Currency (USD)
|
Log In
Email
Password Forgot Password
Sign in with GoogleSign in with Google
|
Favorites
Have questions? We're here.

Amazon Adventure

2 of 10 piranah caught..What teeth!
2 of 10 piranah caught..What teeth!
To say this was an adventure of a life time is an understatement. It wasn't long after the MY Tucano left the dock in Manaus that I spotted my first of many grey dolphins. The Rio Negro was so expansive it looked more like an ocean than a river.
All Photos

Photo Album

Day one in Manaus

Jun 26, 2009
Into the great fog
Into the great fog (Joseph Monticello Jr.)
The city tour gave a good over view of Manaus, but the real adventure didn't begin until I boarded the Motor Yacht Tucano and headed up river on the Rio Negro.

On board and heading out

Jun 27, 2009
unidentified orchid
unidentified orchid (Joseph Monticello Jr.)
It was exciting to get on board and get settled in. I was on the front bow in what seemed like only minutes. As we headed up river, I could feel the excitment build. Within half an hour I spotted the first of many grey dolphins. They were smaller than ocean dolphins and had longer noses. They crested the waters in search of food. The meals were very well cooked and offered a variety to suit anyone's needs. I learned that the Rio Negro has a ph of 3.5 which makes it acidic, so mosquitoes are not a problem. Didn't need the bug spray. Things I saw today: Channel billed toucan, festive parrot, swallow winged puff bird, white winged swallow, brown crested martin, black vulture, greaterani. Plants: Brazil nut, ceeropia, acai palm, tucumam palm, rubber tree

Monday-Day 2

Jun 28, 2009
Oh! what a beautiful morning
Oh! what a beautiful morning (Joseph Monticello Jr.)
Up at 5:00 a.m. to get ready for a canoe trip. The sunrise was spectacular. The amount of plant life was amazing. After the canoe trip, I headed back to the MY Tucano for breakfast. At 10:00 a.m. I went for my first jungle or forest walk. We spent about 2 hours in the thick dense forest. I felt like a young boy of 12 on a great adventure...not bad for a 63 year old man. After the trek we headed back for lunch. I was looking forward to getting back out on another canoe trip. We also did a night canoe trip. Things I saw today: White throated toucan, channel billed toucan, blue and yellow macaws, festive parrot, turkey vulture, yellow caracara, tropical kingbird, hoatzin, osprey, yellow billed tern, plaevested pigeon, bandtailed night hawk. PINK DOLPHIN ( what a treat) Red howler monkeys, brown throated three toed slothe, amazon bamboo rat, scorpion, spike spider trantula, yellow eared frog, gaint gladintor tree frog. ( My spelling my not be correct on all species)

Tuesday - Day 3

Jun 29, 2009
The southern cross
The southern cross (Joseph Monticello Jr.)
An early morning canoe trip presented many birds and pink dolphins. We went to a small village and experienced how the "settlers" lived. I was amazed to see they had a satellite dish and generator so they could watch 2 hours of TV per day. Football (soccer) and soap operas seem to be the favorite. I guess that's progress. The daily routine for the men is to tend the small vegetable gardens for a few hours in the morning; then they go fishing for a few hours in the afternoon. They then rest until 6 p.m. when they go fishing or spend time with friends... Not a bad life. It is so peaceful. A good time for personal reflection. I have been on numerous trips around the globe but this has to be the most relaxing and peaceful of them all.

Wednesday - 1 July or Day 4

Jun 30, 2009
flying butress
flying butress (Joseph Monticello Jr.)
I spotted grey dolphins on the morning canoe trip. A roar similar to that of a tornado or jaguar echoed from the forest. I asked the guide what it was. It turns out that it is the sound of a howler monkey(Male). Like humans, they use a great deal of noise to display who's in charge. I spotted two Blue Morphis butterflies on the forest walk. How beautiful. We also found an orchid that neither guide could identify. They took many pictures to try to identify later. I felt like the explorers I read about as a child. It really felt too good to be true. I know that my words can't come close to describing the experience. Today's List: Striated heron, great black hawk, great egret, ringed king fisher, pink and grey dolphins, common squirrel monkey, brown beared saky monkey yellow crowned brush tailed rat, bullet ants. Today I tasted a Ice Cream bean plant. It is a pod with fuzzy white seeds. The fuzzy part of the seed taste like vanilla ice cream...Great

Thursday- 2 July or day 5

Jul 01, 2009
Brazil Nut tree
Brazil Nut tree (Joseph Monticello Jr.)
Went fishing for pirranha....I caught the first one and caught 10 all together. This has to be the most exciting day of all for me. I love to fish and this was like the greatest of all. I even removed my own fish fron the hook. Their sharp teeth and constant biting added to the excitment. I didn't want this part of the trip to end! We saw two snakes today. A large black snake and a small boa constrictor. Also went to an old rubber plantation that is now in ruins. It looked like Disney's Jungle book. For dinner we had the pirranha caught this morning. Very mild taste. We also had a fish called Tapico. It has to be the best fisw I have ever eaten. This fish lives on fruit and nuts during the high water season and gets very fat. When the water drops and it can't get to it's food supply it lives off the fat stored on it's body. It tasted like a very moist and sweet chicken breast. This trip was worth this day alone. I won't put todays list as the whole day was so fabulous it would be hard to identify any one thing as being best. The company name is Adventure Life, but I would say it should be called Adventure of a Life!

Friday July 3rd or day 6

Jul 02, 2009
Who needs side walks
Who needs side walks (Joseph Monticello Jr.)
Today we went to a village and then for a swim in the Amazon. We are heading back toward Manaus and I realized the trip is almost over. The time went by so quickly. The journey was truely an experience that must be felt. Words can never do it justice, especially from one who usually doesn't keep journals. The Amazon river basin is truely a wonder of the world. Even on days when it rained, the rain felt refreshing and did not impair the experience, if anything it added to the journey.

Saturday July 4th or day 7

Jul 03, 2009
Morning canoe trip
Morning canoe trip (Joseph Monticello Jr.)
Experienced the convergence of the two rivers into the Amazon. It was a sight to see but couldn't compare to wilderness experience on prior days. I do know that I would go back in a heart beat. The MY Tucano is a wonderful boat. Sure there are some inconvient things that you must do, like putting toilet paper in the trash can and not the bowl. This just added to the sense of adventure. Anyone looking for a carribean cruise experience should avoid this. But if you are looking for a very comfortable adventure you won't be disappointed.

Time to leave the Mother Boat

Jul 04, 2009
What do you want to eat?
What do you want to eat? (Joseph Monticello Jr.)
To our guides Edivan and Jean Paul - A sincere thank you for your patience, knowldege and friendly manner in which you guided us for the week. I feel truely blessed that I got to know you both. To Jamara and Cintia, our cooks, your meals were great and you kept us well feed. Your smiles were always present and most welcomed. To all the crew who kept us safe and provided such a fabulous experience, thank you and I hope to travel with you again. The End

Amazon Travel Guide

Favorite Amazon Amazon All Trips

Top Amazon Travel Destinations

Amazon Trips by Departure Date

Top Experiences in Amazon

Amazon Trips by Duration

Amazon Trips by Activity

More Reasons

Why Travel With Adventure Life

All News

Recognized By

Talk with an expert
Build your ideal Amazon trip. Call 1.406.541.2677