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Adventure Life VOYAGES
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1655 S 3rd St. W, Ste 1
Missoula MT, 59801 USA

Ship:  Tucano

Itinerary:  Voyage to the Heart of the Amazon

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  Take a canoe ride

 cabins & deck plans  |  additional itineraries |  cancellation policy

Day 1 : Embark in Manaus and Cruise the Anavilhanas Archipelago

This morning all guests board the vessel the Motor Yacht TUCANO and depart upstream on the Rio Negro. Through the morning we will cruise through the world's largest river island system, the Anavilhanas Archipelago. From the observation deck we scan the magnificent tangle of vegetation at the water's edge. By mid-afternoon the vessel has gone beyond the frontier of settlement and entered a wilderness area. Both shores are covered by dense rainforest. Though we never know what we will see, we have a good chance of observing pink river dolphins and a large collection of exotic birds. Most certainly we will be treated to magnificent forest vistas and the spectacular trees themselves. In the late afternoon we embark in the launches and hunt for wildlife. We may also go for a swim in some of the world's most clean and refreshing water. (L,D)

Day 2 : Explore the Rainforest

Early this morning we explore the rainforest along the waters edge in our launches. We should hear and perhaps see howler monkeys along with a morning serenade of toucans. After breakfast we go for a walk in the forest where we will get a good start on understanding Amazon ecology. Around midday we return for lunch and the vessel will get underway, perhaps stopping at a place to swim. In the late afternoon we will explore the forest in our launches and listen to the sunset chorus of birds and frogs. (B,L,D)

Day 3 : Monkey Watching

This morning there will be an early exploration of the waking forest. We will keep our eyes open for monkeys- on most trips we see them often. We return for breakfast followed by either a walk in the forest or an excursion in the launches. TUCANO will travel during the middle of the day and we stop in the afternoon for an excursion. Tonight the vessel may travel a bit more as we marvel at the night sky crowded with stars. (B,L,D)

Day 4 : Settler

After our two morning excursions TUCANO will navigate along the heavily forested shore, scouting for wildlife. We may stop for a visit at a settler's home carved out of the forest. In the early afternoon we will be near an extraordinary river called the Rio Jauaperi. Here we will see a kind of forest known as the varzea. We will scout along the shoreline for some of the extraordinary creatures found only in this unique environment. Weather permitting we will do a night excursion to observe nocturnal creatures. (B,L,D)

Day 5 : Down the Rio Negro

Today we depart the Rio Jauaperi and for the next two days proceed downstream on the Rio Negro exploring a new collection of rainforest habitats. In the daytime we will continue to scout in our launches, walk in the forest, and at night hunt for nocturnal wildlife. (B,L,D)

Day 6 : Village of Novo Airao

After a walk in the forest we cross to the West bank of the Rio Negro, exploring as we go. We will stop at the substantial boat building village of Novo Airao. As we walk through the streets we'll marvel at how the 19th Century thrives in this remote corner of the globe. Tonight TUCANO goes downstream to arrive at daybreak near the confluence with the Amazon River. As we glide through the starry darkness this is a good night to sip the national drink of Brazil, the "Caipirinha." (B,L,D)

Day 7 : "Encontra das Aguas"

This morning we explore the Lago Janauari Ecological Park where seasonally the thick brown water of the Amazon flows swiftly through the forest. This area is usually a very good place to observe wildlife. Around midday the vessel will travel to the "Encontra das Aguas," a stark several-mile-long line where the world's two largest rivers, the Amazon and the Negro, join in a turbulent maelstrom. Here the dark water of the Negro runs beside the opaque brown water of the Amazon. In the afternoon we scout one of the hidden streams in the area to try to see more of the Amazon's beautiful and bizarre creatures. Tonight there will be one last excursion looking for nocturnal life. (B,L,D)

Day 8 : Disembark in Manaus

In the morning all guests disembark from TUCANO. Some guests will participate in an optional tour of the city of Manaus before transferring to the airport. (B)

Ship Description: Tucano

click to enlarge
  Tucano

The expeditionary cruise vessel Tucano is over 80 feet long. There is plenty of space to spread out, study the forest nearby, and contemplate the wonders of nature. The Salon of the Tucano is at the forward part of the vessel and is surrounded by a broad balcony. Thoroughly paneled and lighted by brass lamps, this room serves as our vessel library and dining room. It is a good place to observe the forest, read or relax. From this large space, filled with windows and situated at the front of the boat, you can see the fantastic forest around us.
The top deck is open and has a large sun canopy --a wonderful place to spot wildlife or soak in the vastness of the Amazon. There is also space to catch some sun and watch the Macaw parrots screeching across the afternoon sky. The middle deck has a wide balcony around the entire front of the boat for passengers to observe the forest.

There are 76 large windows on Tucano and all of them open and close. There are large insect screens, though generally there are very few mosquitos on our voyage. The decks in the cabins and living room are a deep brown natural finished wood that is kept highly polished.

All the cabins and the Salon are air-conditioned. Every cabin has its own thermostat and individual controls. Each cabin also has a private bath with a hot water shower, toilet, and a sink. There is both a 110 volt and a 12 volt electrical system throughout the boat and a reading light above every bed. All of the walls in the cabins have solid wood raised paneling, varnished and absolutely superb.
Our meals are not gourmet, but wholesome, filling and delicious. We also serve many types of Amazon Fruits. Our cooks rise before dawn to make a large breakfast and there is always a tantalizing scent coming out of the galley.

Standard Cabin All of the 9 cabins on Tucano are outside cabins with large windows and private bathrooms. Each cabin is air-conditioned with its own thermostat.