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Water buffalo graze the banks of the Amazon

Caribbean and the Amazon - Southbound

Example 20 Day Cruise
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Keep your cameras ready for rare photo opportunitiesAmple birding opportunitiesExplore the Amazon on a zodiac excurionsThe SeaDream navigates the narrow waterways of the Amazon RiverWater buffalo graze the banks of the Amazon
Places Visited
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Bridgetown, Barbados

The city of Bridgetown metropolitan is the capital and largest city of the nation of Barbados. Bridgetown is a major West Indies tourist destination, and the city acts as an important financial, informatics and convention center in the Caribbean region. Embark your luxurious vessel, the SeaDream, this afternoon for an early evening departure.

Day 2-3: At Sea

Enjoy two full days to explore your new home and enjoy the numerous onboard amenities. Pamper yourself in the luxurious spa, work out in the state-of-the-art fitness center, relax with a good book or chat with new friends.

Day 4: Devils Island, French Guiana

Devils Island (French: Île du Diable) is the smallest and northernmost island of the three Îles du Salut located off the coast of French Guiana. It has an area of 14 hectares (34.6 acres). It was a notorious French penal colony until 1946. The rocky, palm-covered island is 40 meters (131 ft) high. The penitentiary was first opened by Emperor Napoleon III's government in 1852, and became one of the most infamous prisons in history. In addition to the prison on the island, prison facilities were located on the mainland at Kourou. Over time, they became known collectively as "Devil's Island" in the English-speaking world, while they are known in France as the bagne de Cayenne, Cayenne being the main city of French Guiana. Used by France from 1852 to 1946, the inmates were everything from "political" prisoners (for example, anarchist Clément Duval) to the most hardened of thieves and murderers. A great many of the more than 80,000 prisoners sent to the harsh conditions at disease-infested Devil's Island were never seen again. Other than by boat, the only way out was through a dense jungle; accordingly, very few convicts ever managed to escape.

The SeaDream yacht will anchor off near Ile Royal and offer tender service for those quests wishing to explore the island. Île Royale (Royal Island) is the largest and westernmost island of the three Îles du Salut. As the largest island, with an area of 28 hectares, it was used as the center for administration when the islands were used as a penal settlement. With an elevation of 66 meters, the island is the highest of the group. It contains a museum and a hotel (L'Auberge des Îles du Salut). You will be able to spot many ‘Agoutis’ which are rodents that look like huge tailless rats or squirrels.

Day 5: At Sea

A variety of entertainment choices will be presented today, as well as the many luxurious options that await you.

Day 6: Porto Santana, Brazil

Port details pending.

Day 7: Amazon River - Scenic Navigation

Port details pending.

Day 8: Alter do Chao, Para, Brazil

Alter do Chão is a village 33km west (or a 45 minute bus ride from the Amazon port City of Santerem along one of the only roads in the state of Pará, Brazil. One of most beautiful places in the whole of the Amazon Basin, the town of Alter do Chão is well worth traveling out of your way for. Situated approximately half way between Belem and Manaus, this picturesque town makes a perfectly relaxing break on a journey between the two. Alter is easily accessible by taking a scenic 45 minute bus from Santarem, however Santarem itself is only accessible by plane or boat.

Surrounded by lush forest, the small town sits on the Tapajós a tributary of the Amazon, at the entrance to Lago Verde. It is not without good reason that this town is known as the Caribbean of the Amazon as it is one of the world’s most beautiful river beaches. The photogenic highlight of the town is Ilha do Amor (“island of love”) a sandbar that slowly extends across the lagoon towards the town as river levels recede during the dry season. Although still attractive in the wet season this spit flanked by the lagoon and the river is what makes Alter unique.

Day 9: Parintins, Brazil

Parintins is a city in the far east of the Amazonas state, Brazil. It is located in the municipality of the same name, which is part of a microregion also named Parintins. The population for the entire municipality was 109,150 (2005) and its area is 5,952 km².[1] The city is located on Tupinambarana island in the Amazon River. Parintins is known for a popular folklore festival held there each June called Boi-Bumbá.

Day 10: Amazon River - Scenic Navigation

Port details pending.

Day 11: Manaus, Brazil

Manaus (Portuguese pronunciation: [maˈnaws]) is a city in Brazil, the capital of the state of Amazonas. It is situated at the confluence of the Negro and Solimões rivers. It is the most populous city of Amazonas, according to the statistics of Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, and is a popular ecotourist destination.

Day 12: Anavilhanas, Brazil

The Anavilhanas archipelago includes hundreds of islands in the Rio Negro. An area of 350,000 hectares with a perimeter of 380 km has been put forward by the Brazilian government as a tentative World Heritage Site since 1998. This comprises 100,000 hectares of islands and canals within the Rio Negro and a further 260,000 hectares of riverside forest.

Day 13: Badajos, Brazil

SeaDream will anchor in wide mouth of the tributary, at the estuary of the Rio Badajos. Badajos is very good for variety of bird species especially with the grasslands and the forest on other side of estuary. As the Expedition Team proceeds away from yacht the water breaks into 3 separate arms, great to explore this extensive area. The Expedition Team will point out the very large area of Victoria Amazonica water lilies. This is also a place to see various types of monkeys including Howler monkeys. They have also spotted a small anaconda in this region. Badajos is good for red sunsets as looking up the estuary faces west. Badajos is one of the best stops on the Amazon for spotting Dolphins around the yacht. The two main types of river dolphins are easily spotted in the amazon but Badajos the best.

Day 14: Cuxiu Muni, Brazil

Disembark at a small Amazonian village of about 40 families. (Population in this region is quoted by the number of families not the number of total individuals). The locals are very warm, welcoming and used to meeting guests from various vessels typically about three times per year.

Options with the Expedition Team are:
- Early morning or late evening Zodiac Safari in range of narrow creeks, good for spotting three toed Sloths as well as several species of birds.
- Village visit lasting say 2-3 hrs can be done anytime of day, this means walk through entire length of village, greeting families looking at the various crops growing, the adjacent woodlands, way of life of Caboclos, tapping rubber tree, etc.

Day 15: Uara, Brazil

This is a very large black water lake accessed by a short half mile channel from the main river. This area of the Amazon is famous for the extensive Brazilian Nut Forest and collection area. Numerous pathways are laid out in this forest used for collecting fallen large Brazilian nuts, (like a heavy coconut with approximately 25 nuts inside.)

Expedition Team Options:
- Zodiac Safari of the lake early morning, scattered population around the lake, the area is great for birds, and occasionally monkeys.
- Swimming – yes Swimming! In the black water lake, this is an ideal place for guests to swim from the Marina Platform. This is a very safe area for swimming as there is no current & black water (very little marine life) is best for swimming.
- This stop is essential for guests to participate in a jungle trek through the Brazilian Nut forest! This will be one of the best opportunities for a jungle trek with some of the locals as well as the Expedition team leading the way.

Day 16: Jutai, Brazil

Jutai is a very pleasant small town to visit of approximately 15,000 inhabitants. It has some charming little supermarkets and even some interesting comercial buildings. Guests enjoy walking the town in 1-1½ hrs. Jutai is a good place to buy locally made hammocks (they may even give a demonstration on board your SeaDream yacht) otherwise, they will have a floating shop at the pier landing before climbing up to town.

Jutai Expedition Team options:
- Morning zodiac safari (depends going up or down river & on schedule decided on). There are a few choice of creeks for this. Note Rio Jutai is a black water river but much white water (so called but its coffee color) comes in creeks and small tributaries from the Amazon.
- Foz do Jutai town visit.
- Black water lake visit either 2 miles from town or 7 miles up the Jutai River, The Captain may decide to relocate the yacht seven miles upriver adjacent to the black water (Igapo) lakes area. This area is in Ticuna Indian territory. As the black water is very clear, guests can see down into the water to view the tops of flooded trees in the high water period.

Day 17: Amazon River - Scenic Navigation

Port details pending.

Day 18: Leticia, Colombia

Leticia is a city in the Republic of Colombia, capital of the department of Amazonas. Leticia has long been Colombia's shipping point for tropical fishes for the aquarium trade. Leticia has approximately 33,000 inhabitants on the left bank of the Amazon river, and is located at the point where Colombia, Brazil and Peru come together in an area called Tres Fronteras.

Leticia has plenty to do with blocks of shopping, plenty of local souvenirs to buy, a small museum, and your crew will use a good local bar as your base. Visitors can enjoy the attractions nearby the city like Mundo Amazonico Ecological Park.

Day 19: Pebas, Peru

Pevas/Pebas is perhaps the oldest town in the Peruvian Amazon and lies downstream from Iquitos. It's an attractive, largely palm-thatched town and still a frontier place. The Witoto and Bora Indians, largely concentrated around Pevas, actually arrived here in the 1930s after being relocated from the Colombian Amazon. They are now virtually in everyday contact with the riverine society of Pevas, producing quality artifacts for sale to passers-by and yet retaining much of their traditional knowledge of songs, dances and legends, plus significant ethno-pharmacological practice in rainforest medicine. A number of local Indian groups can be visited, including the Bora, the Witoto and the less-visited Ocainas. SeaDream guests will have an exploration of this village as well as exploring furtrher up the river to some of the Indian villages.

Also have the possibility to meet and witness the Famed Artist Francisco Grippa’s home! Most of his work is actually exhibited in Iquitos at the Amazon Art Gallery, but others are on display in his home/gallery. The surrounding flood forest is home to hundreds of caimans and significant birdlife, including several types of parrots, eagles and kingfishers. This region is also for butterfly watching, the study of orchids and bromeliads in bloom and for its fishing – piranha being one of the easiest kinds to catch.

Day 20: Iquitos, Peru

Arrive in Iquitos and disembark this morning for your continued journey home.

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Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen

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