
Amazon Experience
Explore the tropical ecology of South America's richest rainforest overland, by boat or by air. This unique adventure will take you to undiscovered gem countries: Venezuela, Brazil, Guyana and Suriname. Traveling through the Amazon rainforest or canoeing down the mighty Essequibo River, you will be amazed by the wealth of species and exquisite bird life which roam through the Amazon basin.
Itinerary
Day 1: Friday, Arrive in Guyana
Arrive in Guyana, South America's only English speaking country. You will be met and transferred to your hotel in Georgetown.
Day 2: Saturday, Georgetown City Tour
Depart at 8:00 a.m. for a tour of historic Georgetown. Most of the buildings in the city are wooden with unique architecture dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The main street in Georgetown provides several excellent examples of old colonial homes, a prime example of which is the state house, built in 1852. The most famous building is St. George's Cathedral, one of the world's tallest freestanding wooden buildings which was completed in 1892. Other historic buildings along this promenade are the town hall, a splendid example of Gothic architecture, and further along are the Victorian Law Courts and St. Andrew's Kirk. St. Andrew's is the oldest surviving church in Guyana.
After your tour of Georgetown you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Kaieteur Falls. See the majestic 740 foot (225 meter) natural wonder from different vantage points. Spend 2 hours at the falls. Your experience is unforgettable as you gaze at this magnificent splendour. Stunning views will leave you in awe. The area is rich in rare species of birds, such as the Cock-of-the-rock. After your two hour tour you will rejoin your airplane and fly to Georgetown. Transfer to your hotel. (Meals: breakfast, lunch)
Day 3: Sunday, Fly to Suriname
Transfer to airport and take a short flight to Paramaribo, the colorful capital of Suriname. You will be picked up and transported to Paramaribo and to your hotel. (Meals: breakfast)
Day 4: Monday, Commenwijne River Tour, Suriname
From Paramaribo a boat takes you to the New Amsterdam Bastion. This is an open sky museum where you get to walk along sights worth seeing, such as the old prison, bomb shelter and gunpowder storage. Next is a stop at Frederiks Dorp plantation, which is the most beautiful renovated plantation in Suriname. A hot meal is served in a colonial setting. After lunch there is a guided tour on this plantation which used to grow coffee. Next on the program is a walk to another plantation, Rust en Werk, from where the boat starts its journey back to Paramaribo. Halfway the boat stops for Dolphin spotting. (Meals: breakfast and lunch)
Day 5: Tuesday, Paramaribo City tour/Fly to Belem Brazil
Starting at 8:00 a.m. take a 2-hour city tour of Paramaribo, including a guided tour by bus along the most prominent historic locations in the city center where you will be impressed by the outstanding architecture. Visit Fort Zeelandia, Palmentuin (Palm Garden), the Waterkant and the Central Market. Return to hotel.
Transfer to airport for flight to Belem, Brazil. Fly to Belem, Brazil and transfer to hotel for overnight. Belém, in Pará state, is one of Brazil's busiest ports—and it's about 60 miles upriver from the Atlantic ocean! The river is the Pará, part of the greater Amazon river system, separated from the larger part of the Amazon delta by Ilha de Marajó. Belém is built on a number of small islands intersected by channels and other rivers.
Founded in 1616, Belém was the first European colony on the Amazon but didn't become part of the Brazilian nation until 1775. As the gateway to the Amazon, the port and city grew tremendously in size and importance during the nineteenth century rubber boom, and is now a large city with millions of inhabitants. The newer part of the city has modern buildings and skyscrapers. The colonial portion retains the charm of tree filled squares, churches and traditional blue tiles. On the outskirts of the city, the river supports a group of people called cablocas, who live their lives almost untouched by the busy activities of the city. (Meals: Breakfast)
Day 6: Wednesday, Manaus
Transfer to airport and fly to Manaus. Manaus is located in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest and access to the city is primarily through boat or airplane. This isolation helped preserve both the nature as well as the culture of the city.
With a population of 1.9 million people in 2014, Manaus is the most populous city in the Brazilian Amazon area. Located on the north bank of the Negro River, 11 miles (18 kilometers) above the meeting of the rivers where the Negro merges with the Solimões, Manaus is 900 miles (1,450 kilometers) inland from the Atlantic Ocean.
The Solimões and Negro rivers meet in Manaus and join to form the Amazon River (using the Brazilian definition of the river; elsewhere, Solimões is considered the upper part of the Amazon). Rubber made it the richest city in South America during the late 1800s. Rubber also helped Manaus earn its nickname, the "Paris of the Tropics". Upon arrival pick up and transfer to Taj Mahal hotel or similar. (Meals: breakfast)
Day 7: Thursday, Meeting of the Waters Tour, Manaus
After the city trip we will go on a boat trip and you will experience the amazing meeting of the waters. This is the place where the dark water of the Rio Negro and the muddy water of the Solimões meet to form the Amazon River. Our experienced guide will explain why the waters do not mix. You will get the possibility to see the pink and grey river dolphins. (Beware they are not always home.)
Our next stop is the Casa Caboclo. One of the locals will give you an impression of the medicinal plants that originate from the Amazones and how rubber is created. A visit to a crafts home finishes this part of the day. Return to your hotel after a lunch of local dishes. (Meals: breakfast, lunch)
Day 8: Friday, Manaus City Tour
We will start the tour with a visit to the famous Teatro Amazonas. This opera house in renaissance style opened its doors in 1896 and is still in use today. We will continue our city tour by visiting the Mercado Adolpho Lisboa, the market hall where you will be amazed by the variety of fruits, spices and fishes that are on display. This is also a good place to find some interesting sourvenirs.
Our next stop is the Palacio Rio Negro, one of the oldest mansions that was resurrected during the rubber boom in Manaus. (Meals: breakfast)
Day 9 & 10 Saturday & Sunday, Iwokrama/Guyana
Transfer to Guyana and drive to Iwokrama Rainforest Reserve. Along the way, visit the Canopy Walkway. Continue journey to Field Station. In the cool of the afternoon and explore the Screaming Piha Trail accompanied by an Iwokrama ranger. After dinner, caiman spotting. (Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Day 11: Monday, Fly to Georgetown
Pick up from Iwokrama and transfer to Annai. Fly to Georgetown. Upon arrival
at the airport , pick up and transfer to Parika. From Parika join a boat to Sloth Island. (Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Day 12: Tuesday, Return to Georgetown
Return to Georgetown arriving in the afternoon.
Day 13: Wednesday, Depart Guyana
You will be transferred to the Cheddi Jagan International airport for your
return flight home.
Arrive in Guyana, South America's only English speaking country. You will be met and transferred to your hotel in Georgetown.
Day 2: Saturday, Georgetown City Tour
Depart at 8:00 a.m. for a tour of historic Georgetown. Most of the buildings in the city are wooden with unique architecture dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The main street in Georgetown provides several excellent examples of old colonial homes, a prime example of which is the state house, built in 1852. The most famous building is St. George's Cathedral, one of the world's tallest freestanding wooden buildings which was completed in 1892. Other historic buildings along this promenade are the town hall, a splendid example of Gothic architecture, and further along are the Victorian Law Courts and St. Andrew's Kirk. St. Andrew's is the oldest surviving church in Guyana.
After your tour of Georgetown you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Kaieteur Falls. See the majestic 740 foot (225 meter) natural wonder from different vantage points. Spend 2 hours at the falls. Your experience is unforgettable as you gaze at this magnificent splendour. Stunning views will leave you in awe. The area is rich in rare species of birds, such as the Cock-of-the-rock. After your two hour tour you will rejoin your airplane and fly to Georgetown. Transfer to your hotel. (Meals: breakfast, lunch)
Day 3: Sunday, Fly to Suriname
Transfer to airport and take a short flight to Paramaribo, the colorful capital of Suriname. You will be picked up and transported to Paramaribo and to your hotel. (Meals: breakfast)
Day 4: Monday, Commenwijne River Tour, Suriname
From Paramaribo a boat takes you to the New Amsterdam Bastion. This is an open sky museum where you get to walk along sights worth seeing, such as the old prison, bomb shelter and gunpowder storage. Next is a stop at Frederiks Dorp plantation, which is the most beautiful renovated plantation in Suriname. A hot meal is served in a colonial setting. After lunch there is a guided tour on this plantation which used to grow coffee. Next on the program is a walk to another plantation, Rust en Werk, from where the boat starts its journey back to Paramaribo. Halfway the boat stops for Dolphin spotting. (Meals: breakfast and lunch)
Day 5: Tuesday, Paramaribo City tour/Fly to Belem Brazil
Starting at 8:00 a.m. take a 2-hour city tour of Paramaribo, including a guided tour by bus along the most prominent historic locations in the city center where you will be impressed by the outstanding architecture. Visit Fort Zeelandia, Palmentuin (Palm Garden), the Waterkant and the Central Market. Return to hotel.
Transfer to airport for flight to Belem, Brazil. Fly to Belem, Brazil and transfer to hotel for overnight. Belém, in Pará state, is one of Brazil's busiest ports—and it's about 60 miles upriver from the Atlantic ocean! The river is the Pará, part of the greater Amazon river system, separated from the larger part of the Amazon delta by Ilha de Marajó. Belém is built on a number of small islands intersected by channels and other rivers.
Founded in 1616, Belém was the first European colony on the Amazon but didn't become part of the Brazilian nation until 1775. As the gateway to the Amazon, the port and city grew tremendously in size and importance during the nineteenth century rubber boom, and is now a large city with millions of inhabitants. The newer part of the city has modern buildings and skyscrapers. The colonial portion retains the charm of tree filled squares, churches and traditional blue tiles. On the outskirts of the city, the river supports a group of people called cablocas, who live their lives almost untouched by the busy activities of the city. (Meals: Breakfast)
Overnight at Eco Itoca Hotel
Day 6: Wednesday, Manaus
Transfer to airport and fly to Manaus. Manaus is located in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest and access to the city is primarily through boat or airplane. This isolation helped preserve both the nature as well as the culture of the city.
With a population of 1.9 million people in 2014, Manaus is the most populous city in the Brazilian Amazon area. Located on the north bank of the Negro River, 11 miles (18 kilometers) above the meeting of the rivers where the Negro merges with the Solimões, Manaus is 900 miles (1,450 kilometers) inland from the Atlantic Ocean.
The Solimões and Negro rivers meet in Manaus and join to form the Amazon River (using the Brazilian definition of the river; elsewhere, Solimões is considered the upper part of the Amazon). Rubber made it the richest city in South America during the late 1800s. Rubber also helped Manaus earn its nickname, the "Paris of the Tropics". Upon arrival pick up and transfer to Taj Mahal hotel or similar. (Meals: breakfast)
Day 7: Thursday, Meeting of the Waters Tour, Manaus
After the city trip we will go on a boat trip and you will experience the amazing meeting of the waters. This is the place where the dark water of the Rio Negro and the muddy water of the Solimões meet to form the Amazon River. Our experienced guide will explain why the waters do not mix. You will get the possibility to see the pink and grey river dolphins. (Beware they are not always home.)
Our next stop is the Casa Caboclo. One of the locals will give you an impression of the medicinal plants that originate from the Amazones and how rubber is created. A visit to a crafts home finishes this part of the day. Return to your hotel after a lunch of local dishes. (Meals: breakfast, lunch)
Day 8: Friday, Manaus City Tour
We will start the tour with a visit to the famous Teatro Amazonas. This opera house in renaissance style opened its doors in 1896 and is still in use today. We will continue our city tour by visiting the Mercado Adolpho Lisboa, the market hall where you will be amazed by the variety of fruits, spices and fishes that are on display. This is also a good place to find some interesting sourvenirs.
Our next stop is the Palacio Rio Negro, one of the oldest mansions that was resurrected during the rubber boom in Manaus. (Meals: breakfast)
Day 9 & 10 Saturday & Sunday, Iwokrama/Guyana
Transfer to Guyana and drive to Iwokrama Rainforest Reserve. Along the way, visit the Canopy Walkway. Continue journey to Field Station. In the cool of the afternoon and explore the Screaming Piha Trail accompanied by an Iwokrama ranger. After dinner, caiman spotting. (Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Day 11: Monday, Fly to Georgetown
Pick up from Iwokrama and transfer to Annai. Fly to Georgetown. Upon arrival
at the airport , pick up and transfer to Parika. From Parika join a boat to Sloth Island. (Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Day 12: Tuesday, Return to Georgetown
Return to Georgetown arriving in the afternoon.
Day 13: Wednesday, Depart Guyana
You will be transferred to the Cheddi Jagan International airport for your
return flight home.