Writer Susan Stafford cruised to the Peruvian Amazon aboard La Amatista, now she’s telling the world about this life-changing Amazon tour.
“Yikes! It’s not often that a pink-toed tarantula seeks to make your acquaintance. One did just that, however, when it casually hopped on board our skiff as we began to pull away from the bank of the Ucayalli River in the northeastern Peruvian Amazon.
Pink Toes is just one of many unexpected pleasures that my husband, David, and I encountered on our International Expeditions cruise aboard the 28-passenger La Amatista as it motored 400 miles/644 kilometers up the Ucayalli River to the Pacaya-Samiria Natural Reserve, and back. If supersized bugs, jewel-like birds, acres of rainforest, and one giant anaconda of a river whet your appetite for adventure, the Peruvian Amazon belongs right at the top of your bucket list.”
International Expeditions was thrilled to welcome World Wide Will from MedjetAssist on a recent Galapagos cruise aboard the Evolution. Now Will shares his adventure!
This adventure started with an extra day in Ecuador’s massive port city of Guayaquil. We were met at the airport by the lovely Isla, one of International Expeditions’ (IE) organizers on the ground in Ecuador. Her energetic spirit jolted us out of our jet lag haze and reminded us of the wonderful congeniality that is so typical among South Americans. We arrived in the middle of the night so we were taken directly to the hotel where we poured ourselves into the bed and crashed into a deep sleep.
When we woke up we began exploring the city of Guayaquil. Even though it was early, the city was already bustling with businessmen, shoppers and street vendors. We walked down the main street, Avenue 9 de Octobre, towards the massive Rio Guaya. As we meandered through the city we shopped and ate empanadas from little food vendors that have literally set up shop in little holes in the walls of the city’s buildings.
About halfway through our journey we detoured to the right and checked out Park De Iguanas. This considerable patch of green in the middle of the city has for years been home to scores of feral land iguanas. These large and docile lizards stroll around the park eating and interacting with the locals. Their beautiful colors seem to blend perfectly with the colorful facades of the surrounding buildings. On one side of the park an imposing cathedral rises into the air as if it is keeping watch. Bronze statues dot the green park and offer resting perches for the pigeons who, by the way, seem to have no problem pecking around the iguanas in search of a bite to eat. I think the true magic of this park is that somehow all of these unrelated items seem to find a beautiful synergy and harmony that ultimately makes the park what it is.
International Expeditions’ guests Claudio and Teresa Bacinello share stories and photos from their safari to Southern Africa.
So, here we are, on our fourth trip with IE and the furthest from home Terry and I have ever been. Following stops in London, Johannesburg and an overnight stay near Victoria Falls in Zambia, we’ve arrived at Chobe Savannah Lodge on the bank of the Chobe River in Namibia.
The air here is different. It’s clean, with a pleasant dry, woody scent. We like it. Our hosts, Brett and Roxanne welcome us like family, and, as we enjoy a cool drink, Roxanne points out a small group of elephants grazing across the river, in Botswana. She says the herd is moving to the river for water and we should see quite a few more the next day.
Next morning, we see that her prediction has come true. There are literally hundreds of elephants grazing and drinking along the river. Over the next two days, our river excursions allow us to observe the elephant’s behavior at close range and provide the opportunity for some spectacular photographs. In addition to elephants, we also see a large troop of baboons, impala, buffalo, crocodiles and hippos. I recall how utterly surreal it seemed as we sat in our boat with the engine off and watched and photographed these changing scenes as they unfolded before us. Who knew that a herd of elephants could be so quiet and that, normally cautious baboons and impala would go about their business as if we weren’t there. Terry and I split our photographic assignments for best coverage, with her using her compact camera for larger scenes and groups and me using my SLR for tighter groupings, individual shots and small details.
Two days and a thousand or so photos later, it’s time to move on.
Stay tuned for more stories and Claudio’s photo tips coming soon. You can see more of Claudio’s images from his Southern Africa Safari on the IE flickr page.
Like books? Like the Amazon? LOVE free books about the Amazon? Then International Expeditions has a contest for you!
Become an IE Facebook fan. Then share your story of why you went to the Amazon – or why you want to go to the Amazon. Simply write your story on IE’s wall.
One winner will be chosen from all fans who shared their Amazon story. They will receive a copy of the book Tree of Rivers: The Story of the Amazon. Read The New York Times book review here.
Everyone who shares their story on the IE Facebook wall will be entered into a drawing, and one winner will be chosen at random. Promotion ends March 5, 2010. Winner must be a current International Expeditions’ Facebook fan at the time of drawing. Select stories and comments may be chosen for use in International Expeditions’ publications and/or Web sites; published stories may be edited for clarity and space.
IE Creative Services Editor Emily Harley spent Thanksgiving on our Amazon River tour! Now she shares thoughts on this unique small-ship adventure aboard La Amatista.
The small town where I grew up from in Kentucky and even Birmingham, where I now live, have history. But they ain’t got nothing on Lima, Peru!
Our Amazon tour officially kicks off after a drool-inducing breakfast at the Swissotel with a tour of Lima’s most historic sites. While visitors to Peru often think about the Plaza de Armas and Spanish colonial history, Lima is dripping with archeological gems and monuments, scattered throughout the city and tucked into its many parks. Our guide Jose, points out the Museum of Italian Art and Museum of Art – designed by Gustav Eiffel – as we circle the Park of the Exposition. A now defunct airplane and statue stand guard over a large park in San Isidro, marking the site of Lima’s first airport. Ominous, empty guard towers mark the four corners of a factory, remnants of the Shining Path’s terrorism of decades past.
Francisco Pizarro founded the “City of Kings” as the capital of Spain’s colonial empire in 1535, and his body is still entombed at the Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas. From this grand central square, our group explored the Cathedral, gilded Jesuit monastery, Iglesia de San Francisco and Casa Aliaga. Most travelers who have researched Lima are familiar with the monastery, cathedral and catacombs of San Francisco, but far fewer have heard of the Casa Aliaga.
Sitting to the right of the viceroy’s palace, Casa Aliaga dates back to 1535, when Pizarro granted the land to Jeronimo de Aliaga. But what sets this mansion apart from the many historic homes you can explore in South America (or the Old South for that matter), is that it remains a family home – held by 15 generations of Aliagas. But far from having thousands of tourists trooping through their home, we are part of a privileged group that gets to walk across the marble staircase and halls to eye-ball the family’s priceless antiques. The current Aliaga daughter married the son of our in-country partner.
Ornate carvings, art, stained glass windows and centuries-old imported tiles reflect the changing tastes and style of both the family and society. The entire home is clustered around a striking center courtyard, with wide, open breezeways circling the yard. How can valuable paintings and furniture be left covered but essentially open to the elements? Hernando, our Expedition Leader, assures me, “It NEVER rains in Lima.”
As we prepare to leave the home, there is a stark reminder that this window into the growth of Lima – from colonial capital to thriving, independent city ñ is in fact a home. Our group entered the home through a small wooden door in a large wall. Like many homes in Lima, Case Aliaga has a front square, tucked behind a protective privacy wall, before leading to the front door. In order to walk across the front square and back into the bustling streets of central Lima, we must skirt a brand new Land Rover.
There’s nothing we love more at IE than hearing from our travelers. And we know that most of our travelers tell their friends about their memorable tours, pass along their Environs catalogs and invite friends on their next IE journey.
Now we want to reward YOU for spreading the word about International Expeditions!
Ask a friend to follow us on Twitter. Once your friend is following IE Travel, you’ll both be eligible to win a Memory Foam travel lumbar pillow (pictured right) to help you travel in comfort.
IE will give away 6 travel pillows on Monday, February 22 in a random drawing. To ensure your names are entered in the drawing, after your friend has become an IE Travel follower, they must use Twitter’s reply function to tweet @IEtravel with the message “@(your name) told me about IE Travel!”
This contest closes at 8 a.m. CST on February 22, 2010. There is no limit to the number of entries per person, as long as the method of entry is via Twitter’s @reply function. You cannot recruit yourself. Both you and your friend must be active @IEtravel followers at the time of the drawing.
Expedition Leader Jorge Salas is a star among IE guests, having led expeditions to the Amazon, Orinoco, Antarctica, Patagonia and Papua New Guinea. With his contagious enthusiasm and knowledge of wildlife, history, photography and tribal customs, you are bound to have fun and learn any time you travel with Jorge!
Q1: If you could be any animal, what would you be?
A harpy eagle.
Q1.5: So you can terrorize sloths?
Harpy eagles can see everything from above, and live without the fear of other predators. If you can choose to be anything, you want to be a harpy. Plus, there are lots of sloths, so I wouldn’t ever be hungry.
Q2: What is the most interesting place you have ever visited?
Hard to say, but Papua New Guinea stands out as the most interesting and impressive place I’ve been because of its intricate culture and unique natural history. Patagonia is the most naturally beautiful place, but the Amazon is where I love to go the most.
Q3: What book are you reading right now?
Two actually, The Mapmaker’s Wife and Collapse (for the third time).
Q4: Is there a past vacation or place you’ve visited that got you “hooked” on travel?
That is too hard to narrow down. Maybe seeing the condors at Colca Canyon? Next question!
Q5: Where to next?
This year I hope to make it to Uganda. South Georgia Island is at the top of my list and Ethiopia is also getting closer to reality.
Saturday marked National Pisco Sour Day in Peru. If you weren’t one of the lucky few there to mark this auspicious occasion, be sure to check out this Pisco Sour recipe sent in by our own Amazon River tour Expedition Leader, Jorge Salas.
Nothing thrills the staff at International Expeditions quite like knowing our guests are having a great time. So we love getting videos like this one taken on our January 22, 2010 Amazon River tour by Jamie Myer of Los Angeles, California.
Sometimes we all forget to take our reusable shopping bags to the store. But even using just one reusable shopping bag can eliminate as many as 1,500 plastic bags from landfills in its lifetime. Need some more great reasons to grab a cloth bag next time you head to the store?
According to The Wall Street Journal, each year Americans use 100 billion plastic shopping bags. An estimated 12 million barrels of oil is required to make that many plastic bags!
Plastic bags cause over 100,000 sea turtle and other marine animal deaths every year when the animals mistake them for food.
About 500 nautical miles off the coast of California is a “plastic island” made up of plastic garbage that measures twice the size of Texas. The island is held together by ocean currents.
In a landfill, plastic bags take up to 1,000 years to degrade. As litter, the break down into small bits, contaminating our soil and water.
To encourage our employees to go plastic-less, International Expeditions’ “Green Team” supplied the entire staff with reusable shopping bags. An added great benefit – many stores offer a five to ten-cent credit if you bring your own bag!
“Yikes! It’s not often that a pink-toed tarantula seeks to make your acquaintance. One did just that, however, when it casually hopped on board our skiff as we began to pull away from the bank of the Ucayalli River in the northeastern Peruvian Amazon.
