18 passengers with private facilities.
All cabins have private bathrooms with air conditioning.

Cabins

• 1 Cabin on the observation deck (one queen and one single bed)
• 4 cabins on the middle deck (2 cabins have twin bunks, 2 cabins have lower birth twin beds)
• 4 cabins on the main deck (2 cabins have twin bunks, 2 cabins have lower birth twin beds)

*Lower birth twin beds can be pushed together to form a double bed.
**Cabins with lower birth twin beds can accommodate one more single bed, allowing for triple accommodations upon request.