Expedition Small Ships Go Farther, Go Deeper, Go For It!
A Tucano Amazon cruise is truly the best way to get to know the Amazon. On the M/Y Tucano we have a passion for exploration and we hunt deep into the small tributaries that weave their way into the wilderness. On these heavily forested streams the Amazon's most interesting creatures still thrive .... as they have for millions of years. Our expedition cruises enable travelers to experience magnificent flora and fauna that are almost always invisible to travelers on more typical cruises.
Our small-ship is in many ways specifically designed for this kind of deep forest exploration. The M/Y Tucano with a shallow draft, a fleet of exploration craft, and comfortable accommodations, is the ideal way to go farther and deeper into the Amazon. Our mariners are also pilots because some of the remote tributaries that we explore are literally uncharted waters. We almost never see any other people or other boats. This is what has preserved the natural environment and what makes our cruises spectacular experiences that few people ever will be able share... in their entire lives. On the M/Y Tucano we Go farther, go deeper, and go for it!
What does a vessel need for an exceptional Amazon Experience?
The Tucano experience is comfortable, intimate, efficient, and fun. Everything about the vessel from design to operations is about our expeditionary mission. The vessel is not a luxury vessel but a the luxury cocoon is not the best way to experience the Amazon. It is important to be comfortable, but it is crucial on a cruise to venture outside of aquarium bubble that defines luxury cruising. Travelers can only truly experience the Amazon if they dive in and embrace to the fullest the exotic sights and sounds of this the greatest wilderness on earth. The M/Y Tucano is specifically designed to do just that.
1) Ideal Spaces to Observe the Forest
A Spacious Design: Even though we keep our group size small in number, the M/Y Tucano is a substantial vessel. The public spaces have plenty of plenty of space to spread out, study the forest nearby, and contemplate the wonders of nature. Check out the ship's deck plans.
A Generous Salon: The salon of the M/Y Tucano is positioned at the forward part of the vessel and is surrounded by a windows and a broad balcony. Thoroughly paneled in the elegant style of the classical era, this room serves as our dining room and lounge. It is a good place to observe the forest, read, or relax. From this air-conditioned space, filled with windows and situated at the front of the boat, you can see the fantastic forest around us.
Large Observation Deck: The top deck is open and has a large sun canopy -- a wonderful place to spot wildlife or soak in the vastness of the Amazon. There is also space to catch some sun and watch the Macaw parrots screeching across the afternoon sky.
Forward Mid-Deck Balcony: The middle deck has a wide balcony around the entire front of the vessel. This is a good spot to enjoy watching the vessel meander along thickly forested riverbanks and to observe pink dolphins leaping out of the water or monkeys bounding from one branch to another.
2) Comfortable and Private Staterooms
Comfortable Staterooms: All of the 9 staterooms are outside staterooms with lots of windows. They are not palatial, but large enough to get a good night's sleep after a full day of exploration. Most staterooms have individual beds and some have above and below beds. Please see our stateroom descriptions and deck plans.
Private Bathrooms: Each stateroom on Tucano has a private bath with a shower, toilet, and a sink. Another aspect of the vessel that we think is really unique is that each shower as two shower heads! This is part of our solar sustainability design. One shower head provides water heated by our solar panels and the other via a pressurized system that is activated certain times of the day. The M/Y Tucano is the most sustainable vessel in the Amazon.
Windows to See the Forest: There are 76 large windows on the M/Y Tucano and most of them open and close. There are screens so that travelers can enjoy the blossoms of the rainforest. There is no need to worry about mosquitos, there are very few very few of them where our voyages navigate: the least inhabited major river in the Amazon, the Rio Negro.
Air-Conditioning: All the staterooms and the salon are air-conditioned, each with its own thermostat and individual controls. Travelers can choose to have the stateroom as cool or as warm as they wish. We encourage travelers to from time to time turn off the air-conditioning, acclimate to the equatorial climate, and smell the blossoms.
3) And Last but not Least, a Bit of Elegance
Yacht Design and Style: The M/Y Tucano is a very well appointed yacht. The spaces and furnishings were designed in the style of the luxury steamers of the 19th Century, but with the modern comforts of an elegant hotel. The staterooms and the salon are decorated with raised wood panels and accented with brass hardware. Artworks illustrating nature, adventure, and geography complete our ambience of elegance, exploration, and enthusiasm for the rainforest!
Dining On Tucano: Our cooks create delicious meals based on Amazonian cuisine using all locally sourced fruits, fishes, and flavors unique to the Amazon. We do not strive for gourmet nor do we aspire to fine dining, but our meals are wholesome, locally sourced, and delicious. Our cooks rise before dawn to make a large breakfast and there is always a tantalizing scent coming out of the galley. We very frequently have travelers with special diets, including vegetarian. We do our very best to ensure that everyone has enjoyable meals on the Motor Yacht Tucano