Journey up the Journey up the Amazon the Amazon

Journey up the Amazon
13 day exclusive guided adventure
April 2013 only $4999 all in!*
Join our trip leader for a special small group adventure deep into the Amazon Jungle and its old growth nature
preserves. Your base camp for the first 7 days is a recently built riverboat- classic and comfortable at the same
time. Each day trip is accompanied by experienced, local naturalist guides. The second half of the trip is to Cieba
Tops Lodge—a true haven in the heart of the jungle with pool and air!
Included*
Arrival hotels in Lima, historic city tour and welcome fiesta
7 days aboard a classic riverboat with naturalist guides, day trips and meals
Market and city tour of Iquitos plus hotel
4 days at Cieba Tops Jungle Lodge with naturalist guides, day trips and meals
Canopy Walkway trip at research station
International airfares from Toronto and domestic (Peru) airfares -taxes included
Not included*
Meals not indicated in itinerary and alcoholic drinks
items of a personal nature
Gratuities
Travel insurance
For more information, please call
Brian Kendrick’s team at Travel Only
1-866-989-0700
www.travelonlyvacations.ca
#4316071
• Fares are in Canadian Dollars and are TENTATIVE as airfare and exchange rate are not
fixed. Payments by credit card will be charged an extra 4% merchant fee.

Journey up the Amazon
April 2013
About the Trip Leader
My name’s Kit Cross and I’m a traveler. Welcome
to the land of red macaws, rubber barons and
my very own backyard.
I once made a bet with some ship’s engineer
friends of mine when I finished a contract
working on a 5 Star cruise ship in Chile, that
I’d beat them to Manaus. They were going
round the horn and up the Amazon from the
mouth. I went overland up through Bolivia
and the back way into Peru. The bet? That
they would never see me again…….Anyway I
won the bet and on the way, I stumbled across
Iquitos. It’s a place that keeps calling you back—
again and again.
In Canada, I’m a canoeing and hiking guide, Wilderness First Responder trained and a ship’s
captain to boot. I have a great deal of international guiding and travel experience and I can
tell you quite candidly….yes there are bugs in the Amazon and it’s hot! It may be a little
rough around the edges, but it’s worth every second of it for the birds, the pink dolphins, the
caiman and the pristine National Park.
We’re very fortunate to have local biologists and naturalists in the Amazon. I’ll be along to
remove the worry of the logistics of travelling to an unfamiliar remote area, from the moment
we leave Canada until our return. Your job will be to sit back, relax and soak in every bit of the
sights, smells, sounds and taste of this very special place. Welcome aboard!
Kit Cross
Trip Leader/Adventure Guide

Journey up the Amazon
Fully escorted adventure
April 5-17, 2013
Call Brian Kendrick’s Team at Travelonly 1-866
866-989-0700
www.travelonlyvacations.ca
Scarlet red macaws overhead, giant Victoria Regia lily pads big enough to float a small child, black
caiman—eyes only just above the waterline on a night time excursion and stars. Thousands of
stars! Fall asleep on your riverboat at the end of a perfect day spent on the river in small vessels
with our naturalist, to the sound of howler monkeys and frogs. And if that’s not enough, in the
second half, our guides take you to the best Jungle Lodge on the river for 4 days of very
different land based nature excursions. At the end of the day, who’d have thought you could find
a pool and a martini this far up the mighty Amazon?
Highlights
Meet and Greet in Lima—Historic city tour and welcome “Pena” (fiesta!)
7 day Amazon Riverboat Expedition Cruise on the MV Discovery
Iquitos city and market trip
Ceiba Tops & Canopy Walkway, 4 Days / 3 Nights
Naturalist guides throughout
The rainforests of the western Amazon basin harbour r some of the greatest mammalian, avian,
floral and fish diversity on earth. The naturalists will choose the best destination for your
Riverboat Expedition based upon the reports we receive about the wildlife, weather and other

conditions of the many Amazon tributaries in the
region. We decide upon a river system and rainforest
to explore for every trip on an individual basis, that will
provide our travelers with the best wildlife viewing and
other eco-tour activities Most often this cruise will
explore the Rio Tapiche, a remote and beautiful
tributary river of the Amazon.
This is truly an Amazon Wildlife Cruise into a
remote region with pristine rainforest and plenty
Pink Dolphin
of critters. We might see macaws, monkeys,
caimans, dolphins, aquatic birds, river turtles and fish, possibly giant river otters,
manatees, peccaries, deer, tapir, large cats, and other large mammals. We’ll also visit a
local indigenous village
About the Rio Tapiche Region
East of the Ucayali River, whose waters give rise to the Amazon, lies a vast region so
remote that it still contains uncontacted
indigenous people. The endangered Red Uakari
monkey and Chestnut Titi are found in these
forests; along with over a dozen other species of
primates. Victor Oppenheim studied the geology
of the Andean Fold in 1935 by traveling down the
Rio Tapiche and Rio Ucayali where he met the
Capanauha and Chamas Indians, whose
descendants still inhabit the area.
Red Uakari Monkey
Oppenheim was the first geologist to reconnoiter this region, and it hasn't changed much
since those days. During high-water season of the year, it is possible to penetrate this
rainforest wilderness by boat, and the trip is worth the effort. A recent expedition
produced a toad-headed turtle unknown to science (since described as Batrachemys
heliostemma) and a huge frog that still bears no name. We are only beginning to unravel
the secrets of the Rio Tapiche, so if you've always longed to explore an exciting and
remote corner of the world, this is your chance.
Wildlife abounds in the remote regions of the Rio Tapiche.
We'll take an excursions in small outboards to see birds,
monkeys and giant lily pads. Evening excursions will
spotlightwildlife such as Black Caiman, Spectacled Caiman,
Ringed Kingfishers, Amazon Treeboas, Common Potoos and
Victoria Regia lily pads

other night-creatures.
As we travel the river, watch for monkeys, capybaras and
perhaps a family of otters. If the sunrise is clear, expect
Horned Screamers, Muscovy Ducks, magnificent Green-wing Macaws, and much, much
more. In fact, birders can easily see over 200 species during a trip like this. Each morning
we’ll explore trails through the forest with a hike of several hours duration. Late
afternoons will present an opportunity for another rainforest hike or maybe an
exploration of the streams and lagoons along the river by small boat. Night hikes will
reveal plenty of wildlife seldom seen during daylight hours. Each day will
bring surprises. But, we'll be careful not to go too far upstream, as an indigenous tribe
that wants no contact with outsiders still inhabits the headwaters area.
The Rio Tapiche Expedition is a chance to easily see a truly remote area of the Amazon,
and to do so in relative comfort. What follows is an example of how we will spend our time
on the cruise.
ITINERARY
April 5, Friday - Fly from Canada to Lima. Evening arrival. You’ll be met at the airport
and transferred to our hotel the Casa Andina Centro where we’ll be for the next two
nights.
April 6, Saturday - Morning free. There is an indigenous market across from the hotel.
Afternoon tour to of the historic Colonial City district of Lima and the Larco Herrera
Museum, a privately owned museum of pre-Columbian art.

The Colonial City Tour starts with the Plaza de Armas,
or main square, in the center of Lima, founded in 1535
by the Spanish Conquistadors. Almost all of the
structures were destroyed in the earthquake of 1746
and the only original structure left is the bronze
fountain built in 1651.
The Larco Herrera Museum is housed in an 18th
century mansion built over a 7th century
Pre-Columbian pyramid. It showcases chronological
galleries that provide a thorough overview of 4,000 years of Peruvian pre-Columbian
history. It boasts one of the world's largest collections of pre-Columbian art including
Moche, Nazca, Chimú, and Inca pieces. Additionally, the Larco Museum is well known for
its gallery of pre-Columbian erotic pottery.
Plaza de Armas
Join us this evening for a welcome drink at the Sachun Peña... a show of traditional
regional dances and music. The first one is on us! (Breakfast)
April 7, Sunday -Morning transfer to the Lima airport for the flight into Iquitos.
Greeting at the airport and transfer by private bus to our boat in Nauta (100 kms south
of Iquitos on the Marañón river, one of the two sources of the Amazon). Depart Nauta on
the riverboat, travel down the Marañón to the union of the
Ucayali and Marañón rivers, birthplace of the Amazon
proper. Travel up the Ucayali. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
April 8 - 11, Monday -Friday -Early Monday morning
arrival to the mouth of the Rio Tapiche and travel upriver.
Activities these days to include: small boat excursions for
river dolphin, macaw,
monkey and other wildlife observation, rainforest hikes in
search of wildlife, piranha fishing, nighttime caiman
observation, night hikes in the forest and visits to
Blue Morpho
riverside villages. There is a lot of wildlife to observe and
a lot of excellent photo opportunities. After a couple days moving upstream we’ll travel
back downstream with return to Nauta late on Friday. Time permitting, that evening we’ll
take a walk around Nauta. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
April 13, Saturday - After breakfast on the boat, transfer to Iquitos and the Hotel
Victoria Regia. Morning Iquitos City & Market Tour. Meet your guide in the hotel lobby

at 09:30 for a tour of approx. 3 hours. The tour will include the Artisan Market in San
Juan (a great place to purchase handicrafts); a canoe tour (river levels permitting) of the
Itaya River in Belen (the floating city) and a tour of the Belen Market. The Belen market
is a cornucopia of exotic foods and jungle products. Here you will find an entire street of
medicinal plant vendors, hot pepper vendors, and a host of other curiosities.
(Depending on conditions sometimes we will visit the Bella Vista market instead.) The tour
also includes a swing past famous Iquitos landmarks such as the Plaza de Armas with the
"Iron House" designed by Gustav Eiffel of Eiffel Tower fame, the Plaza 28th of July with
the railroad engine once used during rubber boom days, the Malecon (waterfront
boulevard) and the historic old Iquitos cemetery. Balance of day free to enjoy Iquitos.
(Breakfast)
April 14, Sunday - CEIBA TOPS
Early morning transfer to Explorama boat dock. Twenty-five mile journey down the
Amazon River to Ceiba Tops where private rooms with air
conditioning provide Amazon adventure in luxury. Afternoon
hike in the beautiful primary rainforest reserve surrounding
Ceiba Tops that includes many huge trees festooned with
epiphytes. After dinner enjoy local flute or guitar music at the
"El Tucan" Bar or the guides are always ready to relate some of
the many legends of the Amazon forest. (Breakfast, Lunch,
Cieba Tops Lodge
Dinner)
April 15, Monday - CEIBA TOPS
Morning boat ride, spotting for dolphins, to visit a small
village of Yagua Indians where your guide will explain the
Yagua Indian culture and how it was affected by the
arrival of Europeans and the passing of time. There will
also be an opportunity to see some of the local crafts
and for a demonstration of the blowgun which some of
the Yagua elders still use for hunting. Afternoon walking excursion to the neighboring
town of Indiana. Originally a Franciscan mission, Indiana has grown into a large river
community with its own market, high school and small hospital. (Breakfast,
Lunch, Dinner)
April 16, Tuesday - CEIBA TOPS / CANOPY WALKWAY / CEIBA TOPS
Early morning departure from Ceiba Tops by boat to the narrow motorcar crossing
connecting the Amazon and Napo Rivers to continue by boat to ExplorNapo Lodge for
breakfast. Hike to the spectacular Canopy Walkway spanning over 500 meters (one-third

of a mile), connected by tree platforms, and reaching a
height of over 35 meters (115 feet) but accessible
without any type of climbing skill or equipment. After
lunch, visit the "ReNuPeRu" Ethno botanical Garden
where over 240 medicinal plants are cultivated by a
local shaman who will explain the nature of Amazonian natural healing and the uses of
some of the plants. Return to Ceiba Tops in time to enjoy the pool or hammocks before
dinner.. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
April 17, Wednesday - CEIBA TOPS - IQUITOS - LIMA
Your choice of a morning walking or boating excursion to further enjoy the rainforest and
Amazon River or time to relax by the pool until departure time. Afternoon transfer to
Iquitos and to the airport for your flight to Lima. Make your evening flight from Lima to
Canada. (Breakfast, Lunch)
What’s included?
What’s not:
Airfare from Toronto and domestic flights in Peru (taxes in)
All necessary transfers
Arrival hotel in Lima-2 nights
City tour and Pena in Lima (welcome drink)
7 days aboard the MV Discovery with English speaking naturalist
guides and all programming/excursions
Mid trip hotel in Iquitos (as above)
City and market tour with local guide
4 days 3 nights Cieba Tops Lodge with English speaking naturalist
guides and all programming/excursions
Canopy Walkway trip
Meals as indicated in itinerary
Water, tea, coffee
Alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, mineral water (Perrier etc)
Items of a personal nature
Travel insurance (mandatory on our trips)
Meals not mentioned in itinerary
Gratuities
Call Brian Kendrick’s Team at Travelonly 1-866-989-0700
www.travelonlyvacations.ca