Amazon Private Voyages for Friends and Family
A private Amazon voyage on the Motor Yacht Tucano means that a full cruise departure is reserved for your group of family and friends. The Amazon is a fascinating place for everyone of all ages. Young people on our cruises with their sense of wonder enriches the experience for us all. Cruises on the M/Y Tucano are ideal for extended families in many ways. One of the most important is that because our cruises always have a small passenger group size but a large staff, we are able to tailor many of our excursions especially for families and also for children.
On these excursions the focus remains the same for children as for adults ... actively exploring the Amazon environment and observing the fascinating plants and animals. But when we have young travelers we endeavor to phrase the narrative and use the time a little differently to keep the youngsters engaged and having fun. Some of the themes that we emphasize with young people are:
Growing up in the Amazon: What would it be like growing up in a "caboclo" family? A caboclo is the term for a person that has grown up living in the rainforest. Caboclos are very skilled woodsman and they are highly regarded for their deep knowledge of the rainforest. During our expedition cruise we will learn what young caboclos need to know in order to survive in the rainforest: what plants to eat, where to find a drink of water, and how to track wild animals. We might will even learn to paddle a dugout canoe. It's not as easy as it sounds!
Going to School in the Wilderness: One morning during the cruise we will try to visit a school in one of the remote villages. Our visit is completely dependant on a number of unpredictable variables. We are far far in the forest and school schedules, weather, and navigation necessities could make it difficult to predict. But we are lucky our young travelers can compare their schools to those of students who live deep in the rainforest.
Satellite and Constellation Hunt: The skies in the Amazon are some of the darkest and clearest in the world. On a clear night when we are far from any lights, we will scan the night sky for the different constellations of the southern hemisphere. We will also keep our eyes open for satellites that are easier to see near the equator than they are elsewhere on Earth. It's fun to see them streaking across the evening sky.
Just for Fun
Swimming: Weather, navigation schedules, and availability of good places permitting, we will go swimming some days in some of the warmest and cleanest water in the world. We do this off beaches and our staff are very very attentive to swimmers. We might just bring a soccer ball with us and kick it around in the sand.
Fishing For You Know What: Let's go fishing at least a couple of times during the cruise! You know what we are after, piranhas! Our staff members will teach everyone what to do to attract these terrors of the deep, and we hope everyone will catch one! Don't worry, it's safe! And Fun!
Flavors: Favorites and Tropical: Our voyage menus have some foods that we all find familiar, but we will also have some interesting dishes from the tropics to pique our interest. These include exotic juices, strange fruits, and even some ice cream with flavors from the rainforest. Sometimes the piranhas that we caught that morning make a second appearance!
Expedition Cruise Itinerary: When families travel with us we follow the same itineraries as our regular departures. We simply customize the activities some for our younger travelers. Our cruises explore some of the most untouched rainforest in all of the Amazon as we venture far up the least inhabited river in the Amazon Basin: The Rio Negro. We explore areas very rarely visited and seek out the mysterious life of the wilderness that stirs in the forest and in the heart of wild nature. Young people love the idea of exploration and this is what our expedition cruises are about. They are journeys of discovery and also of the imagination.
Discounts for Children
Young people 12 years and under who share a room with an adult are eligible for a discount of 50% off the Cruise Rate, subject to cabin availability. Prices include: accommodations, transfers, and meals as indicated in the itinerary. Bottled water served free of charge on the M/Y Tucano. Prices and itineraries are subject to change without notice. Prices Do Not Include: Any airfare, departure taxes, gratuities, visa fees, or items of a personal nature.