The
Naturalist
12 Days / 11 Nights
Explore Brazil's
wilderness and wildlife, plus all the excitement of Rio: The Amazon,
The Pantanal, and Iguassu Falls (Optional Rio De Janeiro).
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)
Day 5 -
Saturday
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)
Day
6 - Sunday
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)
Day
7, Day 8 and Day 9: Monday - Wednesday
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.
Day
10 - Thursday
Morning return to the airport. Arrive later today in IGUASSU
FALLS, and transfer to the DAS CATARATAS HOTEL for an overnight
stay. (B)
Day 11 -
Friday
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)
Day 12 -
Saturday
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)
***
End Of Our Services ***
2009
Prices per person:
$5768 in double, $5134 in single
Tour
Features
|
Manaus
3 Nights on The Amazon Clipper
1 Night at The Tropical Hotel Superior Room
Airport transfers and city tour |
Pantanal
1 Night at an in-town hotel in Campo Grande
4 Nights at Refugio Caiman
Airport transfers |
Iguassu
Falls
2 Nights at the Das Cataratas Hotel, Superior Room
Tour of both sides of the falls with lunch
Airport transfers
|
General
Daily Breakfast, all meals while cruising, all meals at Refugio
Caiman.
Hotel tax and service charges
Local Host in each city |
All our tour
packages include: Please
click here
CODE:
BLU
|
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