January, February and March, 2010
Peru,
Amazon River
aboard the JEWELS
OF THE AMAZON
The Amazon River is at the heart of one of earth’s most exotic natural realms and our planet’s largest rainforest ecosystem—the mysterious Amazon River Basin. The longest navigable river, the Amazon winds more than 4,000 miles from its source in the Andes Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean, and its tributaries fan out over 1.5 million square miles to sustain the lush flora and extraordinary fauna of this fragile environment. From delicate pink orchids to incredible transparent glass frogs and pink river dolphins, a boundless diversity of nature’s most beautiful offerings can be explored from the treetops of lush rainforests to the depths of innumerable black-water tributaries.
Join us for this unforgettable experience aboard one of the finest expedition vessels in this part of the world. A limited number of passenger vessels are allowed to cruise this portion of the Peruvian Amazon. The Jewels of the Amazon are impeccably crafted riverboats that evoke the 19th century’s great age of discovery yet feature 21st-century comforts. In an enchanting atmosphere of exploration, cruise beyond the confluence of the Río Ucayali and Río Marañón—the legendary inception of the Amazon River—where the primeval calls of birds and wildlife echo across the rainforest. Travel far beyond civilization to the Pacaya-Samiria Wetlands Preserve, the largest wetlands refuge in the world, navigating black-water rivers and walking in remote forests where the number of butterfly species climbs into the thousands, and other species have yet to be classified or even discovered.
From your ship, expert Peruvian naturalists lead you through the rainforests to see rare indigenous species and guide you down the Amazon’s secretive, sinuous tributaries aboard special small excursion boats. You also visit local villages to gain insight into the traditional way of life of the ribereños (river people) and see a shaman perform an ancient ritual of purification. This custom-designed itinerary includes the choice of an optional one-night stay in a tented camp in the heart of the Peruvian jungle, highlighted by traditional storytelling and a meal of regional specialties.
In addition to the mystifying reaches of the Amazon, this unique program also features one night in Lima, Peru, a historic city known for its colorful street life and magnificent colonial architecture.
Space is extremely limited for this definitive journey along the legendary Amazon River through the world’s greatest rainforest—reserve now while Early Booking savings are available.
Ribereños, Amazon River
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