The Last of the Historic Amazon Riverboats
The M/F Ayapua is the last remaining operational Amazon rubber boom-era riverboat. Cruises on this magnificent boat not only help preserve Amazonian history, but also help conserve the rainforest and it’s wildlife.
Bayfield, CO, May 20, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Steamboats were at the heart of the rubber boom trade, carrying hundreds of millions of dollars of raw rubber from the depths of forest to Amazon River port cities such as Iquitos, Peru and Manaus, Brazil. But, the steamboats are gone and virtually all of the original boats have rotted away or been taken apart for scrap. Fortunately, the M/F Ayapua has been restored to approximate it’s original splendor, converted to diesel for efficiency and is now the only operating riverboat of it’s type left from that era.
The Ayapua, named after Lake Ayapua in Brazil, was built in Hamburg, Germany in 1906 and transported rubber along the Purus, Japua, Jura, Putumayo and Yavari rivers in Brazil and Peru during the early part of the 20th century. Work to restore the Ayapua was performed from 2004-2006. While the majority of the ship is original it took some serious searching in Brazil and Peru to find some missing parts and all told there are pieces from eight different rubber boom era ships on the Ayapua. She has three decks and is 108 feet long and 20 feet wide.
The original steam engine has been replaced by two marine diesels, but the smokestack remains as does the steam whistle (now run by compressed air.) In the wheel house one will find the original wheel and compass. The dining room, library and cabins are outfitted in period pieces, including pictures and drawings from the rubber boom era. All are now air-conditioned. There is even a working Victrola in the dining room. The bar and both covered and uncovered observation areas are on the upper deck.
The Ayapua is a restoration project in a holistic approach that conserves Amazonian history and the Amazon rainforest. She has been used by Earthwatch, Wildlife Conservation Society and GreenTracks. Expedition cruises travel to the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve of Peru or the Lago Preto Conservation Concession on the Yavari River.
The GreenTracks Amazon Riverboat Expedition on the Ayapua provides an opportunity for tourists to cruise the Amazon rainforest aboard a historic riverboat in absolute comfort, as well as to observe wildlife, in order to gauge the overall health of the rainforest. This helps researchers to find a balance between the needs of the indigenous people and the protection of the animals and plants. Your assistance to the trip biologist in surveying pink and gray dolphins, macaws and monkeys, provides valuable data for this on-going conservation project.
GreenTracks own guides will provide small boat and hiking excursions in the rainforest in search of wildlife. There will be nighttime boat trips to spot and count caimans, whose glowing eyes blaze orange by flashlight. GreenTracks’ guides will offer night hikes for those who want to see the secrets of the rainforest seldom seen by day. The food is excellent and everyone will enjoy the pleasure of Peruvian hospitality in some of the least visited and most beautiful parts of the Amazon.
This seven day/six night trip departs Iquitos, Peru on selected dates in 2009. The cost of the trip is $2500 per person in a twin cabin. With over 17 years of operation GreenTracks has provided memorable experiences of the Amazon to thousands of travelers. Visit www.greentracks.com
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The Ayapua, named after Lake Ayapua in Brazil, was built in Hamburg, Germany in 1906 and transported rubber along the Purus, Japua, Jura, Putumayo and Yavari rivers in Brazil and Peru during the early part of the 20th century. Work to restore the Ayapua was performed from 2004-2006. While the majority of the ship is original it took some serious searching in Brazil and Peru to find some missing parts and all told there are pieces from eight different rubber boom era ships on the Ayapua. She has three decks and is 108 feet long and 20 feet wide.
The original steam engine has been replaced by two marine diesels, but the smokestack remains as does the steam whistle (now run by compressed air.) In the wheel house one will find the original wheel and compass. The dining room, library and cabins are outfitted in period pieces, including pictures and drawings from the rubber boom era. All are now air-conditioned. There is even a working Victrola in the dining room. The bar and both covered and uncovered observation areas are on the upper deck.
The Ayapua is a restoration project in a holistic approach that conserves Amazonian history and the Amazon rainforest. She has been used by Earthwatch, Wildlife Conservation Society and GreenTracks. Expedition cruises travel to the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve of Peru or the Lago Preto Conservation Concession on the Yavari River.
The GreenTracks Amazon Riverboat Expedition on the Ayapua provides an opportunity for tourists to cruise the Amazon rainforest aboard a historic riverboat in absolute comfort, as well as to observe wildlife, in order to gauge the overall health of the rainforest. This helps researchers to find a balance between the needs of the indigenous people and the protection of the animals and plants. Your assistance to the trip biologist in surveying pink and gray dolphins, macaws and monkeys, provides valuable data for this on-going conservation project.
GreenTracks own guides will provide small boat and hiking excursions in the rainforest in search of wildlife. There will be nighttime boat trips to spot and count caimans, whose glowing eyes blaze orange by flashlight. GreenTracks’ guides will offer night hikes for those who want to see the secrets of the rainforest seldom seen by day. The food is excellent and everyone will enjoy the pleasure of Peruvian hospitality in some of the least visited and most beautiful parts of the Amazon.
This seven day/six night trip departs Iquitos, Peru on selected dates in 2009. The cost of the trip is $2500 per person in a twin cabin. With over 17 years of operation GreenTracks has provided memorable experiences of the Amazon to thousands of travelers. Visit www.greentracks.com
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Contact
GreenTracks, Inc.
George Ledvina
970-884-6107
www.greentracks.com
George Ledvina
970-884-6107
www.greentracks.com
Contact
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