An exciting journey deep into the rainforest with expert American Naturalist Guides.

Imagine yourself exploring the upper reaches of the exotic Amazon, one of the world's greatest ecosystems, in the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve, the largest Eco-Reserve in Peru, or remote regions of the Rio Tigre or the Rio Tapiche, on a colorful Amazon riverboat.

Spend your days hiking through the rainforest, exploring by small boat, viewing wildlife, fishing for piranha, relaxing in comfort on the upper deck, all while surrounded by sights and sounds most people have only imagined. Experience up close the cry of colorful tropical birds, the lush smell of the rainforest, countless flowers, towering trees, pink dolphins playing alongside your boat, incredible reptiles and amphibians, iridescent butterflies, and captivating monkeys. This is the unforgettable magnificence of an Amazon riverboat expedition.

This is your best opportunity to see the magic of the rainforest and the Amazon River with a company that is known world-wide for it's intimate knowledge of this exotic land. You have our assurance that you will have an experience of a lifetime.

Most of our Riverboat Expeditions travel to one of three regions we are currently exploring. These are the Rio Tigre region, the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve and our newest area of study, the Rio Tapiche system. Other destinations are occasionally explored. No matter what the destination of your Riverboat Expedition, you are assured a high quality experience of the "real" Amazon.

SAMPLE ITINERARY

We will choose the best destination for your Riverboat Expedition based upon the reports we receive about the wildlife, weather and other local conditions of the many Amazon tributaries in the region. We decide upon a river system and rainforest to explore for each trip, on an individual basis, that will provide our travelers with the best wildlife viewing and other eco-tour activities.

No matter what the destination of your specific tour, what follows is an example of how we will spend our time on the river.

Learn more about our destinations:

Pacaya - Samiria National Reserve
Rio Tigre
Rio Tapiche

Day 1, Sunday

Pick up at Iquitos airport. Transfer to our boat for immediate departure on the Amazon. Watch Iquitos recede from view from the observation deck as we move out onto the river. Some travelers have lots of questions while others prefer to take in the wilderness silently. Either way, we'll do our best to accommodate your needs.

As we proceed upriver, tropical forest, wading birds, and freshwater dolphins can be seen from the upper deck. We'll gather for a brief orientation, allowing everyone to acquaint themselves with the boat and crew. The afternoon is free for rest and relaxation, as we make headway towards our destination - a point far from town! With luck, we'll witness one of the most spectacular sunsets in the world. That night we'll reach the juncture of the great Ucayali and Marañón rivers - the joining of which form the Amazon River. We'll continue upstream while we sleep.

Day 2, Monday

Dawn finds us far from Iquitos. Before breakfast we'll take the smaller, aluminum boats and head up a beautiful, blackwater stream to look for monkeys, parrots, and a host of other birds that will be moving at this time. Smaller streams are excellent places to observe bromeliads and orchids, and all sorts of wildlife.

Return to the boat for breakfast. Afterwards, we'll hike in the rainforest, experiencing the sights, sounds, and scent of the world's greatest wilderness up-close for the first time. We'll take a leisurely stroll and look at plant and animal oddities along the way. This is a great opportunity for photography. We'll see some truly gigantic forest trees, complete with twisting lianas, aerial termite nests, and a host of novel flora and fauna. Upon returning to the boat we'll continue upstream. After a refreshing shower, lunch will be served and we'll talk about our morning hike and the next destination. Mid-afternoon we'll reach a riverside community, where everyone can visit, purchase local handicrafts, and see how people live along the river. Late afternoon we'll head up a beautiful stream nearby where we can observe monkeys, blue-and-yellow macaws, and perhaps a sloth or two. Those choosing to remain on board can fish or relax with a good book, taking in the never-ending river sights: rafts of bananas, dugouts with exotic tropical fishes, etc. After supper, we'll grab our flashlights and board the aluminum boats for an unforgettable night ride along the creek in search of owls, potoos (really weird birds), and caimans.

Day 3, Tuesday

An optional early-morning boat ride for those who wish to see monkeys and birds, or for the fishermen aboard. During breakfast, we'll continue upstream towards a huge oxbow lake. Late morning we'll board our boats and head into the lake to see Horned Screamers (really weird birds) and Hoatzins (even weirder birds). We'll continue downstream during lunch, stopping in time for a post-dinner night hike. Yes, that's right....after dark, flashlights in-hand, we'll head slowly down a rainforest trail and gaze in amazement at the wonderful creatures on display. The forest comes alive at night and one can see everything from bizarre katydids to sleeping birds and butterflies. Night walks are among the most unusual and unforgettable ways to appreciate the tropics.

Day 4, Wednesday

We'll wake up heading towards a stream that runs through dense rainforest. The fishing and dolphin watching are superb, and birders will enjoy the boat ride upstream. After breakfast, we'll cross the river to a place where, for the first time, we'll walk in high forest. This is a botanical wonderland...the forest is a paradise, complete with brilliantly colored poison frogs, jumping about like tiny jewels on the trail. After again boarding our boat and showering, we'll relax over lunch and cruise onward. Late afternoon will find us searching the skies for yet another Amazon sunset as the boat turns slowly into the mouth of a small jungle river. We'll overnight here, taking another nocturnal excursion in search of caimans and night birds (by aluminum boat).

Day 5, Thursday

Dawn is a cacophony of bird noises, punctuated by pink dolphins as they exhale. Coffee and tea on the deck while we try to get some pictures will be followed by breakfast as the boat slowly makes its way up this river. After breakfast, we'll trade for handicrafts with the friendly people at a couple of the villages. They make beautiful and interesting items and are happy to swap for t-shirts, dollars, or Peruvian currency. The children are eager to see who might be bringing candy, colored pencils, or other exotic goodies. Also, a variety of wild animals is usually on display...pets roaming through the village. After lunch we'll head off to fish for piranha and take in the wildlife in a big lagoon filled with tropical fish like those we see in petshops. We'll check out the giant Amazon lilypads, some of which stretch five feet across! Late afternoon will find us cruising downstream towards the Amazon, where we'll continue to travel until late Thursday night.

Day 6, Friday

Dawn finds us on the Tahuayo River, and we'll rise early for a hike through one of the area's most beautiful forests. we'll pass through a "chakra" (cultivated plot) where we'll see a variety of local fruits and vegetables, many of which will by now be familiar as items consumed on the boat. Our destination is a beautiful forest glen, complete with waterfall, where all can swim and enjoy the cool water. After our return to the boat, we'll continue downstream towards Iquitos, stopping at the village of San Joaquin de Omagua. That night we'll take a hike through beautiful high forest before returning to our beds.

Day 7, Saturday

We'll wake up on the Rio Yanayacu and board our boats for a farewell morning bird and monkey cruise before returning to our base for breakfast. During the morning we'll pack up, swap addresses, take more pictures (can never have too many!) and enjoy the sites on the Amazon as we near Iquitos. Upon arrival we'll transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima.

Departure Dates & Prices for 2009:

For further information or booking inquiries, please contact Sacred Earth