The Amazing Amazon - Ceiba Tops Lodge (4 days)
4 days duration
The Amazon Basin extends from Guyana and Venezuela in the north to Bolivia in the south and from the Atlantic in the east to the Andes of Peru in the west. It enters no less than nine countries but occupies more area in Brazil than all the other eight countries combined.
The Amazon River at the heart of this catchment has more fresh water in it than any other river on earth. Other major rivers to be found in the basin are the Rio Negro, originating in Venezuela, the Rio Napa with its source in Ecuador and the Madre de Dios of Peru. These four rivers, with their various tributaries, drain the extensive rainforests of the Amazon Basin.
Rainforest originally covered the entire Amazon Basin but due to logging the total area remaining is much reduced and shrinking by the day. The undisturbed parts of the forest are still home to many wild animals including Jaguar, Sloth, Tapir and many species of monkeys. There is also an abundance of bird, butterfly and plant species to be found here. Having said this you need to be aware that finding birds and animals in the forest is very difficult: when you visit, it will not be like what you have seen in the wildlife documentaries. The likelihood of seeing more than a few species of monkeys and birds is unlikely.
Many visitors to the Amazon Basin come away disappointed in that they were expecting to see more wildlife. If you go there expecting what you have seen in TV documentaries you too will be disappointed. It is not a question of the wildlife not being there, it is just very, very difficult to see.
The various points from which you can access the Amazon Basin all offer a very unique experience and a visit is well worth the time and effort because of the sheer magnificence of the rivers and the forests. Peru offers a number of very good areas to access the forest. Iquitos is on the Amazon and the area is spectacular but the wildlife is difficult to spot due to the frequency of villages and river traffic on the Amazon.
Ceiba Tops Lodge is about 40 kms down the Amazon River from Iquitos. Ceiba Tops is the most comfortable lodge with a resort-style feel but being the Amazon, it is basic by beach resort standards. Ceiba Tops has a sister lodge, ExplorNapo near the junction of the Napo and Amazon Rivers. ExplorNapo is more like the typical Amazon lodge: no glass windows or air-conditioning but an advantage is that it has an extensive canopy walkway. A visit to this part of the Amazon Basin should be more about experiencing the jungle and its people and not about seeing abundant wildlife.
| Day 1 |
Lima / Iquitos / Amazon Jungle |
This morning you board your flight to Iquitos. On arrival you are met and taken to the river, where you board your boat for Ceiba Tops. After lunch your jungle guide takes you walking into the primary forest with its lush canopy, festooned with epiphytes, orchids and bromeliads. You may also see monkeys and birds. (LD)
Today you travel by boat to a small village to observe the lifestyle of the locals. Here you may be able to visit a small school as well as the town of Indiana. Originally a mission town, Indiana has grown into a large community with its own rice mill, high school and clinic. This afternoon you set out by boat in search of the Amazon's quite rare pink dolphins and the giant Queen Victoria Water Lilies. (BLD)
Today you travel by river to ExplorNapo Lodge. Here you undertake a spectacular canopy walkway high in the trees. You also visit Re Nu Pe Ru Ethnobotanical Gardens where over 240 medicinal plants are grown by a shaman, who explains the nature of Amazonian healing and plant uses. (BLD)
| Day 4 |
Amazon Jungle / Iquitos / Lima |
This morning you travel back to Iquitos to connect with your return flight to Lima. (B)
Inca Tours does not own any of the hotels, lodges or service providers utilised in making up the tours. As a result Inca Tours is only acting as an agent for the operators and as such does not accept responsibility for any negligence, omissions, errors or differences in standard experienced by passengers when utilising the operators' products or services. Please Note: for full booking terms and conditions please see the back of our booking form.
To Enquire about this Product
Please call us now on 1800 024 955.
Alternatively, you can enquire about this product by clicking the button below.
|
