Amazon cruises & rainforest tours on board river boats that cruise the Amazon basin in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador & Peru
|
Amazon cruises & rainforest tours on board river boats that cruise the Amazon basin in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador & Peru |
|
|
  |
 |
 |
|
|
Toll free reservations hotline: 1 - 800 - 747 - 0567 or send us an email: info@amazoncruise.net | |
||
|
10 days - Manaus to Iquitos Amazon cruise
|
July 2, 2009 |
||
|
|
10 days - Manaus to Iquitos Amazon cruise
A wildlife and cultural expedition through the Mid Amazon to Iquitos, Peru. A unique voyage on the mighty Amazon river. We explore the world’s most diverse ecosystem, with its fascinating wildlife and stunning scenery. From the roar of howler monkeys to meeting remote indigenous Amazon tribes, this is true expedition. Included Highlights: 9 nights aboard Explorer, All meals on board , Zodiac and land excursions with our expert expedition team Day 1 Manaus Depart Manaus in the evening. Day 2-6 Mid Amazon The Rio Badajos lends itself to Zodiac shore excursions and cruises. It is an excellent natural area for Amazonian flora and fauna including bird-watching. We hope to visit typical Brazilian Amazon villages like Boca do Cuxui Muni as we travel ever deeper into the Brazilian Amazon. Highlights of this leg include Parana do Carajai, Rio Urutubinha, and Lago Sao Paulo. Characterized by its abundance of exotic wildlife, deep tropical rainforest and vast array of indigenous people, the Mid Amazon is an unforgettable experience. Day 7-9 Peruvian Amazon As we continue on our westward journey, we travel briefly through Colombia stopping at Leticia, before crossing into Peru. Leticia is Colombia's largest community east of the Andes with around 30,000 inhabitants. Other stops include Lago Cahocuma, San Pablo, Quebrada Shicrapa, and the oldest established European settlement on the Amazon, the village of Pevas and its "La casa del Artista". Day 10 Iquitos We pull into port at Iquitos in the early morning for disembarkation. While it is our intention to adhere to the route described above, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit travel with the Explorer can be unpredictable. The itinerary and notes are a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard Explorer visits to research stations depend on final permission. Group Size: Max 108 Accommodation: Onboard Explorer in triple, twin-share cabins, superior cabins or suites, (all with ensuite bathrooms and port holes) (9 nts). Please note that all cabins consist of two twin beds. Double beds are available in suites, subject to availability. Single Travellers: We believe single travellers should not have to pay more to travel so single travellers are paired in twin share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Transport: M/S Explorer Meals Included: All food included while on board the ship, drinks extra. Group Leader: All shore excursions are accompanied by one of our group leaders or an expedition team member. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting- we think it's the best of both worlds. Joining Instructions: On arrival in Manaus, transfers are not provided, you can book these as an add on. If you have pre-cruise accommodation booked through us, you must be in the lobby with your baggage of the hotel at 3:30pm for your transfer to the pier. If you have not booked extra accommodation through us, you will need to make your way to the meeting point to board the ship no later than 4pm. Meeting Point – Passengers should make their way to the International Port. On arrival they will walk up a small ramp with their luggage and continue inside the International Port where they will be met by a Explorer cruise respresentative. The group will then make their way through the International Gate (might need to show identification) with their luggage and board a port bus to the Explorer. Check-in and baggage drop-off will be at the ship. There may be a group leaving the ship on the same day that you are embarking. Some time will be needed for provisioning, refueling and preparing the vessel before your embarkation. On Embarkation day, you should dress for an excursion and changeable weather. Once aboard, you will find your luggage stored in your assigned cabin, please ensure that all your luggage is accounted for. Departure information – Disembarkation Day Generally, disembarkation in Iquitos is in the early morning, between 6:00 and 8:00am. This exact time may change slightly due to local conditions or sailing and port schedules, but will always be in the early morning. Arrival Complications: We don't expect any problems, and nor should you, but if for any reason you are unable to commence your group trip as scheduled, please refer to our Emergency Contact. If you have pre-booked an airport transfer and have not made contact with our representative within 30 minutes of clearing customs and immigration, we recommend that you make your own way to the Starting Point hotel, following the Joining Instructions. Please contact your travel agent on your return for a refund of the transfer cost if this occurs. Emergency Contact: If you need emergency assistance during your trip, you can contact us at the following toll free phone number in the U.S and Canada: 1-800-747-0567 or 593 96065512 from other locations. If you feel you need to contact us outside of office hours, someone from our Operations staff will answer a mobile line at any time. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so we may return your call and assist you as soon as possible. What to Take: Most airlines allow two checked bags and one carry-on per person. To avoid any problems on check-in and with possible excess baggage charges, please consult the airline for specific restrictions. Checklist:
Spending Money: Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip. Local Payment: USD300 This amount is the final payment for your tour. Paying locally facilitates the flow of funds into countries that we travel through and also helps to reduce the overall price of the tour. This helps us keep our prices competitive and in-turn, pass our costs savings on to you. Payment is to be made to your leader or Explorer cruise representative upon arrival in cash in the requested currency. Fuel surcharge: USD250 Due to sustained, rising fuel prices, there will be a fuel surcharge of $25 USD per day on board the ship for all passengers travelling on an expedition on the M/S Explorer. This surcharge will apply to all departures leaving on or after November 28, 2005. The fuel surcharge is temporary and will be removed pending lower fuel costs. Passengers are instructed to pay the surcharge at the start of their tour, at the same time their local payment is due. Money Exchange: Credit cards and debit cards are very useful for cash advances. Visa cards are the most widely accepted cards. While ATMs are widely available, there are no guarantees that your credit or debit cards will actually work in South America. Check with your bank. You should be aware that to purchase products or services on a credit card a fee of 5%-10% usually applies. Do not rely on credit or debit cards as your only source of money. A combination of US dollars cash, travellers cheques and cards is best. Always take more rather than less, as you don't want to spoil the trip by constantly feeling short of funds. Optional ActivitiesManaus:
Iquitos:
Departure Tax: USD28 Meals: Eating is a big part of traveling. Travelling with Latin Trails you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in South America. Aboard the expedition ship Explorer or our Galapagos yachts, while trekking in remote regions etc. food is included, plentiful and made of fresh local ingredients. Emergency Fund: Please also make sure you have access to at least an additional USD200 (or equivalent) as an 'emergency' fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control (eg. a natural disaster) necessitate a change to our planned route. This is a rare occurrence! Local Flights: All local flights are not included in the cost of your tour unless otherwise noted. It is important that we have your passport information at the time of booking in order to process these tickets. Internal flight tickets are issued locally and will be given to you prior to the flight departure. Laundry: Aboard the expedition ship Explorer laundry facilities are provided at a charge. Safety and Security: Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure. We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, travellers' cheques, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of the hotels we use have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. Please note that any optional activities you undertake and are not booked through us or are not part of your itinerary, we offer no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. A Couple of Rules: Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for Latin Trails travellers. Our philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter, and in particular the local people who make the world the special place it is. The exploitation of prostitutes is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our group leader has the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or they use prostitutes. Health: You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure. We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements. Please be aware that quite often we are in remote areas and away from medical facilities, and for legal reasons our leaders are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc. When selecting your trip please carefully read the brochure and itinerary and assess your ability to cope with our style of travel. For travellers over 70 years a completed Medical Form is required. Explorer cruises reserves the right to exclude any traveller from all or part of a trip without refund if in the reasonable opinion of our group leader they are unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group. For your own safety, we strongly recommend that you advise us of any medical condition that may affect you while traveling. If you are carrying any prescribed medication, or if you have any particular health needs, please bring with you a signed and dated letter from your physician stating any such health problems and dosage requirements for any medication to be provided to our doctor on board, as well as to any medical authorities in case of an emergency. We suggest that you confer with your own physician to be sure your routine immunizations, such as tetanus, diphtheria and hepatitis A, are up-to-date before traveling. Older travelers, in particular, may wish to consider preventive measures against influenza and pneumonia. Please note that most travel through the Amazon regions requires proof of Yellow Fever vaccination and border officials can ask at any time. Please check with your travel doctor to ensure your vaccinations are up to date. Also, please note that if you are particularly sensitive to heat, this may not be the trip for you. Medical Form: Our small group adventures bring together people of all ages. It is very important you are aware that, as a minimum, an 'average level of fitness and mobility' is required to undertake our easiest programs. Travellers must be able to walk without the aid of another person, climb 3-4 flights of stairs, step on and off small boats, and carry their own luggage at a minimum. Travellers over the age of 70, or travellers with a pre-existing medical condition, are required to complete a short medical questionnaire, which must be signed by their physician. This is to ensure that senior travellers have the necessary fitness and mobility to comfortably complete their chosen trip. While our leaders work hard to ensure that all our travellers are catered for equally, it is not their responsibility to help individuals who cannot complete the day's activities unaided. Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number. Visas: All countries require a valid passport (with a minimum 6 months validity). Contact your local embassy, or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent - Brazil requires a Visa for U.S. travellers. IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE CORRECT TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION. Your Fellow Travellers: As you travel on a group trip you will be exposed to all the pleasures and maybe some of the frustrations of travelling in a group. Your fellow travellers will probably come from all corners of the world and are likely to be of a variety of ages too. We ask you to be understanding of the various needs and preferences of your group - patience with your fellow travellers is sometimes required for the benefit of everyone's travel experience. Remember too that you have responsibilities to the group. If you are requested to be at a place at a certain time, ensure that you don't keep the rest of the group waiting. We have found time and time again that the very best trips we operate are those where the dynamics within the group work well - this takes just a little effort on your part. Keeping in Touch: If you need to be contacted while travelling we recommend that you set up an email address that can be accessed on the road, rather than relying on postal mail. Email cafes are becoming increasingly commonplace and cheap throughout the regions we visit, and have quickly become the preferred way for our leaders and travellers to stay in touch. If someone wishes to contact you in an emergency while you are on one of our trips we recommend that they contact your local booking agent, or refer to our Emergency Contact. We recommend that family and friends don't try to contact you through phoning hotels en route, as our hotels are subject to change, and our hotel receptions often don't have English speaking staff. |
|
|
|
|
|
Amazon cruises & rainforest tours by Latin Trails |
||