zAmazon Odyssey

Upon arrival at the airport, you’ll be warmly greeted and escorted by private car to the Tropical Hotel, a deluxe resort set against a lush rainforest backdrop.

You’ll be escorted to the pier this afternoon to board the intimate M/Y Tucano, an elegant river vessel with 9 air-conditioned outside staterooms - all with large windows and private en suite bath. After settling in to your cabin, join fellow guests on the spacious Observation Deck to observe the passing scenery as the Tucano begins her voyage up the Rio Negro. By late afternoon, you’ll be navigating through the 400 islands of Anavilhanas, the world’s largest freshwater archipelago. Weather permitting, join our naturalist guides for an excursion into the densely gnarled and flooded forest. Along the riverbanks, you might espy Squirrel monkeys and hear the echoing cries of the Howler monkey.

Return to the Tucano for hors d’oeuvres on the Observation Deck before sitting down to dinner in the wood-paneled Salon. Later this evening, your guided night safari reveals nocturnal creatures like the Caiman and the Potoo, an elusive night bird with a large mouth adapted to swallow the enormous Mariposa moth. Return to ship and slumber peacefully as your ship cruises through the night to the Xiborena Peninsula that divides the Rio Negro from the Amazon River. Meals B,D

After an early morning wake-up call, you’ll step into the Tucano’s launches to explore the labyrinth of channels which comprise the Lake January Ecological Park. Overhung with vines and enormous trees, this flooded region is home to monkeys, three-toed sloths and the Collared anteater. By mid-morning, you’ll be back onboard for a hearty breakfast. After lunch, the Tucano will be navigating downstream into the Meeting of the Waters, an extraordinary phenomenon where the dark inky currents of the Rio Negro join the brown waters of the Amazon and flow together for miles without mixing. Keep your eyes peeled for Pink and Grey River Dolphins.

The late afternoon finds your vessel sailing upstream on the Amazon River. Conditions permitting, you’ll navigate into a channel on the south riverbank to reach Lake Janauacá for an excursion into a unique region known as the Varzea (a Portuguese word meaning “flooded forest”). The water levels here can fluctuate by as much as 20 to 40 feet over the course of a year. This constant flooding-and-receding has created a unique and ever-changing environment. Your excursions along these shorelines explore extraordinary flora and fauna not found anywhere else. Weather permitting, another night safari with your naturalists guides is a chance to observe rare nocturnal creatures. Meals B,L,D

This morning’s excursions include exploration in the Tucano’s launches as well as a mid-morning walk into the forest to visit a small Amazon village. In the afternoon, our Captain will chart a course along the north or south shores of the river depending upon seasonal conditions. Guided excursions will be scheduled for optimal exploration of the tropical flora and fauna. Meals B,L,D

This morning’s visit to a homesteader’s property includes a walk through their garden. You’ll gain fascinating insight into the strong traditions which help these families survive in the remote interior of the Amazon. Enjoy lunch onboard and a relaxing afternoon as the M/Y Tucano sails down the Amazon River, navigating the swift currents and the many islands which dot the north bank of the river. Following a late afternoon excursion with our naturalist guides, return to ship for your final evening onboard. Enjoy a Caipirinha, Brazil’s most famous cocktail, and then sit down with your fellow guests for a festive farewell dinner. Meals B,L,D

Upon disembarking your river vessel this morning, your private car, driver and guide will be waiting to take you on a sightseeing tour of Manaus. Set on the banks of the Rio Negro and surrounded by deep Amazon rainforest on all sides, Manaus captures the spirit of a thriving frontier town. Your city tour includes the colorful local markets and the opulent Amazon Theater; built more than a century ago, this extravagant opera house welcomed many of the era’s best entertainers - brought in to perform for the pleasure of the wealthy local rubber barons. After your sightseeing, you’ll be taken to the airport for your onward flight. Meals B