Day 1 - 2 Fly to Lima,
the capital of Peru, and transfer to the fine Sonesta
El Olivar Hotel. Fly over the Andes Mountains to Iquitos.
Take a brief city tour before boarding the riverboat,
your home for the coming week. Games on board introduce
kids to plants and animals of the rainforest. Tonight,
enjoy stargazing and storytelling with our local guides
as you cruise slowly up the Amazon. (Day 1: D; Day 2:
B,L,D)
Day 3 See some of the ever-changing
panorama of jungle life as the boat continues upriver.
Small villages dot the shoreline, and channels weaving
through island mazes provide close-up views of a variety
of marsh birds. Turn in to the Río Ucayali, where you're
apt to find gray and bubble-gum pink Amazon dolphins cavorting
near the ship. Later, practice your monkey calls on an
excursion into the surrounding rainforest in search of
giant water lilies and elusive wildlife, such as monkeys
and sloths. (B,L,D)
Day 4 Explore a small stream
of the Ucayali where you may catch white or black piranha.
Guides help you search for primates and a variety of birds.
Work on science experiments and journaling on board while
our ship continues upriver to the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve.
This afternoon, visit a village along the river, and learn
about the “Ribereño” people while visiting the school
or joining in a game of soccer. (B,L,D)
Day 5 Today watch for herons,
wattled jacanas, horned screamers and parrots. Look for
increasingly rare giant river otters and then catch a
glimpse of massive black caimans and manatees. Walk through
a varzea, a seasonally flooded forest, full of unique
plant life. Enjoy a nighttime boat excursion for a chance
to witness caimans (keep your hands in the boat!), capybaras,
common potoos, frogs and other nocturnal wildlife. (B,L,D)
Day 6 After breakfast, board
excursion boats for further access into the heart of these
vast wetlands. Discover birds such as canary-winged parakeets
and spectacular blue, gold and scarlet macaws as well
as noisy squirrel monkeys. Take a short hike to explore
the forest further. After a picnic lunch, return to the
riverboat. Join in with the band as our ship's crew plays
local instruments. (B,L,D)
Day 7 Head downriver and venture
deep into the rainforest as you explore narrow river tributaries.
This is a great opportunity to perfect the rainforest
survival skills you've learned all week. After dark, take
excursion boats to listen to the sounds of the rainforest
and look for nocturnal wildlife. (B,L,D)
Day 8 Explore Caro Lake where
you may find small flocks of greater ani, often seen following
monkeys in search of insects. Then, continue downriver
toward Iquitos and enjoy a farewell dinner. (B,L,D)
Day 9 This morning arrive in
Iquitos and fly to Lima. Enjoy a city tour featuring the
Cathedral and Plaza Mayor. The afternoon is free. Enjoy
dinner at the hotel, then transfer to the airport for
the flight back to the U.S. (B,D)
Day 10 Arrive in the U.S.
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