RIVERBOATS & RIVER ACCESS

Margarita Tours uses a number of river vessels to access remote field stations, for live-aboard expeditions, and for accessing creeks, rivers and lakes in the region. All expeditions, even field station based trips, DO include some river travel on the Amazon River and/or other rivers in the region.

We regularly use boats owned and operated by Project Amazonas, a US and Peruvian non-profit organization. Our use of boats pays for maintenance and also contributes to medical and other service trips carried out by Project Amazonas. In the past, we used the Tucunare, a V-hull river vessel which was retired in September 2009. Thanks to the generosity of various supporters of Project Amazonas (including many Margarita Tours clients), the organization was able to purchase and remodel the Nenita, a flat hull vessel that has considerably more floor space than the Tucunare did, even though the length of the two vessels did not differ. The Nenita's inaugural voyage was a medical service trip at the end of September 2009, and with additional work in Oct 09, she is now fully in service and is our first choice of charter vessel when we need one.

The Nenita features seven 2-person cabins and a master cabin that can hold up to 4 additional persons. A wide prow and observation deck provide favorite locations for watching the river scenery go by. Cabins are centrally located with open passage-ways on both sides of the vessel. Two bathrooms (toilet, shower, sink) are located on the first deck. A large screened dining area is located on the second deck, and has access to an open area of the second deck at the stern. Stairs fore and aft provide access between the decks.

Nenita is owned and operated by Project Amazonas, and operates under the maritime regulations of the Republic of Peru. it undergoes annual safety inspections, carries the required Peruvian passenger insurance, and is legally registered with port authorities in Iquitos, Peru. It carries the Peruvian flag at all times and is based out of Iquitos, Peru. 

For large groups, we can charter commercial passenger vessels with greater capacity. Such charters need to be scheduled well in advance, however.

Auxiliary boats that we use in additional to river launches, include the covered speedboat the "Mai-Kai", the aluminum skiff "Shiripira", a large open wooden boat, the "Yucundero" and a fleet of 6 kayaks (pick your six favorite dwarfs, reindeer, or whatever, if you want to assign names to them!).

mionectes (at) aol.com