Locally Hosted Independent Tour Suggested Departure Day: Thursday

ITINERARY (Subject to change without notice):

Thursday - Depart USA: Depart Miami on evening flight.

Friday - Arrive Sao Paulo and connect to Iguassu Falls: Morning arrival in Sao Paulo and make connections for flight to Iguassu Falls, arriving mid-afternoon. Meeting and transfer to your hotel, the venerable and ever popular Hotel Das Cataratas located in the National Park right at the falls. Balance of the day at leisure.

Saturday - Iguassu Falls: Today you will spend the day exploring these awesome falls with 275 falls spanning a 2-mile wide precipice, from the Brazilian side, with wide panoramic vistas. Eleanor Roosevelt is said to have exclaimed upon viewing these falls: "Poor Niagara! This makes Niagara look like a kitchen faucet!". You'll also take the Macuco Safari and motorlaunch excursion for a ride along the turbulent river for different views of these falls, including ducks in and out of the cascades themselves. Also stop by the Parque de Aves for a visit to the huge walk-through aviaries and butterfly farm.  Lunch included en route. (B/L)

Sunday - Iguassu Falls - Sao Paulo - Manaus: This morning you will cross over the border to the Argentine side for yet another series of walks to view these spectacular falls. One catwak takes you to the edge of Devvil's Throat; two others take you down along the base of falls, offering the "Up Close and Personal" encounter with the falls. Afternoon transfer to the airport for flight to Sao Paulo where you make connections for flight to Manaus, deep in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon. Evening arrival and transfer to Hotel Tropical, a huge sprawling hotel on the banks of the Rio Negro.

Monday - Embark Amazon Clipper Premium: Morning visit to the main points of interest in Manaus including the famed Opera House and the Indian Museum. Noon hotel check-out and meet the representatives of the Amazon Clipper Premium in the hotel lobby at 2:30 PM for short walk to the pier to begin your five night Amazon River cruise. Once aboard, cabin assignments and briefing to meet the ship's staff and go over the   route, facilities and rainforest etiquette. Navigation via the "Meeting of the Waters", Xiborena and Careiro region to Curari. Late afternoon canoe trip in the smaller creeks to see life on the flood plains, flood plain forest and lakes, returning to the ship around sunset. During dinner navigation up the Rio Solimoes to Lake Janauary. (B/D)

ABOUT THE AMAZON CLIPPER PREMIUM: The Amazon Clipper Premium is 106 feet long with a beam of 30 feet and hosts only 32 guests in 16 spacious all outside cabins, with lower beds, private bathroom facilities with hot shower, individual air-conditioning and safety box. Click here for more information.

Tuesday - cruising: Up early for canoe trip for bird-watching - sunrise is an active time in the rainforest as it comes to life. There are good chances to see Hoatzins, Egrets and Cormorants. Return to the ship for breakfast and then visit some of the inhabitants of the lake who live from manioc plantations, fishing, diverse fruit trees, rubber, Brazil-nut plantations, wood and other extractive products. You'll also get to walk in the forest to explore its teeming life. Late afternoon brings an opportunity for piranha fishing and after dinner you'll take a silent canoe trip to look for nocturnal animals, including night-hawks, snakes, toro-rats, sloths and frogs. Downstream navigation during the evening. (B/L/D)

Wednesday - cruising: Another early morning birdwatching expedition in the Janauary Ecological Park or one of the other nearby waterways.  Breakfast back on board as you cruise past the port of Manaus where you'll have excellent views of the floating docks, market, old custom house and houses on stilts.  You'll arrive back to the Hotel Tropical pier around 11:30 in the morning, pick-up embarking passengers and then depart around  2:30 PM. Afternoon navigation to the Ariau river, a tributary of the Rio Negro. In the late afternoon you'll enjoy your first foray into this fascinating world, exploring by silent canoe. Since you'll return to the ship after dark, you may have a chance to see nocturnal animals such as the caiman. During dinner the ship will begin navigating to Acu Creek or other nearby tributary. (B/L/D)

Thursday - cruising: After breakfast, you'll take a walk in the forest with your guide to explore the flora and fauna.  You'll visit a "caboclo" family for a chance to see the local way of life, preparation of manioc flour (the staple foodstuff of the Amazon) and to learn about the health and education systems. Return to the ship for lunch and then begin navigation through the Anavilhanas Archipelago, the world's largest  fresh water archipelago, more than 1000 miles from the ocean. Visit the village of Novoo Airao, where the Clipper was built, with a burgeoning boat yard, sawmill and a bustling market. After dinner you'll take a trip by silent canoe to search for caimans by flashlight and to look for nocturnal animals such as the sloth, snakes, frogs and other species, depending on the season. (B/L/D)

Friday - cruising: Morning navigation to Praia Grande or other white sand beach where you will have an opportunity to take a swim and explore the vegetation of sandy areas. You'll take a canoe trip on Lake Acajatuba or other adjacent lake to see the typical flora, such as rubber trees, Brazil Nut trees and useful palm trees and have a chance to fish for piranhas, those ferocious little fish with the razor sharp teeth.  After lunch stop at the Paricatuba community to see the old abandoned rubber-boom buildings, now overgrown with straggler fig trees.  During dinner begin navigation to Lake Janauary. (B/L/D)

Saturday - Arrive Manaus and fly to Salvador Bahia: Sunrise canoe trip for birdwatching - keep an eye out for the pre-historic looking Hoatzin. Return to the ship for breakfast and navigation back to Manaus, cruising past the bustling floating port and with excellent views to the waterfront, customs house, market and houses on stilts.   Arrive back at the Hotel Tropical pier around 11:30 AM. Meeting and transfer to the airport for your flight via Brasilia to Salvador Bahia, arriving in the evening.  Upon arrival, meeting and transfer to your hotel, thePousada Convento do Carmo in the heart of historic Pelourinho. (B)

Sunday - Salvador Bahia: Spend the morning exploring Salvador, Bahia, first city founded in Brazil and a treasure house of colonial architecture. Visit the city's important sites including newly rejuvenated "Pelorinho", the city's colonial center, filled with churches, cobblestone streets and colonial houses, São Pedro Fort, where the independence of Bahia was proclaimed; Castro Alves Square,  Terreiro de Jesus surrounded by five churches. Here you will find one of the most spectacular churches in the world: São Franscisco Church with its magnificent gold-leaf interior. It is a tour through the History of Salvador and its beautiful buildings hundreds of years old. Afternoon at leisure to explore this historic city at your own pace. Pelourinho, the historic district, is filled with shops, art galleries and boutiques, in addition to restaurants and bars. (B)

Monday - Salvador Bahia - Rio de Janeiro: Late morning transfer to the airport for early afternoon flight south to Rio de Janeiro, arriving in the early evening. Meeting and transfer to the venerable Copacabana Palace on famed Copacabana beach for three night stay.(B)

Tuesday - Rio de Janeiro: Full day excursion discovering the highlights of the "Cidade Maravilhosa". Drive through lush Tijuca Forest and take the modern cogwheel train for 20-minute ascent up famed Corcovado Mountain. Then 220 steps take you to the base of the statue of Christ the Redeemer for a spectacular 360 degree panorama of Rio. Time for photographing Rio from this vantage point. Then continue with two stage cable-car ascent to the summit of Sugar Loaf for yet another panoramic vista of Rio. En route enjoy lunch at one of the popular "churrascarias", Brazil's barbeque restaurant with a never ending array of food! (B/L)

Wednesday - Rio de Janeiro: Morning excursion to Petropolis, the imperial city of Petrópolis located 55 miles away from Rio. Scenic drive through the countryside of the Serra da Estrela mountains to Petropolis to visit the summer residence of Emperor Dom Pedro II, which has been restored to its original splendor, today the Imperial Museum. The museum is home to a collection of tapestries, colonial furnishings, and portraits, as well as the Imperial Crown, with over 600 diamonds and pearls. You will enjoy the refreshing drive through summer homes and cottages on your return to Rio. Afternoon at leisure to explore at your own pace. (B)

Thursday - Depart Rio de Janeiro: Another full day to relax on the beach, while time away sitting in a sidewalk cafe or explore the city. No need to rush through the day - your room is paid for late check-out. Evening transfer to the airport for your overnight flight back to Miami. (B)

Friday - Arrive Miami: Morning arrival in Miami. Clear customs and immigrations and make connections to your home city.

RATES and DETAILS: