Wonders of the Amazon Aboard Clelia II

April 4 - 21, 2010

Amazon Lilypads

Amazon Orchid

Amazon River

Amazon Riverbank

Macaws

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In the waters of the Amazon, the dolphins are pink and blind and navigate by echolocation.  Entire schools of fish dart and leap, silver in the sunlight, to avoid their jaws. Lily pads open six feet wide, their foot-wide flowers morphing overnight from white to pink. In the undergrowth, amid the kepok trees and orchids, 100-lb. rodents called capybara snuffle and rummage; up above, finches chirp and scarlet macaws whistle, an accompaniment in treble to the bass roar of howler monkeys, among the loudest animals on Earth. And, for thousands of years, traditional Amazonian tribes have used the rain forest's medicinal plants to cure everything from rheumatism to anxiety, from fevers to parasites.

This is the Amazon—but only the beginning of it. Join us on this unique expedition, the only cruise that encompasses practically the entire navigable river—some 2,000 miles of the most teeming, complex, intricate wilderness on Earth. As we cruise from Iquitos in the Peruvian rain forest to Belem, near the mouth of the Amazon on the Atlantic, we'll traverse through the wide snaking length of the world's longest river, deep into sinuous tributaries and flooded forests to see and experience the ravishing sights Amazonia offers.

The facts and statistics are astonishing. Ten million species of plants, including 3,000 types of fruit, thrive in the Amazonian rain forest. A single rain forest preserve in Peru contains more bird species than in the entirety of North America. A single pond can have a greater variety of fish than in all of Europe's lakes and streams. There is simply no end to the dazzling variety of life and the creative survival strategies that Nature presents to us as we explore on our inflatable Zodiac boats and hike through the organic labyrinth.

In addition to our onboard expert naturalist guides, we are privileged to have on this expedition a stellar team of lecturers, including John Hemming, a world-renowned expert on the Amazon's rain forest and it tribal societies; Patty Hostiuck, a highly regarded naturalist; and Margaret Lowman, a pioneer in the science of canopy ecology.

As you may know, this incredible ecosystem—which produces 20% of the Earth's atmospheric oxygen—is also home to a large variety of medicinal plants. Amazonian tribes have used these plants for thousands of years to cure various illnesses. Today, scientific efforts are under way to develop treatments from rare Amazonian flora. It is therefore only fitting that on this voyage we have arranged for a special health and wellness program which will be led by Dr. Linda Hegstrand, a cutting-edge researcher on Amazonian pharmacology. Joining her will be Lilas Fogan, a respected yoga teacher.

With all-suite accommodations aboard the Clelia II for only100 guests, you'll enjoy elegant accommodations, intimate surroundings, and superb service. Discover, through insightful lectures and naturalist-guided walks how truly special Amazonia is. Join us for a rare travel experience.

Study Leader Information

John Hemming is one of the world’s foremost experts on the Amazon; Margaret D. Lowman, lecturer and host for The Explorers Club, is Professor and Director of Environmental Initiatives at New College of Florida, Sarasota; Patty Hostiuck is a popular and respected naturalist whose work has taken her to all 7 continents and nearly “pole-to-pole,”; Dr. Linda Hegstrand will offer a series of lectures on Age Management Medicine, treatments aimed to slow or decrease our biologic age; Lilias Folan, a renowned master yoga teacher.

Tour Itinerary

To register by credit card, please call 1-800-944-NTHP (6847); to register online, please fill out our reservation form. View our terms and conditions.

Please email National Trust Tours for questions about this program. Be sure to include your mailing address if you are requesting a paper copy of the brochure for this program.