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WorldWild Tours:
Amazon Voyage: Wildlife on the River

For itineraries, brochures, and registration information for all WorldWild Tours call (619) 231-1515, ext. 4245, or contact us using our online form.

Voyage into the heart of the world's greatest wilderness, the Amazon jungle, aboard a classically styled exploratory ship. From the largest mammals to the smallest insects, nature has found its ultimate expression in the lush rain forests of the Amazon. It is home to a variety of wildlife including red howler, squirrel, and capuchin monkeys; graceful pink river dolphins; brilliant blue morpho butterflies; caimans; blue-and-gold macaws; capybaras, sloths, frogs, and the elusive jaguar.

Itinerary

B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner

Friday, April 18, 2008: U.S. / Lima

This evening, fly to Lima, Peru, the nation’s capital and largest city. Meet our guides on arrival and transfer to the Sonesta El Olivar Hotel. (D aloft)

Saturday, April 19: Lima

After breakfast, we take a tour of this great city, where the Cathedral and Plaza Mayor are among the highlights. We enjoy lunch at a local Peruvian restaurant and have the rest of the afternoon at leisure, before returning to the hotel. (B,L)

Sunday, April 20: Lima / Iquitos / Amazon River

This morning, we fly over the Andes Mountains to Iquitos. On arrival we take a brief city tour before we board our riverboat, home for the coming week. Tonight we cruise slowly up the Amazon, looking at the stars of the northern and southern constellations. (B,L,D)

Monday, April 21: Amazon River / Río Ucayali

This morning we arrive at the junction of the Río Marañón and Río Ucayali. We turn up the left fork, the Ucayali. We’re apt to see both gray and pink river dolphins cavorting near our ship and along the shoreline. We take an excursion into the surrounding rain forest in search of giant water lilies and elusive wildlife, such as monkeys and sloths. This afternoon we visit a small river village. As dusk approaches, fishing bats begin their night’s foraging. (B,L,D)

Tuesday, April 22: Río Ucayali / Pacaya-Samiria Reserve

This morning we explore a small tributary of the Ucayali. Our guides help us search for animals, including primates, sloths, and an incredible variety of birds. Our ship continues upriver to the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve. This afternoon, an excursion into this largest wetland reserve in the world provides the opportunity to see a variety of primates, including monk sakis, red howlers, saddlebacked tamarins, and squirrel monkeys. (B,L,D)

Wednesday, April 23: Pacaya-Samiria Reserve

We spend the day exploring this flooded realm, seeing wading birds such as white-necked and capped herons, wattled jacanas, and horned screamers. Parrots are common, including the most conspicuous member of this family, the endangered scarlet macaw. We’ll watch for giant river otters, which have become increasingly rare but still may be found within the reserve. The massive black caiman and the manatee may also be found here. Later we enter a varzea (seasonally flooded forest), where plant life is very different from what we see along the main course of the Amazon, and take a walk through the forest. (B,L,D)

Thursday, April 24: Pacaya-Samiria Reserve

After an early breakfast, we board excursion boats for a day of discovery, with access even further into the heart of these vast wetlands. Along the narrow waterways we’ll find birds such as cocoi herons, canary-winged parakeets, and spectacular blue-and-gold macaws. Primates also are fairly common, including noisy squirrel monkeys. We arrive at a ranger station, where we may take a short hike to explore the forest. After a picnic lunch, we gradually make our way back through the maze of waterways to our riverboat. (B,L,D)

Friday, April 25: Rio Ucayali / Amazon River

We take an early excursion to Caro Lake, connected to the river by way of a very small stream. We may find small flocks of greater ani, often seen following monkeys in search of insects disturbed by the monkeys’ foraging. Our quest is to find piranha, very common in the slower-moving water. With a little luck, we may catch red-breasted, white, or black piranha. The red-breasted is the most attractive as well as the most abundant, but watch out for their teeth! This afternoon we continue downriver toward Iquitos and enjoy a farewell dinner. (B,L,D)

Saturday, April 26: Iquitos / Lima

After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for our flight to Lima. The afternoon is at leisure with dayrooms available at the Sonesta El Olivar. Tonight we enjoy dinner at our hotel, then transfer to the airport for our flight back to the U.S. (B,D)

Sunday, April 27: U.S.
We arrive in the U.S. this morning and meet our connecting flights home. (Meals aloft)

Please note: Itinerary may vary due to changes in air schedules, weather and other local conditions.

The Lost City of the Inca

A post-tour extension to Machu Picchu and Cusco

April 27–May 1, 2008

Saturday, April 26: Iquitos / Lima

After dinner, spend the night at the Sonesta El Olivar Hotel. (B,D)

Sunday, April 27: Lima / Cusco / Urubamba Valley

This morning, we fly to Cusco — the heart of the Inca Empire. Upon arrival, we meet our guide and leave for the historic Urubamba Valley. We enjoy lunch in the Urubamba Valley and drive into the mountains to visit the remote Willoq community. We spend the night at the Sonesta Posada Yucay. (B,L,D)

Monday, April 28: Urubamba / Machu Picchu
A fter breakfast, we explore Ollantaytambo, where ancient temples and fortresses were built to protect the Sacred Valley. We then take a train to Machu Picchu, known as the “Lost City of the Incas,” where we spend the afternoon. Machu Picchu’s existence was virtually forgotten until its rediscovery by Hiram Bingham in 1911. We spend two nights at the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. (B,L,D)

Tuesday, April 29: Machu Picchu

We spend today back at the ruins, or you may stay at our hotel, exploring the Orchid Trail and looking for the spectacular Andean cock-of-the-rock, the national bird of Peru. (B,L,D)

Wednesday, April 30: Cusco / SacsayhuamÁn

After breakfast, we take a morning train and bus to Cusco. En route we’ll visit Tampu Machay, known as the “Inca Baths,” and Kenko, a rare example of curvilinear architecture. We will also explore Sacsayhuamán—a huge fortress of massive stones, zigzagging along the side of a mountain. Enjoy a tour of Cusco before our farewell dinner. (B,L,D)

Thursday, May 1: Cusco / Lima

Return to Lima, where we visit one of the city’s renowned museums. (B, Meals aloft)

Friday, May 2: Lima / U.S.
This morning fly home, with clear impressions and wonderful memories of the “Heart of the Inca Empire.” (Meals aloft)