Amazon up Close is a book written by Pamela Bloom, which won the Lowell-Thomas award for travel books.  Contributing author is our own editor/owner of www.photoandtravel.com, John C. Jones.  His over 30 trips into the Amazon jungle to aid in humanitarian work and to fly fish for peacock bass and piranha make him very well versed in the life of the Amazon.  His stories brought back to those of us – his gaggle of friends - would have us gasping in amazement and shaking our heads in disbelief.  Stories such as strapping himself to a pontoon on a float plane to photograph a floating lodge, wading through croc infested rivers, holding anacondas, and narrow escapes with the villagers, besides the trophy peacock bass and piranha, made me want to see the Amazon jungle for myself.  John C. Jones to left.

Now there is a way for this to happen in a more upscale environment than what he had to experience.  Instead of sleeping in a hammock with a kerosene can and wick lit to keep jaguars away, you can stay aboard the Iberostar Grand Amazon .  This small ship is like a five star floating hotel.  The 72 cabins are situated on three different decks - Mandi, Acará and Tambaqui. The two spacious royal suites are situated in the front of the vessel. Suites and cabins are equipped with private bathrooms, twin beds, private balcony, TV, telephone, hair dryer, air-conditioning and radio.

“The departure time for any cruise is 6 p.m.
The arrival time at the day of disembarkation is 8 a.m.
No children less than 15 years old are accepted on board.
Two bags are allowed to bring on board.
The following documentation is requested:
American passengers have to have a passport and a visa for Brazil.

Documents required for boarding: I.D. for Brazilian citizens and passport for all others.”

This All Inclusive cruise encompasses lodging, all meals, welcome cocktail, all snacks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, both domestic and imported, safety deposit box located inside the cabins and various guided activities and excursions at the stops. Items of a personal nature and personal expenses are not included in the package rate. 

The Iberostar Grand Amazon cruise focuses on two branches of the Amazon River:  Rio Negro (dark waters), and Rio Solimoes which houses more varieties of fish, wildlife, and many villages hewn out of the jungle.    Each of these cruises gives you a unique view of the Amazon.  Put both cruises together for a 7 day cruise and you’ll come away from this experience with a great amount of knowledge about our largest eco-system in the world.  Here’s a sample of Day three on tour:

Day 3 - Amazon Forest

Tuesday
6h00-7h00 Birds observation at the Puduari river or Sunrise Lover’s breakfast at the top deck
7h00-9h00 Breakfast at the restaurant Kaurup
8h00-10h00 Trail or rapid boat tour at the region of Puduari river
11h00-12h00 Audio-visual briefing at the ballroom: Amazonian Tribes 2 and Flora 2
13h00-14h30 Lunch at the restaurant
13h45 Arrival at Jacare (alligator) Island
14h45-15h15 Audio-visual briefing at the ballroom: Reptiles 2
15h30-17h30 Photo safari at Aturia Igarape
18h00-18h30 Sunset Classic music at the top deck
20h00-21h30 Dinner at the restaurant
21h30-1h00 Music at the ballroom and open bar at the top deck
21h45-22h30 Alligator lighting at Jacare island
0h00 Departure towards Cueiras river

What to bring:
Although the climate is considered hot and damp all year round (about 80 to 85 Fahrenheit), it can be surprisingly cool at night in the jungle or on the river. Most of the time, passengers will find themselves wearing light clothing such as T-shirts, shorts, bathing suit and sandals, but for the hikes in the forest they should also have a long sleeved shirt, long trousers, light coat, good closed footwear such as high tennis shoes or hiking boots, small flashlight, binoculars, and personal effects.

Important remarks:
1. The below mentioned rates are per person, in a twin Tambaqui cabin, and valid until April 30th'2008.
2. This package is not valid during Christmas, New Years, Carnival and Holidays.
3. Luggage: For safety reasons and guests comfort inside the boat, the guests will be allowed to carry two bags only.
4. The activities described may be altered due to weather conditions, season or group make-up with the intent of maximizing your experience of the eco-system.
5. Other packages, with more days, are available upon previous request.
6. Reservations for kids under 15 years old are not accepted.
7. Iberostar departs and returns to Manaus port.
8. If you have extra luggage left in Manaus, please keep your guide informed of your transfer to the lodge

The Amazon jungle gives our world twenty percent of its oxygen source.  Without this vital eco-system, our world would be less inhabitable.  With an estimated size of 2.5 million square miles of jungle, parts of the Amazon are so remote that species are still being found which scientists never knew existed.  Hundreds of species of mammals make the jungle their home.   It’s a bird lover’s paradise.  One third of the world’s birds live and fly through the Amazon River Basin.  Reptiles, lizards, and bats come in hundreds of assorted species along with monkeys, monkeys, and more monkeys!  Pink (albino) dolphins have become naturalized to the Amazon and will delight the visitor to their area along with the opportunity to fish for piranha. 

If you are over the age of 15 and want to find out more about the Amazon and its tributaries, the indigenous people, the exotic plants and wildlife, and live on the wild side of life for a few days, then this cruise is for you.  Perhaps you and I can meet up and swim with the dolphins!  Happy Traveling! 

(photos courtesy of Iberostar Grand Amazon www.iberostargrandamazon.com , www.brazildirect.co.za , and Terri Heisele – piranhas)