Dear Yale Travelers and Friends:

Transcription

1 January 8-17, 2015

2 Dear Yale Travelers and Friends: For years, I have been dreaming about the ideal trip down the Amazon, with the best Yale professor and the best boat, cruising in the best time of year. With the assistance of Yale Educational Travel I have found it and now we invite you to come aboard! I am so excited that Sir Peter Crane, Dean of the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and former director of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew in London, will be our professor. Peter is one of the world s leading experts on ecodiversity and plant life - and a wonderful human being. Yale Educational Travel has secured outstanding boats; in fact, we commandeered the two best small luxury vessels on the Amazon ( with 16 suites and the with 12 - with the cabin sizes ranging from 230 to 250 square feet). I am looking forward to having the two boats filled with Yale friends. It will be a floating house party with flotillas at night and lots of time to mix and mingle on shore during the days. Over seven days and six nights we will sail along the Amazon and two of its largest tributaries of the Amazon, the Ucayali and the Marañon. We can take a break from our busy lives as we journey into a primitive and largely untouched rainforest and backwaters of the Pacaya Samiria Reserve. We will see the enormous floating leaves of the giant Amazonian water lily and search the rainforest canopy for howler, brown capuchin and squirrel monkeys, colorful macaws and three-toed sloths. Some of us will want to go fishing, and all of us can look for pink river dolphins and enjoy glorious Amazon basin sunsets. From our cabins to the decks we will be immersed in this remarkable part of the world as we float down the Amazon. We are hoping that by announcing the trip early, we will make it easier to work into your calendars. Please visit to register now or fax the reservation to along with your deposit to secure your space. You can also call Yale Educational Travel at (203) It would be such great fun to have an extended reunion and an adventure with you. Dean Crane is the Carl W. Knobloch Jr. Dean at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. He is known internationally for his work on the diversity of plant life: its origin and fossil history, current status, and conservation and use. From 1992 to 1999 he Sir Peter Crane was Director of the Field Museum in Chicago with overall responsibility for the Museum s scientific programs. During this time he established the Office of Environmental and Conservation Programs and the Center for Cultural Understanding and Change, which today comprise the Division of Environment, Culture, and Conservation (ECCo). From 1999 to 2006 he was Director of The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew one of the largest and most influential botanical gardens in the world. His tenure at Kew saw strengthening and expansion of the gardens scientific, conservation and public programs. Professor Crane was elected to the Royal Society the UK academy of sciences in He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Foreign Associate of the US National Academy of Sciences, a Foreign Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, and a Member of the German Academy Leopoldina. He was knighted in the UK for services to horticulture and conservation in Professor Crane currently serves on the Boards of the World Wildlife Fund-U.S., the Global Crop Diversity Trust, the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas and the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation. All the very best, Linda Koch Lorimer 77 J.D. Vice President for Global and Strategic Initiatives Yale University

3 w w w.yaleedtravel.org/am azon 15

4 ITINERARY USA TO LIMA Thursday, January 8 Arrive in Lima. Transfer to your hotel. ( ) LIMA Friday, January 9 We ll tour some of Lima s main colonial sites and then visit the private Larco Museum, home of the world's largest private collection of pre-columbian art. Welcome dinner will be at the Huaca Pucllana Restaurant where we will dine on cuisine while overlooking the ruins of a 1,500 -year-old pyramid. B, L, D LIMA / IQUITOS / EMBARK Saturday, January 10 This morning we ll visit Barranco, the smallest and bohemian neighborhoods of Lima, a favorite place of painters, writers and sculptors. After a visit to the Pedro de Osma Museum that houses masterpieces of art from the colonial period, we will catch our early afternoon flight to Iquitos and embark on our expedition aboard the Aria and Aqua ships. Arrive and transfer to the main wharf and settle into your handsomely appointed cabin as our ships begin sailing down the Amazon. After a safety drill and briefing on the Upper Deck, enjoy a welcome dinner created by Executive Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, whose restaurant,, is the one of the best in all of Lima. Chef Schiaffino s recipes, with the imaginative use of local products fruit, fish, spices make every meal a delightful adventure. Perhaps enjoy a nightcap on the Upper Deck, under the stars, before retiring. M/V B, L, D TAHUAYO RIVER / CHARO LAKE Sunday, January 11 Tahauyo River Exploration and Fishing Trip at Charo Lake Rise early to catch your first glimpse of the majestic Amazon River, as you watch the sun rise over this green world filled with wonderful wildlife. This morning we ll board excursion skiffs for traveling from the Amazon through the Huaysi short cut canal to explore the Tahuayo black water river. Life jackets, ponchos, rubber boots, and plenty of cold potable water will always be available. As we float down the Tahuayo, occasional fishermen paddling in their dug-out canoes will give us a cheerful greeting. Keep your binoculars ready to spot a vast variety of wildlife: terns, orioles, blackbirds, black collared hawks, monkeys, and sloth share this wonderful environment with us. Upon arrival at Charo Lake, you can bait your hooks to try to catch one of Amazonia s fearsome piranhas (and other fish as well). As you fish, trained guides will also tell you the story of the lake and its inhabitants. Return to the Aqua & Aria. Icy cold towels and chilled fruit juice await you, as you transfer from your skiffs into the Aqua & Aria. Yacapana Islands Exploration, Dolphin Sighting, and Night Excursion Locals call the Yacapana Islands the Iguana Islands, because of the huge population of these reptiles like tiny dinosaurs crawling over the ground and resting in the tree tops. There are chances to snap good photos. As the sun sets, you will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see and photograph both gray and pink freshwater dolphins. Once the sun sets and the jungle is dark, we begin our search for caiman, frogs, and different kinds of nightlife. Return to the vessels and continue our journey upstream, toward the headwaters of the Amazon River, where the Ucayali, Marañon, and the Amazon Rivers merge. M/V B,L,D MARAÑON RIVER / PACAYA- SAMIRIA NATIONAL RESERVE Monday, January 12 Today you can choose between two excursion options: Option 1: Full-day excursion with a Picnic Lunch at Ranger Station No. 2 Travel by skiff from Yanayacu Creek all the way to remote Yarina. There you will arrive at Park Ranger Station Nº. 2. You may see howler and capuchin monkeys, the squirrel-sized monkeys called tamarins, pink and gray river dolphins, and a vast variety of birds. We will also take you deep into the jungle, where you will encounter wildlife and learn first-hand about the important medical value of jungle plants. We will show you famous kapok trees (ceiba pentandra), the tallest trees in the Amazon Basin. Enjoy a generous picnic lunch at the Park Ranger Station Nº 2, before heading back to the vessels and dinner. Option 2: Guided Jungle Walk/Siesta/Monkey and Dolphin Expedition Your Park Ranger will tell you all about sustainable resource management projects in Amazonia. You will visit one of the projects, where villagers are planting palms to obtain oil. Return to the vessels for lunch, followed by a siesta and then a Monkey and Dolphin Expedition for another chance to see the two different kinds of freshwater dolphins including the remarkable pink ones found in the

5 Amazon. Later, keep your eyes directed toward the jungle canopy, where you can spot several kinds of primates among the 13 species of monkeys resident in the National Park. Perhaps you will catch a glimpse of tamarins and howlers, dusky titi monkeys and pigmy marmoset monkeys. Watch for alligators, and keep your binoculars ready, as you are likely to see more than 200 species of birds. Return to the Aqua and Aria. M/V B, L, D BIRTHPLACE OF THE AMAZON / PUERTO MIGUEL / NAUTA CAÑO Tuesday, January 13 Birthplace of the Amazon This morning, skirt the edges of the vast Pacaya-Samiria Reserve, a flooded forest covering five million acres at the headwaters of the Amazon basin. Rise early and be on your skiffs at 8:00 a.m. to view one of the great spectacles of the Southern Hemisphere: the sun rising over the birthplace of the Amazon River. Here where the union of two major tributaries, the Ucayali and the Marañon, form the world s greatest waterway nature is at its most dramatic. Your dawn excursion will be accompanied by abundant bird songs, as you glide in small boats past river banks populated by large-billed terns, laughing falcons, gray tanagers, sandpipers, five kinds of parakeets, the exotic short-tailed parrot, and dozens of other birds. Puerto Miguel Village Travel by skiff to Puerto Miguel native village, where local people will extend you a very warm welcome. With your guide as interpreter, you can talk with them about their way of life along the river. And of course, no one has to interpret the kids bright smiles. It is also a wonderful opportunity to buy small handicrafts. On the way back to the vessels, we will navigate on a small connector canal between the Ucayali and Marañon Rivers, where you will have a chance to see the world s largest aquatic plant, the giant water lilies or. Excursion to Nauta Caño Nauta Caño is known as the mirrored forest, due to its glistening black water lagoons. Here you will enjoy observing different species, such as: toucans, parrots, macaws, iguanas, and more. On the way back you will see a glorious sunset reflected in the waters of the mirrored forest. M/V B, L, D UCAYALI / YANALLPA/ DORADO RIVERS Wednesday, January 14 This morning we will board the skiffs to explore this amazing blackwater stream, part of the vast Amazon flooded forest. Your guides will tell you about the rainforest and its dynamic life, as we explore what scientists call a gallery forest, because of its narrow vegetation, creating a tunnel of leaves. As we float through this tunnel, look for parrots, macaws, and fluffy monk saki monkeys, close to your skiff. Return to the Aqua and Aria. Dorado River Exploration and Night Excursion This afternoon we will take a magical journey through the Mirrored Forest, seeing towering trees reflected in the black water river, while spotting dozens of enchanting parrots, blue-yellow macaws, and a great variety of primates and sloths enjoying nature unperturbed by our presence. As we make our way back to our vessel, you will also have the chance to see caimans and frogs and fishing bats. Return to the Aqua and Aria. M/V B, L, D PUINAHUA/PACAYA RIVERS & CAROCURAHUAYTE LAKE Thursday, January 15 Pacaya Exploration and Breakfast aboard the Skiffs Back on the river as the sun rises, you will see a treasure trove of wildlife, including parrots, macaws, toucans, and many kinds of monkeys as well as some surprise species that you have never seen before. Enjoy a bag breakfast of light sandwiches and fresh juice. Since we will stop near a popular dolphin feeding spot, you will see quite a show as you enjoy your meal. Return to the Aqua and Aria. As our journey nears its end, your luxurious home away from home starts to sail back down the river toward Iquitos. It isn t over yet however. A new adventure awaits you this afternoon. Carocurahuayte Lake / Fishing Trip We will travel to this splendid hot spot lake to look for 3,000 species of tropical fish that live in the Amazon basin. Our key focus will be on piranhas, those small, sharp-teethed carnivorous fish with a big reputation for being scary. Catching one will make for great cocktail conversation back home. Return to the Aqua and Aria and gather for a festive farewell dinner. Our ships will continue their journey down stream, sailing toward Iquitos through the night. M/V B, L, D IQUITOS / LIMA / USA Friday, January 16 The excursions today depend on the level of the river. Weather and time permitting, this be the last opportunity to see how people live along the Amazon by floating in skiffs through the lively riverside community of Belen, in Iquitos. Here, where the houses and shops actually float on the river during some months, you will see the bustling food market for the entire Peruvian Amazon. All local inhabitants throughout the region sell and purchase goods here. Return to the Aqua Amazon and Aria Amazon. Sadly, it s time to finish packing. After a light lunch we ll disembark. Disembarkation/CityTour/Manatee Rescue Center/Transfer to the Airport Your afternoon in the remote city of Iquitos,

6 accessible only by river or air, will not disappoint. This bustling town, complete with a house built by Gustave Eiffel, was once a rich center of the rubber industry. Before we head for the airport, we will take you to visit the Manatee Rescue Center, where biologists and volunteers care for endangered Amazon manatees that conservation authorities have seized from local people, including fishermen. Biologists will give a presentation about the project and its efforts to help these helpless mammals. You will also see how the manatees are cared for and are prepared for re-introduction into their natural habitat. Finally, we will stop at the San Juan Amazonian Indian Market, for a last chance to shop for local crafts. We ll transfer to the Iquitos International Airport for our late afternoon flight back to Lima. Assistance at the airport in Lima for your overnight flights back to the USA. B, L ARRIVE USA Saturday, January 17 Arrive back to the US and connect with flights home. Please Note: This itinerary may vary and is subject to change based on wildlife sightings, water levels, navigability and other conditions. PERU Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean South America Amazon River Iquitos Lima Cusco Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean - Pacaya-Samiria Reserve

7 M/V ARIA M/V Aria The elegant M/V Aria features sixteen 250-square -foot luxury design suite cabins, all with floor-to -ceiling windows that frame nature at is most exotic. Spacious bathrooms with separate stall showers add an elegant touch, and central air conditioning ensures comfort. Three-times-daily cabin service ensures that your suite is always fresh and perfect. Add to that a sun deck, an outdoor Jacuzzi and exercise room, and an open-air deck that is prefect for star gazing. Suite Aria Aria Observation Deck Aria Lounge LAND/CRUISE PROGRAM COST aboard the M/V ARIA (per person, double occupancy) Second or Upper Deck Suite..$9,400 First or Lower Deck Suite $9,200 Due to limited availability, single cabins are offered on a request basis only, please call for availability and rates. Roundtrip economy airfare between JFK and Lima: $975 (as of December 2013 is and is subject to change).

8 M/V Aqua M/V AQUA The M/V Aqua can accommodate a maximum of 24 cruise ship guests plus crew. This luxury cruise ship is the perfect size to sail along the Amazon River, providing extremely comfortable lounge, dining and sleeping accommodations and modern navigation technologies and standards for cruise ship travel and safety on the water. The Aqua Amazon s twelve oversized cruise ship suites, including 4 Master suites, feature en suite sitting areas and generous outward-facing picture-windows with panoramic Amazon river views. Each of the handsomely decorated, air-conditioned cruise ship suites measure between 230 to 240 square feet. Four of these suites can be interconnected, to cater to families. Suite Aqua Aria Observation Deck Aqua Lounge LAND/CRUISE PROGRAM COST aboard the M/V AQUA (per person, double occupancy) Master Suites (4 available).$9,300 Suites...$9,100 Due to limited availability, single cabins are offered on a request basis only, please call for availability and rates. Roundtrip economy airfare between JFK and Lima: $975 (as of December 2013 is and is subject to change).

9 Optional Post Trip Extension MACHU PICCHU January 16-22, 2015 Discover the breathtaking Lost City of the Inca, Machu Picchu. After our morning flight to Cusco, the capital city of the Inca Empire, we transfer to the lovely town of Yucay in Urubamba Valley. On the way, visit the colorful native market in Pisac. Lunch is at the private hacienda Huayoccari which stands regally in the Sacred Valley. We will overnight in Yucay, which is located at a lower elevation, to allow for an easier acclimatization. The following day a dramatic train ride through the Urubamba Valley takes us to the enchanting and mystical site of Machu Picchu. Here we ll overnight at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel. On our return we spend two nights in Cusco, where we'll absorb a colorful mix of the past and present and tour the town of Ollantaytambo, the only living Inca city where agricultural terraces are still in use. Explore the Inca ruins surrounding Cusco including the massive fortress of Sacsayhuamán, the sacred bathing place of Tambo Machay and the temple and amphitheater of Qenko. Enjoy a special visit to the UNSAAC-Yale International Center for the Study of Machu Picchu and Inca Culture in Cusco where the archaeological pieces that Hiram Bingham found at Machu Picchu are displayed. This five-night, six-day post-tour extension includes one night in Lima at the Ramada airport hotel, one night at the Sol y Luna Lodge in the Sacred Valley, one night at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel and two nights at the fivestar JW Marriott Cusco Hotel; all excursions; five breakfasts, four lunches and three dinners; air transportation Lima/Cusco and Cusco/Lima; entrance fees to Machu Picchu for two days including the fee to climb Huayna Picchu; train tickets on the Vistadome; airport taxes; airport-to-hotel transfers; and leadership. PRICE-$3,745 per person, double occupancy. Single supplement is $760. The price quoted is based on a minimum of 12 participants participating on the extension. Deposit for the extension is $200 per person.

10 Terms and Conditions PROGRAM COST INCLUDES: Educational programs of lectures and discussions with Yale Professor Peter Crane on Amazon program. All accommodations and meals as specified in the itinerary; roundtrip in-tour airfare from Lima to Iquitos; all land and water transportation; professional English-speaking guides throughout; airport transfers; domestic airport departure taxes; entrance fees; baggage handling; basic gratuities to local guides and drivers, leadership; coordination and administration. PROGRAM COST DOES NOT INCLUDE: International and U.S. domestic airfare (quoted separately); customary shipboard gratuities, meals not specified in the itinerary; personal items such as laundry, fax or telephone calls, bottled water, liquor, dishes and beverages not part of included meals, room service, passport fees, excess baggage charges, individual transfers; international departure tax in Lima; medical expenses; travel insurance and deviations from the scheduled tour are not included. Any increases in the in-tour airfare, included as part of the program s cost; airport taxes or security fees imposed after the initial pricing of this program are not included. RESERVATIONS, DEPOSITS, AND FINAL PAYMENT: To reserve a space on this program, please visit edtravel@yale.edu or mail authorization of a credit card payment or a check made payable to "ROYAL ADVENTURES. for $2,500 per person along with a completed reservation form to: Yale Educational Travel, Association of Yale Alumni, P.O. Box , New Haven, CT or Fax to (203) Reservations are acknowledged in the order of receipt. The initial deposit may be charged to a credit card. A second payment of $3,000 per person is due on July 1, 2014 and is non-refundable. Final payment is due on October 6, The second deposit and final payment are payable by check only. Royal Adventures handles all invoicing. CST # CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS: Refunds, less a cancellation fee of $350 per person, are made if we are notified in writing on or before February 21, No refunds will be made after that date. All cancellations must be in writing and will become effective as of the date they are received. There are no refunds for unused meals, accommodations or other trip features. of a non-refundable airline ticket or other expenses incurred by tour participants in preparing for the tour. QUESTIONS: Please visit amazon15, edtravel@yale.edu, or (203) This tour is designed exclusively for Yale alumni, family and friends who are interested in the rich natural history and beauty of the Amazon and the fascinating history and folklore of the Peruvian rainforest. For the six-night cruise portion of this compelling voyage, we have chosen the luxury riverboats, the ( ). The ships will sail in tandem. Activities aboard include walks in the jungle and river excursions. The mean temperature in the Amazon reaches the mid 80 s F during the day and drops to 70 F at night. The temperature traveling on the rivers and tributaries of the Amazon is generally agreeable. In the Amazon rain is common throughout the entire year, but it usually occurs in the afternoon or evening, very rarely interfering with our planned tour activities. This is a moderately active program. Travel on this tour is by motorcoach, regular scheduled jet planes, train (on the riverboats. What to Expect extension), small excursion boats, and On the optional post-tour extension to Machu Picchu, temperatures range from F at night to F during the day. In the Andes we will spend several days at elevations from approximately 9,000 to 11,000 feet. The Machu Picchu extension has been designed to allow for an easier acclimatization when we travel to the Andean highlands by overnighting in the Urubamba Valley at approximately 8,000 feet. We continue to Machu Picchu at 7,600 feet, leaving Cusco for the end when you have had a chance to get acclimatized. There is some stair and step climbing at the ruins. Lima, the capital city of Peru, is at sea level. INSURANCE: Yale Educational Travel highly recommends that participants purchase trip cancellation insurance as the cancellation penalty in this brochure will apply. However, Yale does not recommend a particular insurance company. Yale travelers are free to purchase the insurance of their choice. Most travel insurance must be purchased within 7-10 days of paying a deposit in order to include certain provisions including pre-existing conditions. Neither the Association of Yale Alumni nor Royal Adventures accept liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase

11 RESERVE YOUR TRIP TO THE AMAZON TODAY AMAZON ADVENTURE JANUARY 8-17, 2015 E n c l o s e d i s a d e p o s i t o f $ ( $ 2, d e p o s i t p e r p e r s o n ) t o h o l d _ p l a c e ( s ) o n t h e A m a z o n A d v e n t u r e t o u r. S e c o n d d e p o s i t i s d u e J u l y 1, F i n a l p a y m e n t i s d u e O c t o b e r 6, NAME IN FULL AS ON PASSPORT DATE OF BIRTH YALE AFFILIATION NAME IN FULL AS ON PASSPORT YALE AFFILIATION DATE OF BIRTH Please make my/our reservations on the following ship: r M/V ARIA r Second or Upper Deck Suite r M/V AQUA r Master Suite r First or Lower Deck Suite r Suite I wish to share a room/cabin with Single cabins are offered on a request only basis, call for availability ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP TELEPHONE (HOME) (BUSINESS) FAX r AMEX r Visa r MasterCard Card # Exp. Date Security Code r Please make round-trip flight arrangements from: to Lima, Peru. r I/We will take care of our own international flight arrangements. Optional Extension to Machu Picchu r I/We wish to join the optional Machu Picchu post-trip extension at an additional deposit of $200 per person. I/We have carefully read the Costs and Terms and Conditions and Responsibility sections of this brochure and agree to their terms on behalf or myself and the members of my party named above. Signature Date Signature Date Visit to book online or return the above form with credit card authorization or check payable to Royal Adventures to Association of Yale Alumni, P.O. Box , New Haven, CT Phone: (203) Fax (203) RESPONSIBILITY Royal Adventures, its owners and employees act only as agents for the various independent suppliers and contractors providing transportation, hotel accommodations, restaurant and other services connected with this tour. Such travel and services are subject to the terms and conditions under which such accommodations, services and transportation are offered or provided, and the Association of Yale Alumni and Royal Adventures and their respective, employees, agents, representatives, and assigns, accept no liability therefor. The Association of Yale Alumni and Royal Adventures, assume no liability for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or other irregularity which may be caused by the defect of any aircraft or vehicle or the negligence or default of any company or person engaged in carrying out or performing any of the services involved. Additionally, responsibility is not accepted for losses, injury, damages or expenses of any kind due to sickness, weather, strikes, local laws, hostilities, wars, terrorist acts, acts of nature or other such causes. All services and accommodations are subject to the laws of the country in which they are provided. The Association of Yale Alumni and Royal Adventures reserve the right to make changes in the published itinerary whenever, in their sole judgment, conditions warrant, or if they deem it necessary for the comfort, convenience or safety of the tour participants. They reserve the right to withdraw this tour without penalty. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the tour, or to substitute another qualified leader or special guest. Baggage and personal effects are the sole responsibility of the owners at all times. The price of the program is given in good faith based on current tariffs and rates, and is subject to change. Any tariff, exchange rate, airfare, or fuel increases will be passed onto participants. Neither the Association of Yale Alumni nor Royal Adventures accept the liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a nonrefundable airline ticket. The air ticket when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the passenger and the airline concerned. As part of the consideration and right to participate in this tour, each participant will be asked to sign a liability release.

12 Association of Yale Alumni Box New Haven, Connecticut Amazon Adventure January 8-17, 2015 Program Highlights Explore Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve in the company of Professor Peter Crane. Voyage to the headwaters of the mighty Amazon. Look for pink river dolphins, giant water lilies, several species of monkeys, three-toed sloths, and scarlet macaws. Take rainforest hikes, birding walks, and nocturnal river safaris. Fish for piranhas. Enjoy gourmet meals that draw on the ultra-fresh ingredients of the rainforest. M/V Aria