Expedition Into the Amazon Cruise + Iguassu Falls + 6 Night Cruise

On arrival in Manaus, you’ll be greeted by your guide and transferred to Juma Opera Hotel, a historic 5-star boutique adjacent to the Amazonas Opera House. Manaus serves as the vibrant gateway to your Amazon expedition.

Early this morning, you’ll step aboard the M/Y Tucano for your 6-night cruise deep into the wilds of the Amazon. With its unique open-air design and multiple windows in your cabin, you’ll be surrounded by the sights and sounds of the jungle as we set sail up the Rio Negro. This afternoon finds your vessel navigating the vast Anavilhanas Archipelago, the largest collection of riverine islands on the planet. As conditions permit, join our expert naturalists to explore the dense forests – alive with squirrel monkeys, howler monkeys, brightly colored Amazon birds, and an astonishing variety of tropical plants. Return to ship for hors d’oeuvres on the Observation Deck and sit down to a congenial dinner in the dining room. Tonight, weather permitting, you might set out in the Tucano’s launches for a thrilling night safari to search for nocturnal creatures like the crocodilian caiman.  Meals B+L+D

Early this morning, join our expert naturalists for an exploration of the waking forest. Keep your eyes open for sloths, which are often spotted on these excursions, accompanied by the calls of toucans and other morning wildlife. After breakfast, enjoy either a forest walk or a launch excursion along the waterways, deepening your understanding of Amazon ecology. During the middle of the day, the M/Y Tucano will travel, giving you time to relax and take in the surrounding wilderness. In the afternoon, we’ll stop for another excursion into the forest or along the river. Tonight, weather permitting, the vessel may travel further as we marvel at the night sky, a canopy of stars above this remarkable ecosystem.  Meals B+L+D

Depending upon river conditions, this morning’s excursions might include a visit to a remote settler’s home carved out of the forest or a guided nature walk to learn more about the Amazon’s flora and fauna. In the early afternoon, the M/Y Tucano navigates close to the Rio Jauaperi – another tributary of the Rio Negro. Known as the Varzea (a Portuguese word meaning “flooded forest”), the water levels here in this sector of the Amazon can fluctuate by as much as 20 to 40 feet over the course of a year. These constant processes of flooding-and-receding have created a unique and ever-changing environment. Your guided exploration along these shorelines will reveal amazing flora and fauna not found anywhere else. Weather permitting, a night safari with our naturalists is a chance to observe rare nocturnal creatures. Meals  B+L+D

Another day deep in the Brazilian Amazon unfolds as we turn the M/Y Tucano southeast and begin our course toward the main Amazon River. We will continue to explore in our launches and on foot, scouting the forest and waterways. Weather and water depth permitting, we may visit areas rarely explored by other travelers, offering an intimate encounter with this remarkable wilderness. Tonight, the Tucano travels downstream, venturing deep into the rainforest along this magnificent river.  Meals B+L+D

Rise early for a guided dawn excursion, as the rainforest awakens and its inhabitants begin another day. It’s an ideal time to spot exotic birds and native mammals. Return to the M/Y Tucano for a full Brazilian breakfast, then join our expert naturalists for one last forest excursion, conditions permitting.

In the mid-afternoon, we begin our journey downstream, arriving late in the day at the Encontro das Águas, a striking natural phenomenon where the dark waters of the Rio Negro flow alongside the opaque brown waters of the Amazon for several miles without mixing. This unique meeting of rivers offers one last chance to enjoy the remarkable wildlife and scenery of the region.

As the sun sets, the M/Y Tucano turns upstream along the Rio Negro toward our overnight anchorage. Passing in front of Manaus, marvel at the scale of one of the world’s largest and most vibrant river port cities. On the top deck, enjoy a festive “Caipirinha Night”, a small celebration in true Brazilian style. Tonight’s farewell dinner is a chance to share reflections on this unforgettable Amazon adventure. Meals: B+L+D

After a final breakfast onboard, bid farewell to our staff and crew as you disembark the Tucano in Manaus. Should flight times permit, enjoy a guided tour of this vibrant river port – including the ornate Manaus Opera House; also known as the Teatro Amazonas, this iconic landmark was built more than a century ago by wealthy rubber barons. Then we’ll take you to the airport for your included flights to Iguassu.  On arrival, you’ll be met and escorted to the 5-star Belmond Das Cataratas, the only hotel located inside Brazil’s Iguassu National Park. While the region’s indigenous inhabitants certainly knew of its thundering beauty (Iguassu means “Big Water” in the local Guarani language), the Falls were officially “discovered” in 1541 by the Spanish Conquistador Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca. Meals B

Extensive full-day exploration with our expert naturalists takes you to all the best vantage points on the Argentine side of Iguassu Falls c. At the famed Devil’s Throat Cataract, the towering spray often acts like a prism – creating thousands of rainbows suspended in the air. This evening, you can continue to take advantage of our hotel’s privileged location to explore the national park after it’s been closed to other visitors! Meals B

After breakfast, you’ll join our expert guide for an in-depth tour encompassing the breathtaking view points on the Brazilian side of Iguassu Falls. Then we’ll take you to the airport for your onward journey. Meals B