Tour Overview
This Peruvian rainforest adventure begins with a 50-mile journey by boat down the Amazon River to your comfortable lodge. On guided hikes through the rainforest, you'll learn how these plants are used in modern medicine and how natives use them for their own medicinal purposes. But the rainforest is much more than just lush vegetation, there's also a host of fascinating animals to be found. You'll explore an oxbow lake by boat, where you can spot the elusive Hoatzin bird as well as the gentle sloth. A stroll on the Canopy Walkway, a 500-meter suspended bridge high in treetops, affords the rare opportunity to glimpse birds where they make their homes. A visit to the locals and a chance to chat with schoolchildren rounds out this exciting Amazon adventure.Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: Iquitos - Ceiba TopsReception at the airport or hotel, brief city orientation and transfer to the Explorama dock. Twenty-five mile journey down the Amazon River to Ceiba Tops where private rooms with air conditioning provide Amazon adventure in luxury. Afternoon hike in the beautiful primary rainforest reserve surrounding Ceiba Tops that includes many huge trees festooned with epiphytes. After dinner enjoy local flute or guitar music at the "El Tucan" Bar or the guides are always ready to relate some of the many legends of the Amazon forest.
Lunch, Dinner
Ceiba Tops Day 02 - Ceiba Tops - Explorama Lodge - Ceiba Tops
Early morning birding excursion. After breakfast board boats to continue down the Amazon River to the rustic Explorama Lodge and hike 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 Yagua Indians 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. After lunch walk along a local Amazon River trail stopping at a "ribereños" house, corner store and sugar cane rum factory. Return by boat to Ceiba Tops.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ceiba Tops Day 03: Ceiba Tops
Early morning birding. Morning boat excursion to “Monkey Island”, a private reserve where more than five species of tropical primates including small tamarins, saki, titi and large woolly monkeys are protected. 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. Weather permitting; enjoy a beautiful Amazonian sunset on the river.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ceiba Tops
Day 04: Ceiba Tops - Canopy Walkway - Ceiba Tops
Early morning departure from Ceiba Tops by boat to the narrow motorcar crossing connecting the Amazon and Napo Rivers to continue by boat 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 Ceiba Tops in time to enjoy the pool or hammocks before dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ceiba Tops Day 05: Ceiba Tops - Iquitos
Boating or walking excursion to further enjoy the rainforest surrounding Ceiba Tops, or if you prefer, time to relax at the hammock house or enjoy the pool and lodge gardens. Afternoon journey back to Iquitos and on to the airport or to a local hotel.
(Breakfast, Lunch (if departure flight allows) Due to the everchanging nature of the rainforest, day-by-day activities may vary due to local conditions.
