Iquitos, Peru

Destination	Iquitos, Peru
Dates	16th - 24th October 2008
Suitability	Animal lovers Adventurers
Number of places	8
Cost (per person)	£1,250 (excluding flights)

Iquitos is an ideal place for lovers of ecological tourism, and for the ones who want to feel an intimate contact with the virgin nature of the Amazon forests. From the city you will be able to go to lodges into the jungle, and for the most adventurous and fearless you can arrive to parks and natural reservations, full and plethoric with exuberant flora and fauna, with many undiscovered places, and many species undiscovered by science.

You will be travelling with Dawn on the Amazon Tours and Cruises, a company owned and operated by Bill Grimes, an entrepreneurial American who first visited Peru 10 years ago and bought a used 25 horsepower Johnson motor, camping supplies and fishing gear and left civilization behind for two months, exploring, visiting remote villages, studying the birds and monkeys, epiphytes and trees. He became hooked on the Amazon and created this business to share adventures with people who might not have the skills, knowledge, or confidence to explore the Amazon rainforest on their own, but have the desire for a satisfying tropical adventure, and some exotic fun. Bill's company and boats are registered in Iquitos, Loreto, and Peru. They are insured, taxpaying, and ready for your enjoyment.

Dawn on the Amazon Tours and Cruises provides comfortable and affordable Amazon adventure cruises on the intriguing upper Amazon River and its tributaries from Iquitos Peru, the largest Indian village in the world. There are no roads leading into Iquitos, it can only be accessed by boat or by plane.

Escape up some small stream in the middle of the Amazon rainforest. Study rainforest flora and fauna, watch for playful pink dolphins, and add up to 100 tropical birds to your bird watching list. The Dawn on the Amazon River boats are large enough to be comfortable but small enough to access the smaller tributaries and remote natural lakes where larger cruise ships cannot go. Immerse yourself in the incredible eco-system. Bill specialises in adventure, taking you to places that are off the beaten path, where a river has defined a culture and given the region a sense of magic. Give him 8 or 9 days and he'll give you a whole new story to tell.

Day 1 - Day 2: Iquitos and Amazon River
Your trip begins with transfers from Iquitos Airport to the boat or to your hotel.

Once on the boat you will be introduced to the crew, assigned your cabin, and given a complete tour of the boat. Coffee and tea will be ready, and you can place your order for breakfast. Three large meals plus snacks will be served every day while you are on board. Coffee will be brewed every morning by first light.

Boats cannot leave port without the Captain of the Ports inspection and permission. We have very little, to no control of our starting time, so we usually board around 6am hoping to leave around 6.30am.

All of the first day, and most of the second day will be on the Amazon River, and will include an opportunity to visit a water buffalo farm, a rum making operation, or to observe a family of wooden boat builders at work with hand tools the old fashioned way. Flexibility is the keyword for an itinerary on the Amazon River. Distances are great, so the boat will run well after dark as long as conditions are safe. Safety is our primary concern and trumps the itinerary every time.

Day 3 - Day 8: Pacaya Samiria National Reserve
You will start the next morning at first light around 5am. In the afternoon you will come to the geographically significant confluence of the Ucayali and the Marañon Rivers, where the Amazon River begins.

When you enter the confluence you will have arrived at Pacaya Samiria National Reserve which is located between the Ucayali and the Marañon rivers. You will cruise alongside the reserve until you arrive at one of the main entrances of choice.

Pacaya Samiria National Reserve is one of the greatest nature voyages and destinations in the world. It is a huge protected wetland larger than some countries. There are three entrances that can be accessed depending on conditions and circumstances. Bill will choose the entrance that should provide the best experience depending on the water level, and other factors at the time of the cruise.

If the water is high, and conditions favourable, Bill will probably choose to take you up the Ucayali River to enter the reserve on the Pacaya River on the fourth day. The distance from Iquitos to the Pacaya is 341 kilometres. If the water is low he will probably choose to take you up the Marañon River and enter the reserve on the Samiria River on the third day. Either way the riverboat will run as late each night as safety permits, and start each morning at first light until you enter Pacaya Samiria National Reserve.

When you enter the reserve it is like entering a different world. The boat slows down to 6-8 kilometres per hour, because that is the best bird watching and wildlife observation speed. You will stop frequently to see interesting wildlife and plant life such as blooming orchids or bromeliads. You will almost certainly be surrounded by pink dolphins. You will have the opportunity to swim, take jungle hikes and join small boat excursions both day and night. The boat will be moored before dark, preferably near a ripe fruit or nut tree, to lure wildlife to us. If the lure works you will enjoy a leisurely breakfast the next morning surrounded by wildlife.

Thanks to its onboard battery provided electricity all of the boat's electrical equipment continues to run after the engine and generator are shut off for the night. Consequently, Dawn III is the only boat in the upper Amazon of Peru that provides the benefit of jungle sounds while you charge your camera batteries for the next morning's photo shoot.

When appropriate you will be able to explore the Amazon on the 26 ft (8 metre) excursion boat, Dawncita, the little Dawn. The boat can carry 15 passengers and is powered by one of the quietest motors available.

Bill will time your departure from the reserve to arrive back in Iquitos for late afternoon on the 8th day, or in time to catch your flight out of Iquitos to Lima.

Back in Iquitos the next morning after breakfast you will be met at 9am to start your day trip to the Pilpintuwasi Animal Orphanage (a rehabilitation centre for exotic animals that have been rescued from the illegal animal trade, including jaguars, monkeys, parrots and tapirs), the floating village of Belen - known as the Venice of South America and, if time permits, Amazon CARES a local animal charity. This will be a very interesting, fun day. A cooler and tasty picnic lunch will be provided. You will be transferred back to your hotel at around 5 or 6pm.

Transfers to the airport will be arranged in accordance to your travel plans.

The cost of this trip is £1,250 per applicant, prices may vary slightly depending upon the number of applicants. A minimum of 4 applicants is required in order for the trip to go ahead.

Applicants will be required to pay a £500 non-refundable deposit at the time of booking.

Flights will be to Iquitos via Lima airport. Flights are expected to cost around £800-£1,000 depending on availability. You will be responsible for booking your own flights, if you have any queries please feel free to contact Mhairi on mhairi@wvs.org.uk

We recommend that you book travel insurance prior to your trip. VetAdventure frequently use Go Walkabout Insurance (www.go-walkabout.co.uk).

Please check with your local doctor or travel clinic for details of which vaccinations are required for travel in this area . More information can be found at www.netdoctor.co.uk/travel, just click on the "Country Guide". You may need to allow several weeks before travel in order for immunisations to be effective so don't leave this to the last minute.

Please e-mail the office directly and we will send you a booking form. Please let us know in advance if you have any special dietary requirements. For further enquiries please contact bookings@vetadventure.com