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The Amazon is the world's largest rainforest and the last great wilderness on earth. Though as big as the continental United States, it has a population only about the size of the State of Massachusetts. Most of Amazonia is without human settlement and the fantastic beasts that have roamed its vast rainforests since time immemorial live there still. Come with us to experience the great beauty and mystery that still exist in the Amazon. From the crystal clear waters of deep forest streams to the massive canopy of the highland rainforest...from tiny leaf cutter ants to the largest mammals swinging by their tails in the trees, we will coax from our observations the marvelous story of the most fantastic collection of wildlife on earth. A Once in a Lifetime Experience Our trips to the Amazon are all very exciting. We often see creatures that are missed by other travelers. This is because our guides are very knowledgeable, we go much farther away from settled areas than any other group and because we keep the size of our group small. Our trips are also exploratory. We visit different places on every trip. We are able to do this because the Amazon is so big that there are thousands of remote rainforest rivers with virtually no settlement. By going to different places each time, the trips are interesting for both the guests and the guides. Every trip is a one of a kind, once in a lifetime experience. Our Trips Two of our trips in the Amazon of Brazil, The Amazon Odyssey and Heart of Amazonia are based on the 80 foot excursion boat: The Motor Yacht Tucano. Though we use the boat to cover distances, we are not insulated from the forest. Several times daily we go into the rainforest by launch or on foot to explore. We marvel at the bizarre array of plants and the fascinating survival strategies of animals. Some nights we scout by launch to observe nocturnal animals. Most evenings we have discussions on the creatures we observed that day and on the ecology of the rainforest. On our third trip, Amazon Camping, we go far into the forest, camping along the way. |
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| About our Amazon Trips Four things make our trips the most interesting and fun Amazon
experience: 1) Small Groups: We accept a maximum of 16 passengers on our trips. By keeping the group size small, we stay focussed on the forest and are not distracted by a mob scene. Also a small group allows guests to spend much more time with the guides----which really enriches the entire experience. When we walk in the forest we are able to go quietly and not scare away wildlife. 2) Highly Skilled Guides: Our guides are some of the very best in the Amazon. They are naturalists and sometimes scientists, and their experience helps us unlock the secrets of the magnificent wildlife of the rainforest. Our crew members all have grown up in the hunting in the forest and now they apply those tremendous skills in helping us see and identify the creatures of the forest. 3) Exploratory: All of our trips are a little different. We try to visit particular places only a few times per year. This ensures that the trips are interesting for both the guests and the guides---the trips are never routine tourist traps. Since we visit areas rarely if ever visited, we often see creatures very rarely seen by other groups. 4) We Take care of the Details: We carefully monitor all of the details of the trip from the course of the excursion boat to how much salt is put in the food. We do everything possible to make the expedition interesting and enjoyable to our guests. |
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| «The Tucano« Amazon Excursion Vessel What 3 things does a boat need for an exceptional Amazon trip? 1)....Ideal Spaces to Observe the Forest: «A Spacious Design The Tucano is a big boat, over 80 feet long. There is plenty of space to spread out, study the forest nearby, and contemplate the wonders of nature. «A Generous Living Room The Salon is a good place to observe the forest, read or catch up on your journal. From this space, filled with windows and situated at the front of the boat, you can see the fantastic forest around us. It is also a delightful place to dine and listen to our evening discussions. «Large Observation Deck 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. «Balcony Facing Forward The middle deck has a wide balcony around the entire front of the boat. Passengers can see where we are going and are treated to magnificent vistas of the wild forest. 2) ....Comfortable and Private Cabins «Comfortable Cabins The 8 cabins differ in size, and they are not palatial, but by small boat standards they are quite comfortable. Some of the cabins have lower bunks with queen-size beds to accommodate couples. «Private Bathrooms Each cabin on Tucano has a private bath with a shower, toilet, and a sink. «Windows to See the Forest. There are 76 large windows on Tucano and all of them open and close. «Air-Conditioning All the cabins and the Salon are air-conditioned. Every cabin has its own thermostat and individual controls. «Good Lighting There is both a 110 volt and a 12 volt electrical system throughout the boat and a reading light above every bed. 3)...and Last but not Least, a Bit of Elegance «Beautiful Woodwork All of the walls in the cabins have solid wood raised paneling... varnished and lovely. «Solid Wood Decks The decks in the cabins and living room are a deep brown natural finished wood that is kept highly polished. |
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| Answers to Frequently Asked Questions 1) How are these trips different from other tours? Our visits to the Amazon rainforest take place with small groups. Larger groups scare away wildlife and dilute contact with the guides. We also go to intact pristine rainforest. Most tours in the Amazon go only a short distance from cities or other settled areas. Many tours only ever visit disturbed forest--some tours actually visit the same places week after week. Our trips go far away from settlement into beautiful natural rainforest. Another major distinction of our trips is the quality of guiding. As tropical forests are extremely complex environments, without knowledgeable guides it can appear to a visitor as one great green blur. We take a thoughtful approach to natural history. The trips are detailed and full. 2) Are these trips fun? Our trips are aimed at observing wildlife, but we also want to have fun! The best kind of nature trip is good humored and light hearted. We try to be precise about nature and enjoy ourselves at the same time. We have a cocktail hour on the top deck with hors d'oeuvres every evening and sometime during the trip will have "Caipirinhas" the national drink of Brazil. 3) Do we only 'do' touristy areas? No, our group size is small and the places we visit are natural areas. Our itineraries are flexible so that we can explore interesting places we encounter en route. We are very careful not to disturb the places we visit or the lives of the people we contact in the forest and or along the rivers. We are almost always the only visitors to travel to these magnificent natural areas. 4) We are going to South America, can we join the trip there? Yes! Many of our passengers join the group in the field. We will work with you to coordinate your travel plans to other parts of South America. Many of our guests after the Amazon trip will continue on to The Pantanal, a little known but very interesting grassland south of the Amazon. Give us a call for more information. We can also arrange visits to Rio or São Paulo or Machu Picchu in Peru. 5) What is the best time of year to go? Isn’t there a rainy and a dry season? Is it hotter in the Summer? The best time to travel is really dependent on your own scheduling considerations. Our trips take place in the very middle of the Amazon in the State of Amazonas. In this region the rainy season runs roughly from late January through early May. Though it rains more, there are some advantages of travelling between January and May. Since most riverine plants fruit and flower during this period, it is one of the best times to see birds and monkeys at the waters edge. Though it can rain slightly more in the rainy season, it usually rains some every day in the dry season too. We operate our expeditions year round and the trips are wonderful any time of year. 6) Do we get a chance to actually go into the forest? All our Amazon trips spend a considerable amount of time in the forest. We stop several times a day to explore on foot or in the boat launches. 7) Are the walks in the forest strenuous? Our forest walks are primarily to spot plants and animals and are not particularly strenuous. The best way to spot wildlife is a quiet stalk along the forest trail, not crashing through at a sprint. Since different passengers would like to walk at a different pace, at times we divide into two groups, each with a guide. If you would like to get out into the forest for a vigorous HIKE and work up a sweat, one of the groups will forge ahead through the forest, going for distance. In addition, passengers can remain on the boat at any time, and many will choose to relax on the observation deck with a cold drink, binoculars, and a good book. 8) Does the vessel become claustrophobic after a few days? Our Amazon exploration boat, the Tucano, is a wonderful boat and is new. It is not a luxury boat and some of the cabins are on the small side, but it is cool and comfortable and designed specifically to explore the most remote corners of this magnificent forest. All of the cabins are air-conditioned and have private baths. We make several stops each day for our excursions and swimming so that guests do not get "cabin fever". There are also quite large group spaces to enjoy at any time of day. There is an open sun deck, a dining room for lounging and meals, and a covered balcony around the front of the boat. 9) Does the boat go close to shore? The course of our expedition boat hugs the shore line. We are constantly on the lookout for interesting wildlife which frequently congregates at the river’s edge. We make numerous stops to investigate and explore with our launches. Though we remain comfortable, we do not become insulated from the forest. The river itself is interesting to watch since we often see large fish jumping, freshwater dolphins, countless birds, and strange gargantuan trees with hanging vines. 10) Are the areas where the trips take place over-visited? Our itineraries go to places very rarely visited. We are often the only groups ever to stop in the places we select. We go much farther than other groups and it is extremely rare for us to see any other humans except the occasional fisherman. Though our trips visit the same region the actual places visited differ from trip to trip because we prefer not to visit the same areas more than a few times a year. This minimizes our impact as well as offer a great variety of experiences for our guests and crew members alike. 11) Is the water safe to drink? The water is perfectly safe. Our expedition boat is equipped with a large dispenser of bottled water, and we keep it full for the duration of the trip. 12) What are most of the participants on the tours like? Our guests come in all ages and walks of life. The wonderful variety of their backgrounds enriches the experience for us all. The single thing that all passengers have in common is a curiosity for the tropical forest and the Amazon. Our passengers are some of the most interesting and nicest people in the world. 13) Is the Amazon dangerous? Are there lots of criminals? How are Americans perceived, do they like us? The large cities of South America are no safer than large cities in the United States. In the Amazon however, there is much more a sense of community and our guests can be at ease. On the river and in the forest we are in one of the least densely populated areas on the planet and also one of the safest. There is virtually no risk of crime on the expedition. Brazilians are fond of American culture which they garner from American movies and from large immigrant communities in the United States. Like the United States, Brazil is a large country with a significant immigrant population and our two cultures have many things in common. The easy going nature that Americans are known for applies equally to Brazilians. In short, Brazilians are generally quite fond of Americans and when Americans get to know Brazil, the feeling usually becomes mutual. We are very careful to ensure that all our contacts with people in the field are respectful and positive. 14) Do the trips damage the wilderness areas we visit? Ecotourism is one of the very few ways in which income can be generated from undisturbed rainforest. The presence of our groups has a very positive impact on the places we visit by providing income in wages and material and, as importantly, by involving a large number of local people in an economic relationship to forest preservation. On the trips we are very conscientious not to disturb the natural areas that we visit. We leave them as wild and undisturbed as when we arrived. |
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June 11, 2000 |
