Adventure in the Heart of the Amazon by Private Riverboat

Evening: Upon arriving at the hotel, check in and get your room assignment. The Group Leader will be on hand to provide assistance as needed. Then get a good night's rest for the day ahead.

Activity note: This day involves a boat transfer as well as walking and standing up to an hour.

Breakfast: In our private meeting room at the hotel, enjoy an extensive buffet

Morning: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes, discuss logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, roles and responsibilities, and answer any questions. Field trips and program-related activities will be led by the Group Leader or a member of the boat’s staff, all of whom are naturalists. We will embark and disembark the ship on foot. We will have field trips before breakfast most days, returning for our meal and other activities of the day. We have set aside free time in the schedule for your personal independent exploration. Please be aware that program activities, schedules, and personnel may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. After orientation, meet for a lecture on Brazil, the world's 7th largest economy. Following the lecture, depart the hotel to the pier for a boat transfer to Amazon EcoPark Jungle Lodge.

Lunch: Buffet at the hotel.

Afternoon: Enjoy a walk through the Monkey Forest where wild animals freely come and go. Afterward, enjoy some free time to relax on the beach before returning to Manaus.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Short periods of walking in Manaus at certain sites.

Breakfast: In our private meeting room at the hotel, enjoy an extensive buffet.

Morning: After breakfast, we will check out of the hotel. Led by a local expert, we will depart the lodge by bus for an overview of Manaus with opportunities to get off at selected sites. Accessible only by air and boat, Manaus greatly expanded during the rubber boom of the late 19th century when it became one of the richest cities in the world. Fueled by the rubber barons, the gaudiness of the city is typified by the lavish Amazon Theater, was built in the 1890’s with materials imported from Europe. We will step inside the Theater to learn why its Renaissance-style architecture gave it a reputation is the “Jewel of the Amazon.”

Lunch: At a local restaurant. Water is included.

Afternoon: After lunch we will transfer to and embark the Amazon Clipper Premium, our privately chartered river boat and home for the next seven nights. Thanks to the boat’s small size, boarding is a quick and easy process. As the boat begins its journey navigating from Manaus to the upper stretches of the Amazon River — known locally as the Solimões — we will meet the crew and on-board naturalists.

Dinner: Aboard the riverboat, enjoy a plated meal featuring local foods plus coffee, soft drinks, water.

Evening: An introduction to the ecology of the Amazon, one of the most biologically diverse environments in the world, provides preparation for our study this evening. Using the boat’s spotlights, we will look for caiman, nighthawks, toro rats, sloth, and more as we explore Lake Janauacá.

Activity note: Entering 16-passenger canoes from river boat via 2 steps; no hand railings, but steps are not steep. Easy to moderate walking in forest and at village, generally flat surface. Rising before sunrise, we will set out by canoe to explore Lake Janauacá and the waking forest. Keep your eyes peeled for birdlife and pink river dolphins.

Breakfast: Returning to the riverboat from our field trip, enjoy a buffet including eggs, yogurt, breads, milk, juice, coffee, water.

Morning: We will dock on the side of the river and take a walk through the rainforest to visit local caboclos, inhabitants of the lake who make their living from manioc, fishing, rubber extraction, and harvesting fruit and nuts. Caboclos is the Brazilian term for those of mixed indigenous and European ancestry, similar to mestizo in Latin America.

Lunch: Aboard the riverboat.

Afternoon: In the late afternoon, we will board canoes for some Piranha fishing! Learn about one of the world’s most infamous fish before throwing them back in the river. Not just for passionate anglers, this field trip affords good chances of spotting large flocks of egrets and the exotic hoatzin, also known as the Canje pheasant or stinkbird. Our naturalist will explain why.

Dinner: Aboard the riverboat.

Evening: In an isolated area of the jungle, we will have a nocturnal exploration by canoe, to observe wildlife and admire the stars and constellations of the Southern Hemisphere.

Activity note: Setting out at sunrise before breakfast, we will explore the Igapó forest and take a canoe ride through Victoria Regia Lake for a close-up inspection of the beautiful Amazonian water lily. Easy walking on flat, dirt terrain at the January Ecological Park.

Breakfast: Aboard the riverboat after returning from the early morning field trip.

Morning: View the “Meeting of the Waters”, the spectacle of the light-colored waters of the Amazon flowing side by side with the dark waters of the Rio Negro. As the riverboat cruises past the city of Manaus, take in the perspective of the city’s landmarks from the water: the floating docks, Old Market, the dome of the Opera House, and the city center.

Lunch: Aboard the riverboat.

Afternoon: As the river boat navigates the Rio Negro, delve further into your Amazon discovery with a lecture by the on-board naturalist, who will discuss preservation and ecology of the Amazon.

Dinner: Aboard the riverboat.

Evening: As the riverboat ventures up the Rio Cuieiras, a tributary of the Rio Negro, relax while enjoying the scenery and watching for wildlife from the upper deck.

Activity note: Rising early before breakfast, we will set out by canoe to explore the rainforest at the water’s edge, where it is common to see fruit-eating birds such as parrots and toucans. Observe the flora and fauna, such orchids and liana that line the riverside. Entering and riding in canoes, easy to moderate walking on flat, dirt terrain.

Breakfast: Aboard the riverboat after returning from the early morning field trip.

Morning: Our onboard naturalist will lead our walk through the jungle focusing on the way plants and animals have evolved and adapted to the rainforest. We will learn about the relationship plans and animals share in their physical environment. Returning to the riverboat, enjoy a relaxing swim in the Rio Negro.

Lunch: Aboard the riverboat.

Afternoon: Next, we will set out by canoe through the Anavilhanas National Park, the second-largest fresh water archipelago in the world. The park — one of the natural jewels of the Amazon — covers 875,000 acres of untouched native forest and contains some 400 islands.

Dinner: Aboard the riverboat.

Evening: A nocturnal canoe ride takes us to explores this unique ecosystem and its wildlife.

Activity note: Rising early before breakfast, we will set out by canoe to explore the rainforest at the water’s edge, where it is common to see fruit-eating birds such as parrots and toucans. Observe the flora and fauna, such orchids and liana that line the riverside. Entering and riding in canoes, easy to moderate walking on flat, dirt terrain.

Breakfast: Aboard the riverboat.

Morning: The riverboat begins navigating in the pre-dawn hours, further up the Rio Negro, into the Jaú River, to Jaú National Park, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. As we head further upstream, our naturalist will continue to introduce us to the intricacies of the Amazon.

Lunch: Aboard the riverboat.

Afternoon: After the hottest portion of the day passes, we will set out in our canoes to explore a small tributary of the Jaú — the Igarapé Preto — that takes us deeper into the Parque Nacional do Jaú.

Dinner: Aboard the riverboat.

Evening: As the riverboat continues its descent downriver; learn more about aspects of the Amazon. The riverboat will spend the night near Airão Velho. This town served as a trading post for the resources of the jungle but was mysteriously abandoned. It was replaced by a new settlement, Novo Airão, leaving Airão Velho to become overgrown with vines and trees.

Activity note: Rising early before breakfast, we will set out in canoes with our naturalist to experience the dawn chorus of local birdlife. Easy to moderate walking on flat, dirt terrain.

Breakfast: Aboard the riverboat after returning from the early morning field trip.

Morning: Our onboard naturalist will lead a jungle walk further into the Carabinani River area. Look for the great Samaúma, an Amazonian tree that can reach almost 200 feet (60 meters) in height and has gigantic tabular roots. At the end of the walk, we’ll have an opportunity for a relaxing swim amid small waterfalls and pools formed in the riverbed.

Lunch: Aboard the riverboat.

Afternoon: Joining our onboard naturalist on the sundeck, we will learn about Amazonian birdlife. The Amazon Basin alone is home to more than 1,500 species of birds with many species passing through as they migrate for the winter. During our lecture, the riverboat will begin its return navigation down the Rio Negro.

Dinner: Aboard the riverboat.

Evening: As the riverboat continues its descent downriver; learn more about aspects of the Amazon. The riverboat will spend the night near Airão Velho. This town served as a trading post for the resources of the jungle but was mysteriously abandoned. It was replaced by a new settlement, Novo Airão, leaving Airão Velho to become overgrown with vines and trees.

Activity note: Rising early before breakfast, we will take a canoe ride to look for petroglyphs in the area. Easy to moderate walking on flat, dirt terrain. Note: The level of interaction permitted with the pink dolphins is controlled by local authorities.

Breakfast: Aboard the riverboat after returning from the early morning field trip.

Morning: Walk through the small settlement of Novo Airão, famous for its pink dolphins. We will observe the dolphins up close, and — if we’re lucky — may be able to feed them. We’ll also meet local woodworkers and learn about life in this remote settlement.

Lunch: Aboard the riverboat.

Afternoon: The aboard naturalist will present a lecture on tropical flora and fruits. Then, enjoy a swim on the white sand beach.

Dinner: For our farewell dinner, enjoy a Brazilian barbecue on the beach.

Evening: At leisure as we overnight at Lake Acajatuba. Prepare for disembarkation in the morning.

Activity note: Rising early before breakfast, we will explore Lake Acajatuba by canoe. Walking on busy city streets in the market area.

Breakfast: Aboard the riverboat after returning from the early morning field trip.

Morning: Finish packing and say farewell to the riverboat crew as we navigate towards the disembarkation point. We will transfer via motorcoach to explore the main market in Manaus.

Lunch: We will have lunch at a typical Brazilian Churrascaria, water and coffee included.

Afternoon: At leisure to continue exploring Manaus independently, or to rest and relax before departing. Your group leader will be happy to make suggestions.

Dinner: We will enjoy a buffet dinner at the hotel.

Evening: Transfer via motorcoach to Manaus International Airport for late night flights returning to North America. This concludes our program. Safe travels! If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for the next program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!