Amazon River Cruise: Birding and Natural History Odyssey Aboard Zafiro

Hoatzin © Graham Gerdeman/Macaulay Library

An exploration of the Peruvian Amazon region in comfort and style. An outstanding array of relatively easy-to-see birds and mammals on this exciting excursion into the heart of upper Amazonia. Great opportunity to study birds of prey.

The Amazon region is a realm of superlatives. The centerpiece of this vast area is the Amazon itself, the largest river in the world; indeed, many of its tributaries equal or exceed many of the world’s other great rivers. This region boasts the highest diversity of birds and plants anywhere. The very word “Amazon” evokes images of broad, sinuous rivers, tree-lined banks, strange animals, bright butterflies, and glorious sunsets. Macaws and parrots fly overhead as ponderous Horned Screamers lift off from the stream banks. The Amazon’s exotic wildlife includes sloths, fresh-water dolphins, snail-eating lizards, half a dozen species of monkeys, and a lavish profusion of flowering and fruiting plants.

This special trip, arranged exclusively for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Chairman’s Council, is designed to experience every aspect of the Amazonian rainforest and river without sacrificing comfort. Your hosts from the Lab are Ian Owens and Mary Guthrie. Guiding our activities will be David Ascanio, Doris Valencia, and Alejandro Nagy, master birders and naturalists from Texas-based Victor Emanuel Nature Tours, a respected organization with a long history of collaboration with the Lab.

We offer this excursion to the Amazon for those who want a full Amazonian River experience without sacrificing comfort. The Zafiro offers visitors the utmost in comfort, security, and safety while still permitting us to visit remote and relatively unspoiled regions in Amazonia. The ship’s spacious cabins are individually climate-controlled, air-conditioned, and include private tiled bathrooms and hot-water showers. Visitors can also be assured of having waterproof ponchos, walking sticks, and extra thick boat cushions as needed for small boat excursions.

The ship features excellent food and an open-air upper deck for great wildlife viewing. The list of amenities offered by the ship and its attendant crew is impressive. Additionally, stable, flat-bottomed skiffs powered by exceptionally quiet engines permit intimate exploration of small streams and lakes with ease and comfort, and a minimum of noise intrusion.

The mobility of our ship and its excursion boats will allow us to explore different habitats and streams each morning and afternoon and provide exceptional opportunities to see birds and wildlife. Some birds will be common, widespread Amazonian species such as the Black-collared Hawk, Black-fronted Nunbird, Oriole Blackbird, Yellow-rumped Cacique, and Russet-backed Oropendola. Others will be more local species such as Hoatzin, Festive Parrot, and perhaps river island and river edge specialties such as Red-and-white Spinetail and Black-and-white Antbird. During the course of our trip, we will explore small wooded streams, lakes, seasonally flooded forest (varzea and igapo), and flooded river islands. Toward the latter part of the trip, we’ll have an opportunity to visit a native ribereño village, formed by a mix of former Amerindians with Spanish and Portuguese adventurers. Here we also may have a chance to see a few species not easily seen from our skiffs, or perhaps even enjoy colorful groups of tanagers and honeycreepers at a fruiting tree.

A brilliant blue Plum-throated Cotinga perched in a treetop, a pair of Blue-and-yellow Macaws winging overhead, a swirling group of White-winged Parakeets along the river, or a White-eared Jacamar in the morning sun—it is hard to predict which of these or many other experiences will delight you the most. We’ll also fill some spare shipboard time with discussions and explanations of Amazonian natural history, as well as recaps in some of the evenings.

Most visitors are pleasantly surprised at how comfortable travel can be in the heart of Amazonia. The airy, breezy ship and air-conditioned cabins mitigate the effects of even the hottest days, and visitors soon discover that insects and mosquitoes, far from being the torment they are imagined, are little problem.

For a more comprehensive understanding of the birdlife and culture of Peru, we are offering an optional extension to northern Peru, visiting an area rich in birdlife and pre-Columbian history covering the Moche and Chimu cultures: The Birds of the Northern Kingdoms of Peru.

While Cornell is pleased to facilitate travel opportunities for its alumni and friends with tour operators that specialize in high-quality educational travel, please be aware that Cornell does not conduct, manage, or operate these travel experiences, or act as an agent for travelers interested in tours. Tour operators and travelers are responsible for making their own safety decisions concerning this travel, and, as a facilitator between travelers and the tour operators with whom travelers make arrangements for completing travel, Cornell’s role and liability are strictly limited.

Specific tour-operator and national health and safety protocols will apply to each trip, and travelers should review all protocols and trip terms and conditions, including terms and conditions regarding cancellations, refunds, health and safety, and insurance before making a reservation. Cornell is not responsible for changes to trips or travel arrangements or for losses or additional expenses resulting from travel.

Excellent food and abundant creature comforts; excellent birding, mostly from small, quiet boats; one or two mornings on forest trails; rain possible, usually occurring during siesta time or at night.

Blue-and-yellow Macaw © Christine Mazaracki/Macaulay Library