The historic ship the M/V Rio Amazonas is now sailing again from Iquitos, Peru.
(TRAVPR.COM) USA - October 30th, 2014 - One of the best known tourist ships on the Amazon River is back and better than ever. After being idle for a few years, the ship is once again sailing out of Iquitos, Peru. It is currently utilized mostly for academic research and limited tourism in the Amazon Rainforest.
Reborn again, the M/V Rio Amazonas has been not just remodeled, but also restored to much its historical glory. With improvements throughout, the ship even includes a new helm built similar to its original design. The ship was built in the late 1800's in Scotland. After a long career as a cargo and passenger ship on the Amazon River during the heydays of the Rubber Boom and beyond, it was rebuilt in 1981 to enable international travelers to experience the Amazon in comfort. After decades of use for tourism and then neglect, now with a recent change of ownership and restoration efforts, the ship once again proudly sails on the rivers of the Peruvian Amazon.
The grand old ship is available for private charter by groups and institutions for nature tours, scientific research and field schools from Explorations, Inc., a tour operator located in Florida. Perfect for 18 to 22 passengers, the M/V Rio Amazonas now has 10 double room cabins and 4 triple cabins, all with private baths and air-conditioned. Great for private tours, filming, and scientific research, Explorations can design itineraries based on the organization's interests. The M/V Rio Amazonas provides opportunities for mobile field schools in the Amazon Rainforest for a wide range of studies; biology, zoology, mammalogy, botany, geography, ornithology, ecology, entomology, ichthyology, potamology and limnology, tropical agriculture, anthropology and more! The ship’s team of researchers and conservationists can assist and lead in a wide variety of disciplines.
Passengers can interact with local villagers and learn the intricacies of Amazon wildlife while exploring and/or researching in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. Led by expert naturalist guides, the daily excursions includes use motorized skiffs to reveal the flora and fauna of the Amazon rainforest and waters. The delicious cuisine onboard includes regional dishes of healthy and fresh local products. Participants have the chance to experience the jungle up close with an itinerary designed for the interests of the particular group. With longer and more in-depth itineraries into more remote areas than the common "ecotour cruises", participants can gain a better knowledge of the local ecosystems and cultures, in addition to having better opportunities for wildlife viewing, and will experience more of the mysteries of the Amazon!
Based out of Iquitos, Peru, some 2,250 miles from the mouth of the Amazon, the ship navigates remote rivers in such places as the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. The Reserve is the second largest protected area in Peru, with over 5 million acres and is located about 110 miles upstream from Iquitos. The Reserve's eastern boundaries are formed by the confluence of the Ucayali and Marañón Rivers. The Reserve protects tropical rainforest ecosystems of great biodiversity with the purpose of preserving the flora and fauna, in addition to providing sustainable natural resources for the nearby native population.
More information about the M/V Rio Amazonas and its programs can be found on Explorations' website of www.AdventuresOfDiscovery.com. Founded in 1992, Explorations Inc., offers educational adventures of discovery in Latin America, introducing discerning travelers to indigenous cultures and the natural world. Explorations’ staff are knowledgeable, sincere, and reliable.
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