Cruise the Amazon: MV Tucano

13 days from £3,139

If you are after a rainforest river cruise experience, where you can absorb the sights and sounds of the jungle from the deck of a traditional style river boat, with guided forays on foot or by canoe into the creeks and lagoons, then a few days cruising in Amazônia on the MV Tucano will be right for you.

The MV Tucano

The week long cruise goes north up the Rio Negro beyond its confluence with the Amazon river and beyond the 400 islands of the Anavilhanas Archipelago towards the Rio Branco, with an ever changing eco-system, and few riverside settlements. You really feel you have the privilege to enter a remote, seldom visited area of Amazonia.

The ship departs from the pier at Punta Negra next to the Tropical Hotel.   A 3 storeyed traditional wooden Amazon riverboat custom built locally, it is beautifully constructed and finished using hard rose wood It has a marvellous nautical atmosphere while offering mod cons such as air conditioning and occasional hot water.

There is a covered sundeck, where you can sip an aperitif with savoury snacks and enjoy Technicolor sunsets. Delicious home-cooked meals are served in the saloon. There is a library of wildlife books and some novels.

There are just 9 exquisite wood-panelled guest cabins, guaranteeing an intimate (but not oppressive) atmosphere where guests soon get to know one another and the two brilliant guides. Rooms have shelving and hooks making the most of the restricted space. There’s air conditioning keeping you cool at night, and you can recharge your camera batteries in your room.

The ship navigates north up the mosquito-free Rio Negro towards Rio Branco, where the ecosystem is notably at variance with that further south, with different vegetation and a bit more wildlife.  There are few settlements and therefore little river traffic so when you get beyond the Anavilhanas archipelago you are on your own, with a real feeling of remoteness. The return journey follows the west bank and visits the growing town of Novo Airao. On the last day you drop anchor close to Manaus in the Lake Janauari, in the “white” water of the Amazon, where there are more mosquitoes and more wildlife to see.

There are a number of excursions every day, from dawn and late afternoon canoe trips to forest walks, piranha fishing and nocturnal wildlife spotting. You can swim in the river, visit isolated farms and ruined rubber estates all of which receive very few tourists. The last night is spent at anchor near Punta Negra where you disembark. Most guests then opt for the optional city tour, which includes a tour of ther Opera House, before being transferred to the airport for their flight.

For more about the Amazon, see our Overview page

The Amazon - an overview

Suggested Holiday Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Rio. 2 nights. Jeep tour excursion to Corcovado Mountain.
Day 2: Jeep tour/cable car excursion to Sugar Loaf Mountain.
Day 3: Fly Foz do Iguaçú Visit Iguazú Falls, guided excursions.
Day 4: Visit Iguazú Falls, guided excursions
Day 5: Fly to Manaus
Day 6: Embark on the MV Tucano for your 8 day Amazon cruise
Day 7: Sail through the Anavilhanas Archipelago. Launch excursion.
Day 8: Boat and walking excursions into the Amazon jungle.
Day 9: Boat and walking excursions into the jungle.
Day 10: Visit local homes and sail up Rio Negro.
Day 11: Expolore Rio Negro and local settlements.
Day 12: Lake Janauari National Park and the Meeting of the Waters.
Day 13: Disembark, optional city tour, transfer to airport.

Owing to many clients' preference for flexibility, and the variation in flight price according to season and availability, the price quoted excludes the cost of international flights, which we will happily arrange for you. Flights to Latin America can be daytime or overnight, while the return flight is always overnight, so you will need to add at least one day to arrive at the total length of your holiday. 

View detailed itinerary >>