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Holidays

Expedition Into the Heart of the Amazon

Brazil
Available Departures: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

8 days from

US$5,055

without flights
Wildlife
Guided Group
LEISURELY LEISURELY

A one week cruise holiday along the Rio Negro in Brazil, with daily excursions in canoes, kayaks and on foot

Trip Code: ERB
Holiday Grades
          

Our Holiday Grades Explained

To show the relative difficulty of our holidays, each trip is graded on a scale of 1 to 12, with 12 being the most challenging. Although we have tried to make our grading system as clear as possible, it cannot take into account your personal interests, abilities or experience. If you have any questions about the nature of a particular trip or its suitability for you, please read the 'Is this holiday for you?' section or contact us.

 1 - 3 LEISURELY
1 - 3 LEISURELY

Suitable for most people in good health, holidays at this grade include only limited amounts of activity.

View leisurely holidays
4 - 6 MODERATE
4 - 6 MODERATE

Suitable for reasonably fit individuals, such as weekend walkers and cyclists. There can be the occasional more difficult day.

View moderate holidays
7 - 9 CHALLENGING
7 - 9 CHALLENGING

Physically challenging holidays, where you need to be prepared before you go.

View challenging holidays
10 - 12 TOUGH
10 - 12 TOUGH

Our toughest holidays, involving many long days, often in isolated areas. A high level of fitness and previous wilderness and mountain experience is essential.

View Tough holidays

Expedition Into the Heart of the Amazon

Highlights
  • Explore a quieter, lesser seen area of the amazon
  • See amazing wildlife, such as pink dolphins, iguanas and sloths
  • Expert guides on board who accompany every excursion
  • Travel on the newly renovated M/Y Tucano

At a Glance
  • Group Size 1 to 18
  • 6 days Amazon river discovery
  • Join In Manaus

Accommodation & Meals
  • 7 Breakfasts
  • 5 Lunches
  • 5 Dinners
  • 1 nights Hotel
  • 6 nights Riverboat
Overview

A fabulous and unique opportunity to experience areas of the Amazon that not many people visit. This is a true expedition cruise that goes deep into the forest, along the Rio Negro. There are excursions every day either in canoes, kayaks or on foot which are always co-ordinated by the expert guides on board, ensuring that wildlife such as sloths, river dolphins and howler monkeys are easily spotted and that everyone will come away with a deeper understanding of the whole rainforest environment.


This one week Amazon cruise holiday is all co-ordinated from the fantastic and recently renovated Motor Yacht Tucano, with a maximum of 18 passengers, large viewing decks and all en-suite rooms, it is not only a wonderful place to spend a week but is also extremely eco-friendly and the tours themselves are some of the most sustainable cruises in the Amazon.

Is this holiday for you?

Please note that the day-to-day schedule is approximate. The exact order of the days and specific features may be altered due to navigational and other scheduling considerations. Good health is necessary however guests can have an enjoyable trip by simply staying on board the M/Y Tucano and participating in launch excursions. Participants in our walks in the forest must be able to comfortably walk …

Please note that the day-to-day schedule is approximate. The exact order of the days and specific features may be altered due to navigational and other scheduling considerations. Good health is necessary however guests can have an enjoyable trip by simply staying on board the M/Y Tucano and participating in launch excursions. Participants in our walks in the forest must be able to comfortably walk for two or more hours at a time.

Why KE?

Visit an area of the Amazon that not many people get to see, learn about all aspects of the rainforest environment from the expert guides on board and travel in a small group.

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Itinerary

Arrive at Manaus Airport. Complementary airport to hotel transfers are included for all flight times. The evening is free to relax before the early start tomorrow morning.

Accommodation

Hotel

We board our well equipped expedition boat 'The Motor Yacht Tucano' (M/Y Tucano) at 7am, this means we will be collected from the hotel at about 6am. However after the early start we can spend the rest of the morning settling in, relaxing in our home for the next 6 nights and meeting the rest of the group, guides and crew. The afternoon is spent making our way north on the Rio Negro, with our aim today being to reach the Rio Apuau - one of the many tributaries of the Rio Negro. On the way we will cruise through the world's largest river island system - the Anavilhanas Archipelago.

Accommodation

Riverboat

Meals

B L D

As early morning is such a great time to spot wildlife, we try to take advantage of this time of day as much as possible throughout the week. We divide into small groups and explore the rainforest in our launches or kayaks around the giant lake inside a river island - Lago Turia, each group with a naturalist guide. We should hear and perhaps see howler monkeys and we should hear a morning serenade of toucans. After an amazing first outing into the rainforest, we return to the boat for breakfast, where we can still hear the forest waking up around us. In the late morning we aim to go for a walk in the forest where we will get a good start on understanding Amazon ecology (our guides are always at hand to answer any questions). Around midday we return for lunch and we'll start making our way to our overnight spot, perhaps stopping at a place to swim.

Accommodation

Riverboat

Meals

B

Another early morning to explore the forest on foot or by kayak, keeping our eyes open for a sloth sighting (quite a common occurrence in this area). Again we return to the boat for breakfast , before heading out on another morning excursion with our excellent guides. In the afternoon after lunch we will travel onto our next destination, out guides will look out for a good place to have an afternoon excursion on the way. Tonight we may even travel a bit more as we marvel at the night sky crowded with stars, this could be sitting on deck with a glass of wine in hand.

Accommodation

Riverboat

Meals

B L D

After our usual morning excursions we will navigate along the heavily forested shore, scouting for wildlife. We may stop for a visit at a settler's home carved out of the forest. In the early afternoon we will be near an extraordinary river called the Rio Jaueperi. Here we will see a kind of forest known as the varzea (a seasonal floodplain forest which is inundated with whitewater rivers). We will scout along the shoreline for some of the extraordinary creatures found only in this unique environment - this can include Amazonian manatees and river dolphins. Weather permitting, we will have a night excursion to observe nocturnal creatures.

Accommodation

Riverboat

Meals

B L D

Today we will voyage to the west side of the Rio Negro and continue to scout in our launches and walk in the forest. Weather and water depth permitting, we will explore areas rarely visited by anyone else, with the possibility of spotting sloths, and scarlet macaws amongst many others. Tonight we travel downstream, and will enter an east bank affluent of the Rio Negro and explore on deep into the rainforest on this small river. After an exciting nocturnal exploration of the rainforest in our launches we return to the boat for "Caipirinha Night" …and perhaps even try a bit of samba on the top deck.

Accommodation

Riverboat

Meals

B L D

Our dawn excursion this morning is not only special as it is the last morning we will walk or kayak among the wakening wildlife of the Amazon, but we also return to the boat to be greeted by a full Brazilian breakfast. We will then go one last time into the forest. In the mid-afternoon we will begin to journey downstream. We should arrive late in the day at the "Encontro das Aguas" - a stark several mile long line where two of the world's largest rivers, the Amazon and the Rio Negro, join in a turbulent maelstrom. Here the dark water of the Negro runs beside the opaque brown water of the Amazon. In the early evening we will travel upstream on the Rio Negro and journey to our overnight anchorage north of the City of Manaus. As we pass in front of Manaus, we can marvel at the scale of one of the world's largest and most vibrant port cities, over a thousand miles from the sea. Tonight we will have a farewell dinner and maybe a little more dancing to bid farewell to this incredible place.

Accommodation

Riverboat

Meals

B L D

Your holiday ends after breakfast. Depending on the flight times there maybe time for some further exploration of Manaus.

Meals

B
Download Trip Notes
The Route
Airport Airport
Direction Direction
Boat

Essential Information

We've compiled some of our Frequently Asked Questions to help you learn more about this amazing trip.

  • Airport transfer on day 1
  • All accommodation as described
  • Launches and land excursions as described with our expert team
  • Meals as detailed in the Meal Plan

  • Travel insurance
  • Airport transfer on day 8
  • Tips for staff
  • Some meals as detailed in the Meal Plan
  • Airport departure taxes if applicable
  • Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc

The group will meet at the hotel in Manaus

Airport transfers are provided for all clients on arrival.

On departure a single transfer is provided to the airport in the morning.

Hotel contact details and an emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation.

All meals included apart from Dinner on day 1, which if needed, can easily be arranged at the hotel on arrival.

All meals are taken on board - the ship has a very elaborate meal service and the cooks make the very best out of the wonderful fruits, fishes and flavors unique to the Amazon. All meals are served from the buffer and are wholesome, filling and delicious.

The tap water on board is chlorinated, however we suggest that you drink the water from the provided 20 litre bottles placed in the public areas of the vessel.

During the trip you will spend 1 night in a hotel in Manaus and 6 nights on board the wonderful Motor Yacht Tucano (M/Y Tucano). The M/Y Tucano has been very recently renovated (in summer 2018) and boasts large viewing decks, en-suite accommodation and fantastic food.

While the Tucano retains the appearance of a traditional riverboat, she was built using sophisticated equipment, materials and advanced construction techniques. From the electrical and water systems to the advanced propulsion and navigation systems, Tucano offers all of the convenience, security and comfort of a modern yacht. There are individual air-conditioning thermostats in every cabin as well as volume controls for the boat-wide sound system. The M/Y Tucano strives to conduct sustainable tourism and to minimize the environmental impact of cruises with a focus on waste management, energy conservation and pollution control.

Cabin Details (see also deck plan in the gallery)
Yellow Category: The five staterooms in this category are large and have beds side by side. They are numbered 3, 4, 5, 6, and 0. The beds in staterooms 3, 4, 5, and 6 can be joined together to form a queen sized bed. Stateroom 0 has a queen size and also a single bed, but has a quite small bathroom. It can hold three travellers. In triple occupancy, each passenger pays the Green Category rate.

Green Category: The two Green staterooms have above and below berths (bunk beds). While the Green are smaller than the Yellow staterooms, they are comfortable and have large windows, private bathrooms, and air-conditioning. These staterooms are 2 and 7.

Blue Category: These two staterooms are singles, numbers 1 and 8. They have a single bed, a private bath, and air-conditioning. On request the Blue Category staterooms can be converted to Green. These staterooms are 1 and 8.

A carefully chosen team will lead our voyage. They are chosen not only for their local knowledge and wealth of experience but also for their great love of the Amazon. With briefings and discussions, your naturalists will cover all aspects of the voyage including ornithology, rainforest biology, geography, history and the environment. Officers and crew, all highly experienced in varying types of navigation, man the ship.

It is not practical to set a recommended amount for personal spending money on a holiday like this. All meals while on board and the daily excursions, are included in the trip price. The main extra spend on board will be on drinks and this will vary greatly from person to person. On board ship, bar bills can be put on a tab and paid at the end of the cruise.

 

We suggest that each traveler tip in the area of $150 total, which is divided between the guides and the staff.

For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in ‘Dates and Prices’ table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements.

The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required, and you should have at least 2 blank pages for each country that you visit.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Please ensure that you check for the latest advice before travel. For the most up to date information on entry requirements, please visit the UK Government website.

If you have a severe allergy please inform the KE office before you travel. We will do all we can to help, but we cannot guarantee an allergy free environment on KE trips. You will need to carry your own treatment for the allergy with you, as 'adrenaline auto-injectors' are not carried as standard by KE leaders and staff. You should inform your leader on arrival of your allergy, and let them know where you keep your adrenaline pen.

On board, all currencies are accepted.

The unit of currency in Brazil is the Real.

As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's ‘Travel Aware campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCDO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips.

KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe.  Should the FCDO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation.  We receive regular updates direct from the FCDO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground.  If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office.

KE do not encourage the use of single use plastic items. We are ensuring that our agents all over the world are working together to reduce the problem and educate those around them. We are leading by example in our KE office by reducing our plastic use.

It is an essential condition of joining a holiday with KE Adventure Travel that you have a valid travel insurance policy to cover the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation.  When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.

For appropriate insurance cover we recommend Campbell Irvine Direct.  Please go to our Travel Insurance page for further information and to get a quote.

The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum.

You should bring the following items:

  • Hiking boots
  • Socks
  • Trekking trousers
  • Waterproof overtrousers
  • Fleece jacket or warm jumper
  • Waterproof jacket
  • Sunhat
  • Sunglasses
  • Daypack 30 litres should be sufficient
  • Headtorch and spare batteries
  • Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.)
  • Water bottles 1 litre (x2) (we encourage re-filling water bottles rather than single use plastic)
  • Washbag and toiletries
  • Antibacterial hand wash
  • Basic First Aid Kit including: antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment.

The following items are optional:

  • Travel shoes / Trainers
  • Spare laces
  • Shorts
  • Shirts (e.g. T-shirts)
  • Swimwear
  • Trekking poles
  • Insect repellent
  • Camera
  • Travel clothes
  • Repair kit – (eg. needle, thread, duct tape)
  • Reusable cloth bag for shopping (to avoid plastic bags)

Cotswold Outdoor Red PantonMany of the Equipment items listed above are available from Cotswold Outdoor - our 'Official Recommended Outdoor Retailer'. When you book a holiday with KE you will receive 12.5% discount voucher from Cotswold Outdoor and other retailers.
>> Find out more

DATES & PRICES

Private Departure?

Gather a few friends, family or club and take over your own departure.

2024

Dates

Adults from

Deposit

Status

More Information

  • Expedition Into the Heart of the Amazon
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: ERB /16/24/
  • This trip begins on Fri 18 Oct and ends on Fri 25 Oct
  • This departure is available and departs within 13 days. Secure your place today with full payment
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • Expedition Into the Heart of the Amazon
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: ERB /17/24/
  • This trip begins on Fri 1 Nov and ends on Fri 8 Nov
  • This departure is available and departs within 27 days. Secure your place today with full payment
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • Expedition Into the Heart of the Amazon
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: ERB /18/24/
  • This trip begins on Fri 15 Nov and ends on Fri 22 Nov
  • This departure is available and departs within 41 days. Secure your place today with full payment
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • Expedition Into the Heart of the Amazon
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: ERB /19/24/
  • This trip begins on Fri 6 Dec and ends on Fri 13 Dec
  • This departure is guaranteed. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$700
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • Expedition Into the Heart of the Amazon
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: ERB /20/24/
  • This trip begins on Fri 20 Dec and ends on Fri 27 Dec
  • This departure is guaranteed. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$700
  • Download Trip Notes

2025

Dates

Adults from

Deposit

Status

More Information

  • Expedition Into the Heart of the Amazon
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: ERB /01/25/
  • This trip begins on Tue 14 Jan and ends on Tue 21 Jan
  • This departure is guaranteed. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$750
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • Expedition Into the Heart of the Amazon
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: ERB /02/25/
  • This trip begins on Tue 11 Feb and ends on Tue 18 Feb
  • This departure is guaranteed. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$750
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • Expedition Into the Heart of the Amazon
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: ERB /03/25/
  • This trip begins on Tue 4 Mar and ends on Tue 11 Mar
  • This departure is guaranteed. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$750
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • Expedition Into the Heart of the Amazon
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: ERB /04/25/
  • This trip begins on Tue 8 Apr and ends on Tue 15 Apr
  • This departure is guaranteed. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$750
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • Expedition Into the Heart of the Amazon
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: ERB /05/25/
  • This trip begins on Fri 18 Apr and ends on Fri 25 Apr
  • This departure is guaranteed. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$750
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • Expedition Into the Heart of the Amazon
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: ERB /06/25/
  • This trip begins on Tue 6 May and ends on Tue 13 May
  • This departure is guaranteed. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$750
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • Expedition Into the Heart of the Amazon
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: ERB /07/25/
  • This trip begins on Tue 27 May and ends on Tue 3 Jun
  • This departure is guaranteed. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$750
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • Expedition Into the Heart of the Amazon
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: ERB /08/25/
  • This trip begins on Tue 10 Jun and ends on Tue 17 Jun
  • This departure is guaranteed. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$750
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • Expedition Into the Heart of the Amazon
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: ERB /09/25/
  • This trip begins on Tue 1 Jul and ends on Tue 8 Jul
  • This departure is guaranteed. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$750
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • Expedition Into the Heart of the Amazon
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: ERB /10/25/
  • This trip begins on Tue 15 Jul and ends on Tue 22 Jul
  • This departure is guaranteed. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$750
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • Expedition Into the Heart of the Amazon
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: ERB /11/25/
  • This trip begins on Tue 5 Aug and ends on Tue 12 Aug
  • This departure is guaranteed. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$750
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • Expedition Into the Heart of the Amazon
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: ERB /12/25/
  • This trip begins on Tue 9 Sep and ends on Tue 16 Sep
  • This departure is guaranteed. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$750
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • Expedition Into the Heart of the Amazon
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: ERB /13/25/
  • This trip begins on Tue 30 Sep and ends on Tue 7 Oct
  • This departure is guaranteed. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$750
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • Expedition Into the Heart of the Amazon
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: ERB /14/25/
  • This trip begins on Tue 14 Oct and ends on Tue 21 Oct
  • This departure is guaranteed. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$750
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • Expedition Into the Heart of the Amazon
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: ERB /15/25/
  • This trip begins on Tue 4 Nov and ends on Tue 11 Nov
  • This departure is guaranteed. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$750
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • Expedition Into the Heart of the Amazon
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: ERB /16/25/
  • This trip begins on Tue 25 Nov and ends on Tue 2 Dec
  • This departure is guaranteed. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$750
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • Expedition Into the Heart of the Amazon
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: ERB /17/25/
  • This trip begins on Tue 9 Dec and ends on Tue 16 Dec
  • This departure is guaranteed. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$750
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • Expedition Into the Heart of the Amazon
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: ERB /18/25/
  • This trip begins on Tue 23 Dec and ends on Tue 30 Dec
  • This departure is guaranteed. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$750
  • Download Trip Notes

Land Only Information

The dates shown are for the LAND ONLY itinerary, joining in Manaus, Brazil. Airport transfers are included on arrival. On departure a single timed airport transfer is provided.

ZEN_HOLIDAY_DATES_PRICES_LAND_ONLY_USD_NOTICE

BOOK WITH KE CONFIDENCE - No surcharge guarantee

The price of our holidays can change depending on a variety of factors but unlike some other tour operators, KE have undertaken to guarantee the Land Only price of your holiday will not change after you have booked. The price when you book is the price you will pay, whether you are booking for this year or the next. Book early to avoid any tour price increases, get the best flight prices and take advantage of our 'No Surcharge Guarantee'.

KE Adventure is a fully bonded tour operator. We hold an ATOL license (No: 2808) and are bonded with ABTA (Membership No: W4341)


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