Day 1.
Lima - Iquitos (Lunch & dinner)
Transfer to the airport for the flight to
Iquitos , in the heart of the Amazon jungle. Reception at the airport,
followed by a brief city orientation and transfer to the Explorama dock.
Fifty mile journey down the Amazon River to Yanamono Stream where
Explorama Lodge is located. Afternoon hike along the " Lake trail"
through lowland rainforest which is seasonally flooded. During the high
water season, this excursion is done by open boat! Night walk or open
boat ride to enjoy the sounds of the rainforest and stars of the
southern sky.
Day 2.
– Explorama* (Breakfast, lunch & dinner)
Early morning birding excursion. Morning
walk along the "Bushmaster Trail’, where scientific studies by the
Missouri Botanical Gardens have found the world's highest biodiversity
of trees per square hectare. Continue on to visit a small village of
where your guide will explain their culture and how it has been affected
by the passing of time. There will be an opportunity to trade for or
purchase some of their local crafts and for a demonstration of the use
of the blowgun which some of the Yagua elders still use for hunting.
Afternoon boating excursion in search of sloth, found in Cecropia trees
at the water’s edge, and the two species of freshwater river dolphin,
pink and grey, found in Amazonian waters.
Day 3.
Explorama (Breakfast, lunch & dinner)
Early morning departure from the Lodge by
boat to the mouth of the Napo River where in 1542, the intrepid explorer
Francisco de Orellano, became the first European to discover the Amazon
River . Continue on the Napo River to ExplorNapo Lodge for breakfast.
Hike to the spectacular Canopy Walkway spanning over 500 meters
(one-third of a mile), connected by tree platforms, and reaching a
height of over 35 meters ( 115 feet ) but accessible without any type of
climbing skill or equipment. After lunch, visit the "ReNuPeRu"
Ethnobotanical Garden where over 240 medicinal plants are cultivated by
a local shaman who will explain the nature of Amazonian natural healing
and the uses of some of the plants. Return to Explorama Lodge in time to
relax in the hammock house or at the Tahuampa Bar before dinner.
Day 4.
Explorama – Iquitos – Lima (Breakfast)
Morning walk before connecting to the
flight to Lima
End of
services
*(Note: This tour is for a 4
star option. In three star, the accommodation will be Heliconia Lodge
with a different itinerary as per below)
Three star Amazon Tour
Iquitos
Day 1.
Lima - Iquitos (Lunch & dinner)
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Iquitos, in
the heart of the Amazon jungle. Reception at the luggage claim area of
Iquitos airport, where our staff will be waiting for you. Then we will
take you to our operative offices in Iquitos where we will give you an
orientation of our services with your program. Afterwards, we will take
you to the Bellavista Port, where we will use one of our speedboats to
take you to the Heliconia Lodge along the Amazon River.
During
this boat ride you will have the opportunity to observe the convergence
of the brown turbid waters of the Amazon River with the dark waters of
the Nanay River. You will enjoy the impressive jungle landscapes with
the rustic small houses of the riverside towns.
A visit to
a native community is also scheduled in this part of the boat ride to
the Lodge. In this community we will have the opportunity to hear about
their way of life and to see their customs, dances and handcrafts.
After the
1:30 hrs boat ride we will arrive to the Lodge where our staff will
welcome you with a complimentary and exotic jungle drink. Lunch.
In the
afternoon we will start with our first excursion: a jungle hike into the
Yanamono Reserve, which is a primary rainforest reserve, for
approximately 2 hours accompanied by our expert guides. They will be
able to identify several botanical species such as heliconia flowers,
medicinal plants and giant trees such as the White silk-cotton tree (Ceiba
Pentandra) whose dimensions are so big that 25 persons can circle it
holding their hands.
During
this excursion you will also see several birds species such as the
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes Aura), Black Fronted Nanbird (Monasa-Atia),
etc and with a little luck you will be able to see small monkeys such as
marmosets (saguinus fusicollis), the Titi Monkey (Callicebus Mollock
Mollock) and the squirrel monkey (Saimiri Boliviense).
Return to
the lodge for rest. Free time.
After
observing the Amazon Sunset, we will take a night boat ride to a stream,
if the river is high enough, or along the Amazon River where you will
enjoy the magical sounds of the jungle, the light of the moon or, if it
is a clear night, you will observe the stars and constellations.
Dinner.
Day 2:
Heliconia Amnazon Lodge (Breakfast,
Lunch & dinner)
Early
morning birdwatching. We will start very early going by boat to one of
the several streams (if the water level allows us). We will be looking
for birds such as the Tuki (Jacana Jacana), Ringed Kingfisher (Ceryle-Torquata),
Black-Collared Hawk (Busarellus nigricollis), etc. Return to the lodge,
where a delicious breakfast will be waiting for you.
After a
little rest we will take a small fishing trip into small tributaries of
the Amazon River. The most daring can try for fishing Piranhas. During
this excursion you can also have the opportunity to look for the famous
Pink River Dolphin (Inia Geoffrensis).
Return to
the Lodge for lunch.
In the
afternoon, you will also be able to see the very impressive giant
Victoria Regia plant (Giant Water Lily) on the lakes inside the Yanamono
Island (if the water allows us).
At night
the adventurers can take a hike around the perimeter of the Lodge to
look for tarantulas, fire flies, bats and other jungle nocturnal
animals.
Dinner.
Day 3:
Visit to Riverside Town (Breakfast,
Lunch & dinner)
After
breakfast, we will visit a native village where we will have the
opportunity to hear and see their way of life. During this excursion we
can also have again the opportunity to look out for the Pink Amazon
River Dolphin (Inia Geoffrensis) and to fish for piranhas.
Return to
the Lodge and rest.
Dinner
Day 4:
Iquitos - Lima
(Breakfast, Lunch)
After
breakfast, we will visit a rustic sugar cane distillery where you can
try different exotic beverages made from sugar cane liquor and also you
will see how they use horses in the process of obtaining this liquor.
Return to
the Lodge. After Lunch, transfer to Iquitos City and according with your
flight schedule, transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima.
