| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
McDougall Amazon Adventure 2001
10-DAY AMAZON RIVER TRIP--$3400: Feb 11, 2001
OPTIONAL 4-DAY PRE-TRIP TO PERU ADD $1250 pp
OPTIONAL 7-DAY POST-TRIP TO IGUASSA FALLS AND CARNIVAL ADD $3800 pp
(Based on double occupancy and departure from San Francisco)
THE AMAZON CRUISE
Cost is $3400 pp based on double occupancy -- all inclusive, except for alcoholic beverages. This means cost of all air travel, transfers to and from ship, cruise and side trips, and taxes. Tips for crew and guides excluded. All low-fat, pure-vegetarian meals included. Deposit $750 -- Fully refundable until October 11, 2000. Balance due November 11, 2000. Costs are based on a departure from San Francisco as a group. Your departure point and time of departure may cost more or less. There may be extra costs for food, hotel and transfers if you arrive before the morning of February 12.
Schedule:
Sunday, February 11, 2001: Depart for Lima, Peru. From San Francisco Continental Airlines flight 1651 leaves 3:00 PM. Arrives 6:05 AM February 12.
Monday, February 12, 2001: Leave Lima for Iquitos 10:00 AM. Arrive 12:30 PM on Air Trans. Board Ship.
OUR DOWN RIVER ITINERARY
Iquitos, Peru to Manaus, Brazil
This is a special 10 day trip to the most uninhabited parts of the Amazon. Our plan is to completely fill the ship with our group. John and Mary McDougall will provide lectures on this portion of this adventure trip only.
Monday, February 12, 2001: Depart for down river cruise. Briefing on board after departure. A welcome lunch is served. Life boat drill & safety instructions. Afternoon stop and shore excursion to visit a local sugarcane mill. Return to vessel for dinner and continue down river.
Tuesday, February 13, 2001: Bird watching excursion in the Ampiyacu river. Breakfast onboard after excursion. Morning visit to a native village of Boras and Huitotos, folk dancing and trading for handicrafts. Visit to Pevas village, the oldest established European settlement on the Amazon. Return to ship for lunch and continue down river. Late afternoon boat excursion to go up a small tributary.
Wednesday, February 14, 2001: Breakfast onboard. Pass Peruvian check station and control point. Shore excursion to take a jungle walk into the Amazon forest. Return to vessel prior to lunch, continue to sail down river. Enter a narrow canal to briefly visit the Caballococha lake (they alternate program in low water season).
Thursday, February 15, 2001: Early morning visit to protected group of Victoria Regias (water lilies) prior to breakfast. Sail to Sta. Rosa, Peru to check out of Peru. While vessel is being cleared out of Peru and into Brazil, take a shore excursion to visit the river port of Leticia (Colombia) and the frontier town of Tabatinga (Brazil). Opportunity to buy items from Colombia, emeralds, leather goods and handicrafts. Return to the vessel, now in Brazilian waters have lunch and sail down river. Cruise past the mouth of the Yavari river which makes the border of Brazil and Peru.
Friday, February 16, 2001: Breakfast onboard. Morning excursion to visit the Ticuna native descendants in the village of Vendaval. An interesting walk through this village now in transition from native to modern. Return to the vessel for lunch, sail on to go to the Lago do Sao Paulo, for the late afternoon excursion by small boat. Dinner and continue down river. An evening lecture will be offered.
Saturday, February 17, 2001: Morning arrival to the Jutai area. This is near the mouth of one of the black water rivers flowing into the Amazon from the south. Excellent area for bird watching and opportunity to fish for unusual catches. Take a swim in the cool water and explore a nearby village. Night excursion after dinner to possibly spot the Amazonian caiman.
Sunday, February 18, 2001: Morning arrival to the Uara Lake. Bird watching on a small boat trip onto this dark water. Nature walk prior to return to ship for lunch and sail down river. Late afternoon excursion into a river tributary near the Bello Horizonte village. Lecture prior to dinner, continue sailing.
Monday, February 19, 2001: Morning cruising lecture onboard. Anchor the vessel near a small tributary and explore by boat and on foot the Sao Joao do Catua village. Good fishing area, back to the vessel. Dinner onboard. Briefing session. Continue down river.
Tuesday, February 20, 2001: Early morning arrival in the rio Badajos area. This river flows in from the north side of the Amazon. Good shore excursion in the small boats, excellent natural area for Amazonian aspects, including fishing, bird watching. Sail down river. Mid afternoon brief stop on a typical Brazilian Amazon village. As we get closer to Manaus, the modern world returns. Final lecture onboard "The Amazon of Today". Reception and final dinner, music and party.
Wednesday, February 21, 2001: Early morning arrival at the juncture of the Rio Negro, where it flows into the Amazon. This is the famous "meeting of the waters", the dark waters of the Rio Negro flow up against the light brown waters of the Amazon. For a distance, the two different waters flow along side each other, then finally join into one. A great site from the top observation deck of the vessel. Breakfast served onboard. Sail up the Rio Negro to the port of Manaus. After docking and clearing into port, transfer to the airport or to the hotel. Passengers on afternoon flights may stay onboard or visit the city and the famous "Opera House" in Manaus.
* Note this itinerary is the suggested one for our cruise. As this is an adventure area and many different natural forces affect the ship itinerary like water level, rains, winds, weather conditions in general all affect the daily stops and visits. An exact itinerary can not be pre-written but all activities noted as bird-watching, fishing, jungle hikes, night caiman trips, etc. will be done at one time or another, perhaps not in the order presented. The Cruise Director and guides will take advantage of all windows of opportunity to provide the greatest show on earth.......THE AMAZON.
THE SHIP:
THE MARCELITA
- Passenger Capacity: 52
- Built: 1999 as a cargo/passenger ship
- Length: 148 ft.
- Beam: 28 ft.
Cabins: 26. Cabins are air-conditioned and have twin beds. They are 157 sq. ft. and have a private bath with shower. Cabins are located on the middle and upper decks. All windows face outside and are 3.6 ft. by 2 ft. and access to cabins is from the inside by a hallway. Triples are available.
Dining: Low-fat Vegan McDougall-Style.
Dress: Totally casual.
Facilities and Activities: The vessel has three decks, and there are both covered and uncovered deck areas. The boat cruises some 1,200 miles of the Amazon, making many stops to explore the river world both by small launch and by foot accompanied by expedition guides. The captain and head expedition guide determine the daily itineraries, dictated by river tides and weather conditions. There are early morning and late afternoon excursions daily to explore wildlife, including Victoria water lilies, one of the world's largest flowers and freshwater dolphins, native only to these waters. You are also likely to see sloths and monkeys in the canopy. Passengers can fish for piranha and catfish (catch and release) and explore the river by night on the lookout for caimans, their eyes shining through the vegetation. Part of the journey passes through the Narrows, where the boat maneuvers through small channels of the rain forest. The crew speaks either Spanish or Portuguese and a little English. Guides, the lecturer, and the cruise director speak English. Guides accompany guests on all excursions and landings. There are no more than 12 passengers per guide, and each guide goes with his group individually, using his own boat on excursions. There is a speed boat and a small seaplane that can in case of emergency land beside the ship. Night excursions are done by launch, with walks only on request if the forest is not flooded in the area. There is a bar with music, a lecture room with VCR, a small library, and games. E-mail access and telephone service is available for an extra charge.
Wednesday, February 21, 2001: Depart Manaus at 1:45 PM on Varig Airlines Flight 201 to San Paulo -- Arrive at 7:15 PM. Depart at 11:55 PM on Continental Airlines flight 94. Arrive San Francisco 5:40 AM.
OPTIONAL PRE-TRIP TO PERU
Cost is an additional $1250 pp based on double occupancy -- all inclusive, except for alcoholic beverages. This means cost of all air travel, transfers, tours, hotels, food, tips and taxes. All low-fat, pure-vegetarian meals included. Deposit $250 -- Fully refundable until October 11, 2000. Balance due November 11, 2000. Costs are based on a departure from San Francisco as a group. Your departure point and time of departure may cost more or less. There may be extra costs for food, hotel and transfers if you arrive before the morning of February 8, 2001.
John and Mary McDougall will not be on this section of the trip only. Patrick McDougall (fluent in Spanish) will be our representative. You will be well cared for by the same guides and tour operators that ran last years very successful trip to Peru -- we have a long and close association with these people.
Schedule:
Wednesday. February 07, 2001: Depart for Lima, Peru. From San Francisco Continental Airlines flight 1651 leaves 3:00 PM. Arrives 6:05 AM February 8.
Thursday, February 08, 2001: Leave Lima for Cuzco 9:30 AM. Arrive 10:30 AM on Air Trans.
Check into hotel.
Visit Pisac Market and Olantaytambo Ruins (Inca). Pisac has stately ruins and colorful Indian Market Fair. Here you can barter and buy beautiful native crafts and art. Next you visit the famous Ollantaytambo Inca Fortress.
Friday, February 09, 2001: Visit nearby ruins and city tour. Cuzco is the archaeological capital of South America, with fine examples of Inca history and architecture. The Fortress of Sacsayhuaman, where the Incas celebrated their religious events, contains the Inca Baths, the Kenko Amphitheater and the Koricancha Temple. Cuzco is also rich in colonial heritage and remains much as it was during the colonial period.
Saturday, February 10: Travel by train to Machu Picchu. Overnight at the hotel right at the ruins -- The Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge. Because you are at this hotel you have the opportunity to roam the ruins after closing and before opening -- quiet times when the spirit of this ancient sacred place can be fully appreciated. Machu Picchu, called the "Lost City of the Incas", was discovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, and is actually lower than Cuzco. The beautifully preserved ruins consist of an enormous stone city hidden by a spectacular terraced green mountain plateau surrounded by three towering peaks.
Sunday, February 11, 2001: Return to Cuzco by train in the afternoon. Check into Cuzco hotel.
Monday, February 12, 2001: Leave Cuzco for Iquitos 7:30 AM. Arrive 12:30 PM on Air Trans. Board Ship.
See above itinerary for Cruise.
Wednesday, February 21, 2001: Depart Manaus at 1:45 PM on Varig Airlines Flight 201 to San Paulo -- Arrive at 7:15 PM. Depart at 11:55 PM on Continental Airlines flight 94. Arrive San Francisco 5:40 AM.
OPTIONAL POST TRIP TO IGUASSA FALLS AND CARNIVAL AT RIO DE JANEIRO
Cost is an additional $3800 pp based on double occupancy -- all inclusive, except for alcoholic beverages. This means cost of all air travel, transfers to and from ship, cruise and side trips, tours, hotels, food, tips, and taxes. All low-fat, pure-vegetarian meals included. Deposit an additional $1750 pp -- NONREFUNDABLE. For the World's Biggest Festival there are some special conditions. Rooms are sold for all 5 nights only (February 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27), the prices are inflated two to three times usual, and there is no refund for the rooms. This optional post trip to Iguassu Falls and Carnaval requires an additional $1750 deposit pp upon signing up for the trip. We have rooms available now so act quickly if you want to go to this once in a life time event. Costs are based on a departure from San Francisco as a group. Your departure point and time of departure may cost more or less. There may be extra costs for food, hotel and transfers if you arrive before the morning of February 12.
Schedule:
February, 11, 2001: Depart for Lima, Peru. From San Francisco Continental Airlines flight 1651 leaves 3:00 PM. Arrives 6:05 AM February 12.
February, 12, 2001 leave Lima for Iquitos 10:00 AM. Arrive 12:30 PM on Air Trans. Board Ship.
See above itinerary for cruise.
Wednesday, February 21, 2001: Depart Manaus at about 2:20 PM on Varig Airlines. Flight arrives at Iguassa Falls 11:30 PM.
Thursday, February 22, 2001: Argentina Falls Tour -- Boat trip under the falls.
Friday, February 23, 2001: Fly to Rio de Janerio in the afternoon. We are staying at the 5 star Rio Othon Palace Hotel on the best section of Copacabana Beach and within walking distance of the renowned Rio nightlife. However, your touring of Rio will be as an escorted group unless you choose otherwise.
Saturday, February 24, 2001: Full day tour including Corcovado and Sugarloaf. A ride along the world-famous beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, circling the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon and proceeding to the "Maracana", one of the world's largest stadiums. Visit to the modern Cathedral in the center of town, passing by the Flamengo Park and the World War II Memorial. Corcovado railroad station to take a train ride through lush forest up to the statue of Christ the Redeemer, which stands 38 meters high, and 710 meters above the city. The grand finale of the tour: a thrilling cable ride to the top of the Sugar Loaf, 395 meters above the city, and a breathtaking view of Guanabara Bay.
Sunday, February 25, 2001: Day of Leisure. In the evening the Parade of Sambodromo. We have premier seating from which to watch the parade. Nothing prepares one for the intensity and excitement of the Carnival parade. It is: The fireworks of the Fourth of July; The spectacle of Oscar night; The thrill of the Olympics or the World Series; The fantasy of the Macy's parade; The holiday spirit of New Year's Eve; The devotion of Superbowl fans; And…The World's most incredible fantasy.
Monday, February 26, 2001: Half day Petropolis tour. Arrival in Petropolis, a typical small town with streets paved with cobblestones, horses-drawn buggies no different from those in use at the turn of the century. Excellent climate. A visit to the old cathedral and to the Summer Palace of Dom Pedro II, Brazil's last emperor. The palace is now a museum, housing a beautiful collection of the crown jewels, furniture, paintings and tapestries from the days of the Empire
Tuesday, February 27, 2001: Full day tropical island tour. The tour starts with a ride along the Rio-Santos coastal highway as far as Itacuruca a fishing village. Transfer to a luxurious schooner,
where the safety of passengers is fully taken care of. A well-stocked bar is available to slake the thirst during a cruise in still waters dotted with wooded islets. Stop for a swim and water sports, and a delicious lunch under palm trees.
Wednesday, February 28, 2001: Leave Rio de Janerio 8:11 AM on Varig Airlines flight 8920. Arrive San Francisco 9:35 PM
Heather McDougall will be traveling this December for several weeks to make arrangements for all of our meals and teach the kitchen staff the fine arts of low-fat vegetarian cooking. She will also be making sure all of our accommodations and tours are top quality.
For more information or to make a deposit by credit card call (707) 576-1654.
All of above subject to change due to circumstances within and beyond our control.
|
|
|
|
|
