Compare Wonders of the Amazon by Luxury Riverboat, At a Slower Pace by Road Scholar vs Brazil (North): See & Experience it ALL in 13 Days, 1st Class Custom Tours by Charlie The Traveler

Day 1
In Transit to Program, Arrive Manaus, Check-in
Manaus Nobile Suites Manaus Airport
Activity note: Hotel check-in available from 2:00 p.m. Late night arrival at hotel expected after 11:00 p.m.

Evening: This is a Road Scholar Adventures Afloat program. In addition to lectures and field trips provided by Road Scholar and Iberostar’s instructors, you are invited to take advantage of activities and events aboard ship that are separate from the Road Scholar program. All routes, field trips, and excursions are subject to change as weather and river conditions could affect the progress of the ship. Because of this, the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. The operators reserve the right to change the content of field trips and excursions without prior notice. This program is a combination of two sailings on the Iberostar Grand Amazon along the Rio Negro and the Rio Solimoes. On Day 5, we will return to Manaus so that other passengers can embark or disembark. We will retain our cabins during this transition. Prepare for check-out and transfer to the vessel tomorrow.

Day 2
Explore Manaus, Opera House, Embark Grand Amazon
Rio Negro B,L,D Iberostar Grand Amazon
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Short periods of walking; hot, humid, tropical climate.

Breakfast: In the hotel restaurant, the breakfast buffet includes choices such as typical Brazilian dishes, eggs, meats, cheese, fresh seasonal fruit, yogurt, breads and pastries, milk, juices, coffee, tea, water.

Morning: Orientation. The Group Leader, who will also serve as our Study Leader ashore, will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Next, we will have a presentation on Brazil's founding, history, and economy. We’ll then check out of the hotel and board a motorcoach with our Study Leader for an overview of Manaus. The fort where this city began in 1669 was in the territory of an indigenous people known as the Manaos. Much later, it was designated as the capital of the province of Amazonas, but did not prosper until the end of the 19th century when the rubber trade and plantation owners and other moguls became fabulously rich. They hired architects and artists in an effort to transform Manaus into the “Paris of the Tropics.” The focal point was a grand opera house, the Teatro Amazonas. Construction began in 1884 and no expense was spared with materials imported from Europe. Enrico Caruso, then the most famous singer in the world, inaugurated the theater with a performance in 1897. The availability of cheaper rubber from Asia and the invention of synthetic rubber ended the boom. Manaus went into decline and did not improve significantly until after the creation of a Free Economic Zone in 1967. Today, it is a center of big industry with some 600 factories. We will go inside the Teatro Amazonas and see why it is still called the “jewel of the Amazon.”

Lunch: At a characteristic neighborhood seafood restaurant popular with locals, we’ll have a plated meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We will transfer to the Port of Manaus and board the Iberostar Grand Amazon that will be our floating hotel for the next seven nights. Once aboard, we will have a brief introduction to the ship’s local experts and the ship’s crew. The ship will set sail down the Rio Negro towards the Jaraqui Igarapes region. We will be able to watch the sunset from the top deck as Manaus slowly fades into the distance accompanied by music. Later, we will join the captain and crew for a welcome cocktail and the ship’s presentation of on-board equipment and safety procedures. All lectures, field trips, and entertainment during our study cruise will be led by Iberostar staff. Walking during field trips will be on generally flat, uneven terrain in both the rainforest and local villages.

Dinner: Dinners aboard ship will be buffets in the Kuarup restaurant, featuring a choice of dishes typical of the Amazon region as well as international cuisine, and include both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Dinners on Day 5 and Day 8 will be captain’s galas in the Kuarup served a la carte.

Evening: At leisure. Enjoy shipboard activities and entertainment or just relax.

Day 3
Jaraqui Igarapes Region, Amazon Education
Rio Negro B,L,D Iberostar Grand Amazon
Activity note: Getting in/out of motorboats. Walking up to two miles for approximately one hour; jungle trail with roots and branches, up/down hills; trail can be slippery after rain and water level may affect the trail.

Breakfast: Aboard ship, there will be an early “sunrise lover’s” breakfast buffet on the terrace as well as a later breakfast buffet in the Kuarup restaurant.

Morning: Escorted by ship’s staff, we will set out by motorboats for a field trip to hike on trails in the region of the Igarapes of Jaraqui with palm trees and tall trees that are very important to local villages. We will see and learn about seasonal flowers and fruits. Later, we will gather with the ship’s naturalist for a lecture introducing the Amazon.

Lunch: Aboard ship with the choice of a light lunch buffet on the ship’s terrace grill or the extensive lunch buffet in the Kuarup restaurant.

Afternoon: The ship’s presentation series will continue with a presentation on the Amazon dolphin — also known as the pink river dolphin — enhanced by audio and video. We will then take to the motorboats and to see the islands of Tres Bocas that are part of the world’s second largest freshwater archipelago. The vegetation of the islands is reflected in the dark waters, producing a surreal and charming environmental scenario, ideal for fantastic photos.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 4
Rio Cuieiras Community, Piranha Fishing, Caiman Spotting
Rio Negro B,L,D Iberostar Grand Amazon
Activity note: Getting in/out of motorboats. Walking uphill on a sandy beach, mostly flat terrain and dirt ground around Rio Cuieiras; walking and standing during field trip; hot sun while piranha fishing, bring water bottle, wear sunglasses, hat, sunscreen.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: We will take the motorboats for a field trip to an indigenous community in Rio Cuieiras. We will interact with members of the community and learn about their lifestyle and the cultivated plants of the area. We will also see the school, clinic, dwellings, and the mill where cassava flour is produced. Back aboard the ship, we’ll have a presentation on the fish of the Amazon River. Scientists estimate that the Amazon is home to roughly one out of every five fish in the world, including thousands of species of freshwater and Neotropical fish.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: We will have a choice of field trips. You may take a boat trip to visit a local farmer’s house or try your hand at piranha fishing in the Ariaú region to learn about one of the world’s most infamous fish before throwing them back in the river. Not just for passionate anglers, this field trip affords good chances of spotting large flocks of egrets and the exotic hoatzin, also known as the stinkbird!

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: In motorboats escorted by ship’s staff, we will set out for a nighttime adventure looking for caimans, often mistaken for their close relatives, the alligator. Using spotlights, we can watch the reflection in their eyes peeking out over the water.

Day 5
Pink Dolphins, Rubber Museum, Gala
Rio Negro B,L,D Iberostar Grand Amazon
Activity note: Getting in/out of motorboats. Interaction with pink dolphins is closely regulated by local authorities. Wear quick-dry, breathable clothing and a hat; sunscreen and binoculars recommended. Walking and standing during field trips; mostly flat dirt ground at rubber museum.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: We will set out on Amazon motorboats for a special interaction with the Amazon pink dolphins. We will have an opportunity to relax or swim on a riverbank beach before returning to the ship. Once aboard, learn about the birds of the Amazon.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: We will take a field trip to the Seringal Vila Paraíso Museum, accessible only by river, to learn more about the rubber industry and the conditions that allowed for Manaus’ development. Back aboard the ship, enjoy a folkloric performance by a dance group.

Dinner: Aboard the ship, enjoy a special captain’s gala with fellow participants.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 6
Meeting of the Waters, Return to Port of Manaus
Rio Solimoes B,L,D Iberostar Grand Amazon
Activity note: We will rise early to view the “Meeting of the Waters” — the spectacle of the light-colored waters of the Amazon flowing side by side with the dark waters of the Rio Negro. Returning to Manaus, we will keep our cabins as other passengers embark and disembark.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: Free time to enjoy the ship amenities.

Lunch: Aboard ship. If you wish, you are welcome to stay out and dine on your own in Manaus.

Afternoon: Free time. Continue to explore Manaus at your own pace or relax aboard the ship. As the Grand Amazon sets sail for the next part of our program, sailing down the Rio Solimoes, we will be able to view sunset on the top deck, then join the Captain and newly embarked passengers for a welcome cocktail and the ship’s safety briefing.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 7
Caboclo Home, Lake Janauacá, Manaquiri
Rio Solimoes B,L,D Iberostar Grand Amazon
Activity note: Getting in/out of motorboats. Walking in the forest and local village; generally flat, uneven terrain.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: We will get into motorboats with the ship’s local experts and begin to explore waterways of the Amazon and the Lake Janauacá region. Docking on the side of the river, we will walk through the rainforest to visit a Caboclo village and home. Caboclo is the Brazilian Portuguese term for those of mixed indigenous Brazilian and European descent. Caboclo people today make their living from harvesting manioc — a starchy, tuberous root that is a good source of carbohydrates — fishing, rubber extraction, and harvesting fruit and nuts. We will learn about the Cabocolo way of life, customs, and the importance of manioc as a staple food.

Lunch: Aboard ship with the choice of a light lunch buffet on the ship’s terrace grill or the extensive lunch buffet in the Kuarup restaurant.

Afternoon: We will board motorboats again to observe local flora and fauna in the Manaquiri region.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: Via motorboats with ship’s staff, we will set out for a nighttime adventure looking for caimans, often mistaken for their close relatives, the alligator. Using spotlights, we can watch the reflection in their eyes peeking out over the water.

Day 8
Sunrise, Iigarapés & Igapós, Gala
Rio Solimoes B,L,D Iberostar Grand Amazon
Activity note: Getting in/out of motorboats. Wear quick-dry, breathable clothing and a hat; sunscreen and binoculars recommended. Walking and standing during field trips; mostly flat dirt ground at rubber museum. Aboard the Grand Amazon’s motorboats, set out for a sunrise field trip to hear the waking jungle and spot birds in the Manacapurú region. Return to the ship for breakfast. Walking up to one mile and standing during field trip.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: In the Manacapurú region, we will explore igarapés and igapós. Igapós — flooded forests— are important for marine and terrestrial animals in search of food during the flooded season and serve as a vital breeding ground for fish. Igarapés are streams connecting rivers and igapós, allowing for water-based transit for both humans and animals. These environments are vital to the rainforest, sustaining a high amount of fauna and connecting otherwise isolated portions of the forest.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: Setting out in motorboats again, we will continue to explore Lake Janauari’s igarapés and igapós, keeping an eye out for some of the many animals that make their home in the forest canopy.

Dinner: Aboard ship, we will enjoy a special captain’s gala with fellow Road Scholars during our last night of the study cruise.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for disembarkation and transfer in the morning.

Day 9
Disembark Ship, Day Rooms, Program Concludes
Manaus B,L,D
Activity note: Disembarkation is scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: Before breakfast, we will pass through the meeting of the waters once more as we make our final return to Manaus. After completing disembarkation procedures, we will transfer by private motorcoach to the Nobile Suites Manaus Airport hotel and check into our day rooms.

Lunch: At a characteristic Brazilian churrascaria (steakhouse).

Afternoon: Free time. Take this opportunity to explore independently or just relax.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: We will transfer to Manaus International Airport via motorcoach. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!

Day 10
In Transit From Program
In Flight

Day 1: Brazilian Heritage at its Richest

Our tour starts in Salvador. Although many head to Bahia for its tropical coastline and tasty caipirinha drinks, the state’s most popular destination is undoubtedly its capital. Salvador is home to Afro-Brazilian heritage at its richest: deep-fried seafood, festive drum-pounding sounds, mystical religious ceremonies, dance and an artistic form of martial arts called capoeira.

Day 2: The North’s Hangout Hotspot

Today we make a daytrip by boat from Salvador to Morro de São Paulo. We explore this vibrant island by foot, visiting the fort, lighthouse, shops and beaches. Free of cars, Morro de São Paulo is North Brazil’s hangout hotspot. It has a vibe to it which puts everyone there in a good mood.

Day 3: Charming & Colorful Portuguese Architecture, Inviting Music & Authentic Cuisine

Before relocating by flight and then by land to the resort town of Porto de Galinhas, we explore Salvador some more. This historic city is renowned for its crumbling yet nevertheless impressive Portuguese architecture. Salvador serves as Brazil’s second most visited urban destination after Rio de Janeiro. Today we are provided with a guided tour, exploring the sites and landmarks in depth. UNESCO declared the old town a World Heritage Site in 1985. Salvador is one of the oldest colonial cities in the Americas. There is much to see and enjoy: music blasting on the streets, authentic cuisine, charming squares, colorful buildings and more.

Day 4: A Multicolored Sandbar, a Church Planted Right on the Beach, Snorkeling & Splitting the Ocean in 2

As a daytrip from Porto de Galinhas, we head south along the coast. The first stop is a beach called Pontal de Maracaipe. There we see a multicolored sandbar. Next is the beach of Praia dos Carneiros. Its landmark is a historic church located in the middle of a long and sandy beach. Next is the beach of Praia Barra Grande. There we walk along sand which splits the ocean in two. Lastly, we visit a beach called Pontal do Maragogi. There we take a boat ride out to the sea so we can see the natural pools. Snorkeling gear is provided.

Note that some of today’s attractions and activities may need to be removed from the tour should the sea tides not be low enough.

Day 5: Buggy Riding on the Sand, Sailing to Natural Pools & a Colonial City’s Ambiance

Before relocating by flight and then by land to the fishing village of Jericoacoara, we do a couple of fun activities in Porto de Galinhas. We take a sailboat (a.k.a. jangada) to a nearby natural pool as well as go buggy-riding on the beach. Porto de Galinhas has been voted ‘Best Brazilian Beach’ for the eighth time in a row by the readers of Voyage & Tourism magazine.

Before heading to the airport in Recife, we also visit the colonial city of Olinda. Characterized by bright white churches, pastel-colored buildings, historic fountains and cobblestone streets and squares, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is spread across several small hills overlooking Recife. Incidentally, Olinda is one of Brazil’s three best locations to celebrate the world-renowned Carnival, along with Salvador and Rio de Janeiro.

On a side note, would you like to extend this 13-day tour by 3 days so you can visit the island of Fernando de Noronha? There is a direct flight there from Recife. The reason why Fernando de Noronha is not automatically included is because it is more of a ‘special interest’ kind of destination.

Even though there is a handful of attractions which make this island nice, ultimately it is best suited for families looking for relaxation and otherwise for those who like surfing.

Day 6: Lagoons, Beach Clubs, a Romantic Sunset & Nightlife

As an excursion from Jericoacoara by buggy, today we do the so-called ‘east route’ in this specific order: Prea Beach, Lagun Beach Club, Lagoa Paraiso (a.k.a. Paradise Lagoon) and Lagoa do Amancio (a.k.a. Loving Lagoon). In the evening, we walk to the ‘Por-do-Sol’ dune to watch the sunset over the ocean. Later we check out the nightlife. It is quite authentic.

Day 7: Wild Dunes, Sea Horses & a Place Like Nowhere Else on Earth

Leaving Jericoacoara, we are not taken directly to the hotel located in the town of Parnaíba. Instead, we make a lot of fun stops en route. Driving literally along the beach, firstly we are taken to a dock. There we get on a boat and search for sea horses. Next, we take a ferry crossing so we can reach an indescribable place called Mangue. There we see bizarre mangrove formations, swings, hammocks and visitors making crazy poses. After watching people go wild, we go sand boarding and dune bashing. Next, we check out a lagoon called Lagoa de Torta. We later visit Tatajuba Beach (a.k.a. Desert Beach) and then, Camocim Beach. Before reaching Parnaíba, we ride on some more sand dunes and otherwise make a ferry crossing at Coreau River.

Day 8: A Delta Voyage & Plenty of Exotic Coastline

Before relocating from Parnaíba to the town of Barreirinhas, we go on a boat cruise. Lunch is included on today’s tour. Barreirinhas is the gateway into Lençóis Maranhenses. This national park receives as many as 60,000 visitors a year. It includes 70 kilometers (43 miles) of coastline and an interior composed of rolling sand dunes. May through September, the valleys among the dunes are full with freshwater lagoons.

Day 9: A Pilot's View Over a Truly Unique Park & a Dawn to Dusk 4x4 Tour

Our morning starts with a flightseeing tour over sand dunes and lagoons. This just may be our most unforgettable adventure while at Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. The day continues with an adventurous morning-to-sunset 4x4 tour, checking out sand dunes and lagoons. We also have time for swimming. The lagoons in the park are often interconnected with one another, as well as with the rivers which run through the area.

Day 10: Desert Viewpoints by Boat & What an Incredible River

Before relocating by land to the city of Sao Luis, we explore Lençóis Maranhenses National Park some more. We spend the day doing a boat tour. The highlights are the river itself and the desert viewpoints. Few places on Earth can be compared to the unique physical features of this ecofriendly destination.

Day 11: Welcome to the Jungle!

We relocate by flight from Sao Luis to the city of Manaus and then take a drive to our ecolodge. Lodging in a vast rainforest is in itself an experience, as are going on river cruises to see wildlife. We have saved the best for last, meaning spending our final days of this grand tour exploring the Amazon.

Note that virtually all meals are included by the ecolodge during our stay.

Day 12: Being Approached by Pink Dolphins, Spotting Creatures & a Night Cruise

The Amazon is the world’s most renowned rainforest for good reason. The highlights for today are interacting with pink dolphins in their natural habitat and spotting a variety of creatures in the jungle. In the dark night, we take a boat cruise in search of caimans and other wildlife.

Day 13: Our Tour Ends Today After Exploring the Amazon Some More

Transportation will be arranged for you to reach the airport in Manaus.