Expedition Into the Amazon Cruise + Iguassu Falls + 6 Night Cruise (2023 itinerary)

On arrival in Manaus, you’ll be warmly greeted and escorted to Juma Opera Hotel. In the heart of town, our inviting hotel adjacent to the landmark Amazonas Opera House 

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

The M/Y Tucano is equipped with launches that allow for deeper exploration into the dense foliage of the Amazon jungle. This morning’s excursion in these launches explores the unique eco-system at river’s edge; the early hour is a good time to spot howler monkeys and hear the morning call of the famous long-beaked bird of the tropics, the iconic toucan. Our adventurous travelers might choose to explore the area on a guided kayak excursion. After breakfast onboard, return to shore for a forest walk as our naturalist guide broadens your understanding of rainforest ecology.

Enjoy lunch and a relaxing afternoon onboard as your ship continues its river voyage. A late-day excursion into the forest is accompanied by the sunset chorus of birds and frogs.  Meals B+L+D

Join our expert naturalists early this morning to explore the tall dense rainforests of the Anavilhanas Archipelago. Here you’ll find the Igapó, an unusual flooded eco-system of dense forests rising directly from the dark waters of the Rio Negro. Later, a hike through a high Amazon forest reveals a very different environment, home to its own unique flora and fauna. As weather and water-level conditions permit, you will enjoy additional late afternoon and evening excursions, a great time to spot sloths scrambling high in the limbs of the jungle.  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 explore new rainforest habitats along the swift-flowing Rio Negro. Focusing on the western banks of the river, the shallow draft of our vessel and its launches will allow you to venture into remote areas rarely visited by other travelers. Back on board, the m/y Tucano will continue downstream. Water level permitting, we might be able to navigate up a small tributary on the Rio Negro’s eastern side. This would be an ideal location for another guided night safari!
 
Return to ship for Caipirinha Night… Sample this traditional Brazilian cocktail and join your fellow passengers for some Samba dancing on the Top Deck.  Meals B+L+D

Arise early this morning for a guided excursion as the rainforest’s inhabitants awake to begin another day. It’s a lively time in the jungle and an ideal time to spot indigenous mammals and exotic birds. Return to the M/Y Tucano for a hearty breakfast and then rejoin our expert naturalists for another morning activity. Later this afternoon, you’ll want to be on deck as our vessel navigates along the Encontro das Aguas, where the brown waters of the Amazon and the darker waters of the Rio Negro flow side-by-side for miles without mixing. Pink and grey river dolphins can often be observed cavorting along this stark line of contrasting currents.
 
Later in the afternoon, a final guided excursion finds you once again in one of our maneuverable launches exploring along one of the region’s many hidden streams. As the sun sets and the jungle begins to darken, we’ll return upstream and begin our journey back to Manaus where we’ll find a quiet anchorage along the bustling waterfront. This evening’s farewell dinner is an opportunity to share reflections on this unforgettable adventure.  Meals B+L+D

After a final breakfast onboard, bid farewell to our staff and crew as you disembark the Tucano in Manaus. 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 flight to São Paulo where you’ll be assisted to the Pullman Sao Paulo Guarulhos Airport Hotel, conveniently located for this overnight stay. Meals B

After breakfast, fly 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. This afternoon, you’ll join our expert guide for an in-depth tour encompassing the breathtaking view points on the Brazilian side of Iguassu Falls. With our hotel’s privileged location inside the national park, you can continue exploring on your own even after the Park has closed.  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 a leisurely breakfast, you’ll visit Parque de Aves, where 40 acres of sub-tropical rainforest provide habitat for 150 species of exotic birds including parrots, toucans, eagles and owls. Then we’ll take you to the airport for your onward journey. Meals B