Cruises
Amazon cruise photos: In search of animals and an unforgettable experience
Nick Kontis
Special to USA TODAY
![Is South America on your travel bucket list? Then join travel writer and photographer Nick Kontis as he leads you on a cruise into the deepest reaches of the Amazon aboard the MY Tucano, a classic riverboat. Its Amazon Nature Tours travels further into the Amazon basin than any other ship.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/19/USAT/75f6f311-40e8-4d50-9bd6-56e88956c8e1-MY_Tucano.jpg?width=660&height=495&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Is South America on your travel bucket list? Then join travel writer and photographer Nick Kontis as he leads you on a cruise into the deepest reaches of the Amazon aboard the MY Tucano, a classic riverboat. Its Amazon Nature Tours travels further into the Amazon basin than any other ship.
Nick Kontis/Special To USA TODAY![The MY Tucano departs out of Manaus, the capital and largest city of the Brazilian state of Amazonas and home to the Teatro Amazonas, or Manaus Opera House.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/19/USAT/123c0b91-f4af-4755-995e-499e964f988c-IMG_5143-2.jpg?width=660&height=495&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
The MY Tucano departs out of Manaus, the capital and largest city of the Brazilian state of Amazonas and home to the Teatro Amazonas, or Manaus Opera House.
Nick Kontis/Special To USA TODAY![The chance to see animals in their native habitat is a big draw. Here, tourists break out their binoculars on a boat excursion in search of parrots, macaws and monkeys.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/19/USAT/b0f0882c-c349-4c4c-a87c-9640e5ba446b-Boat_excursion_in_search_of_parrotts_macaws_and_monkeys.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
The chance to see animals in their native habitat is a big draw. Here, tourists break out their binoculars on a boat excursion in search of parrots, macaws and monkeys.
Nick Kontis/Special To USA TODAY![Blue and yellow macaws.can be found throughout the Amazon basin.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/19/USAT/a707a9b3-bced-4bac-a7a6-aa8b74f9e4a2-Blue_and_Yellow_Macaw.jpg?width=660&height=495&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Blue and yellow macaws.can be found throughout the Amazon basin.
Nick Kontis/Special To USA TODAY![Some seven species of spider monkeys can be seen during Amazon Nature Tours aboard the MY Tucano.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/19/USAT/b15e40fc-a542-4dcd-b1a4-7fb705f68967-Spider_Monkey.jpg?width=660&height=448&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Some seven species of spider monkeys can be seen during Amazon Nature Tours aboard the MY Tucano.
Nick Kontis/Special To USA TODAY![The black caiman is the largest of the caiman species pf crocodile and reaches sizes up to 17 feet long.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/19/USAT/3385bf32-d1e1-47be-93a0-c3e30bf5f570-The_Black_Caiman_is_the_largest_of_the_Caiman_specifies_and_reaches_up_to_17_feet_long.jpg?width=660&height=441&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
The black caiman is the largest of the caiman species pf crocodile and reaches sizes up to 17 feet long.
Nick Kontis/Special To USA TODAY![You can even go fishing for piranhas.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/19/USAT/7062db27-ae99-438a-bc28-240b9ca86782-Catching_Piranhas_in_the_Amazon.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
You can even go fishing for piranhas.
Nick Kontis/Special To USA TODAY![An early morning expedition in search of native flora and fauna also yielded an amazing sunrise.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/19/USAT/c036f99d-7165-4089-9e3c-fe247796cbd8-An_early_morning_expedition_in_search_of_native_flara_and_fauna.jpg?width=660&height=496&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
An early morning expedition in search of native flora and fauna also yielded an amazing sunrise.
Nick Kontis/Special To USA TODAY![Expert nature guides are ready to lead guests to hidden areas of the vast jungle.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/19/USAT/ad9d0956-ca10-4690-8d6e-fa4a3d4fa34d-sm-Expert_nature_guides_lead_you_to_hidden_areas_of_the_vast_jungle.jpg?width=660&height=372&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Expert nature guides are ready to lead guests to hidden areas of the vast jungle.
Nick Kontis/Special To USA TODAY![Despite its specialized nature, the MY Tucano features activities you ' d find on a traditional cruise ship, like happy hour on the observation deck.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/19/USAT/e5ca7a46-81be-4221-95eb-306910cc2adc-Happy_Hour_on_Observation_Deck.jpg?width=660&height=495&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Despite its specialized nature, the MY Tucano features activities you'd find on a traditional cruise ship, like happy hour on the observation deck.
Nick Kontis/Special To USA TODAY![A sample stateroom on the MY Tucano features twin beds and exquisite wood paneling that takes you back in time.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/19/USAT/05353f28-019f-40fc-8416-52cefcc3fb1a-Stateroom_Two_Twins-3.jpg?width=660&height=441&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A sample stateroom on the MY Tucano features twin beds and exquisite wood paneling that takes you back in time.
Nick Kontis/Special To USA TODAY![Go back to your childhood with a bunk-bed style double-berth cabin.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/19/USAT/69f763e7-1dd9-4032-87d5-4a8d287a368e-Double_Birth-2.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Go back to your childhood with a bunk-bed style double-berth cabin.
Nick Kontis/Special To USA TODAY![And while the tour ' s focus is on nature, there ' s still time for swimming and lying on the sand. The Amazon actually has many beaches suitable for swimming.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/19/USAT/b15f1734-7d5f-4ac0-b6ea-f60c0d2f47fe-The_Amazon_has_many_beachess_suitable_for_swimming_.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
And while the tour's focus is on nature, there's still time for swimming and lying on the sand. The Amazon actually has many beaches suitable for swimming.
Nick Kontis/Special To USA TODAY![The tour also makes time for tourists to meet locals along the way.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/19/USAT/cf2930cf-63a8-4007-ae51-2486c7f74584-Local_Village_Girls.jpg?width=495&height=660&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
The tour also makes time for tourists to meet locals along the way.
Nick Kontis/Special To USA TODAY![Children check out the newcomers coming ashore.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/19/USAT/c08d06ab-ca64-4303-a583-0d0632086a2a-Children_of_the_Amazon.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Children check out the newcomers coming ashore.
Nick Kontis/Special To USA TODAY![An interesting sight: the murky Rio Negro merges with the Solimoes, yet the waters never mix.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/18/USAT/fa1ac051-ecbf-4605-b384-ad56ca18d18a-The_Meeting_of_Waters_where_murky_Rio_Negro_merges_with_sandy_Solimoes._The_rivers_converge_but_never_mix.jpg?width=660&height=441&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
An interesting sight: the murky Rio Negro merges with the Solimoes, yet the waters never mix.
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