EpicSOUTH AMERICA CELEBRATING 125 YEARS OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC AN EXHILARATING & COMPREHENSIVE VoyaGE ABoarD NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER | 2013 TM As astonishing as the photos in National Geographic. And an exhilarating life adventure: A Lindblad-National Geographic South America Expedition TM Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic have joined forces to further inspire the world through expedition travel. Our collaboration in exploration, research, technology and conservation will provide extraordinary travel experi- ences and disseminate geographic knowledge around the globe. EPIC “Pertaining to a long poetic composition, usually centered upon a hero.” In this case, a continent. Dear Traveler, This expedition, Epic South America, is indeed a long poetic composition—from 10° north latitude to 35° south. It would be a 2,700 nautical mile voyage on South America’s west coast but, because of what we fondly refer to as “Brazil’s bump,” it’s about 4,000 nautical miles on the east coast. It visits eight distinctly different countries with spectacularly diverse geography—physically, culturally and naturally. For reasons that make little sense to me personally, South America played a very limited role in historic teachings when I went to school. We were Old World-centric, and rarely, if ever, discussed the vibrant, turbulent and complex history of this New World continent. So, on this voyage you can fill the gap so clearly left in the curriculum many of us experienced. To celebrate 125 years of the National Geographic Society, a most essential institution, we have assembled a most remarkable aggregate of staff and guest speakers, including my friends National Geographic Fellow Tom Lovejoy, and National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence Wade Davis and Johan Reinhard. Together with them, and other members of the expedition team you’ll see on pages 18-21, the pieces of the puzzle called South America will fall into place. And, although I do not know him personally, you will have the pleasure of hearing from and having conversation with a courageous man, César Gaviria, who was President of Colombia from 1990-1994. And, also joining us is Jacob Edgar, an ethnomusicologist (now that’s a mouthful), who first traveled with us on our West Africa expedition this year. Jacob was wildly popular in West Africa; and on this expedition he will curate and make discovering the continent’s diverse music highly entertaining for you. So, yes—this is a long poetic composition in every sense of the words. If you possibly can, you should join us for these, and countless other reasons. All the best, P.S. Travel with us during the National Geographic anniversary in 2013 and we would love to give you a copy of this wonderful book celebrating this essential Sven-Olof Lindblad institution’s path for over a century. Photo this page: Kaieteur Falls in Guyana, one of the world’s largest and most powerful. Ship’s registry: Bahamas 1 EXtraorDINARY DIVersity & A DAZZLING Array OF POINTS OF INTEREST DEPARTING SEPTEMBER 18, 2013 Tropical and sub-tropical environments. Fascinating ecosystems from riverine to jungle to urban, within dramatic natural settings. Rare opportunities to experience the Atlantic rain forest, pristine Fernando de Noronha, and tropical species. A dramatic history and globally influential culture—easily three different expeditions in one spectacular voyage. TRINIDAD & TOBAGO TRINIDAD See hundreds of scarlet ibis return Port of Spain to roost in the mangroves: a Essequibo River Orinoco River superb birding spectacle. Georgetown DEVIL’S ISLAND GUYANA Paramaribo Visit the notorious penal colony Devil’s Island SURINAME of Henri Charrière’s Papillon. FRENCH GUIANA Amazon River EXtraorDINARY Belém 3 LEGENDARY Fernando de Noronha RIVERS DIVersity & A DAZZLING Discover the Orinoco, FERNANDO DE NORONHA Essequibo & the Amazon. A rare opportunity to visit Go in by ship, go deeper by Zodiac. this marine UNESCO site by Array OF POINTS OF INTEREST BRAZIL special permission. DEPARTING SEPTEMBER 18, 2013 Salvador Ilhéus SALVADOR Abrolhos Capital of the vibrant Bahian lifestyle: regional cuisine, capoeira dancing & peerless colonial architecture. Rio de Janeiro Parati ABROLHOS NATIONAL PARK Anchieta See humpback whales at their Curitiba breeding grounds. Paranaguá RIO DE JANEIRO Discover one of Brazil’s most Rio Grande storied & iconic locales. URUGuay Montevideo PARANAGUÁ Buenos Aires For a thrilling train ride on the ‘world-wonder’ ARGENTINA Serra Verde Express. MONTEVIDEO OPTIONS ALONG THE WAY Exquisite colonial architecture & At most stops along this an asado barbecue at a private fascinating itinerary, you’ll have a estancia (ranch) in gaucho country. rich variety of activities to choose from, with informed guidance to help you satisfy your curiosity and make the most of your time. 3 THIS IS THE FIRST TIME we’ve OFFERED A COMPREHENSIVE EXPEDITION IN THIS GEOGRAPHY & I was Expedition Leader for those last voyages when we traveled on the Orinoco and the Amazon delta, and some of the staff on this new OUR EXPEDITION TEAM IS COUNTING THE REASONS THEY WANT TO GO expedition were also aboard M.S. Polaris then. When Sven asked us what we considered the high points, we came up with this list—and while 1 Legendary jungle rivers everyone had their favorites, we all agree that being able to visit UNESCO When else will you get the chance to World Heritage site Fernando de Noronha is a rare privilege. Government explore three of the world’s most impor- restrictions protecting it have prohibited ship entry for some time. But tant rivers—the Amazon, the Orinoco, and now, we’ll have the opportunity to explore this idyllic archipelago, and the Essequibo—on one voyage? spend nearly two days discovering its extraordinary natural wonders. 2 Fernando de Noronha After visiting Noronha, National Geographic Explorer will hug the A 21-island archipelago, home to the astonishingly diverse coastline of Brazil south from Salvador. At most largest concentration of tropical seabirds destination points, you will have the opportunity to choose excursions in the western Atlantic, and a profusion of to visit reserves, to see the highly endangered ecosystem of the unique tropical fish, sea turtles, spinner dolphins Atlantic rain forest, or see an endangered species. And there will be and humpbacks. many other options to learn about the history, culture, music, cuisines, and people of coastal Brazil. This thoughtful itinerary is designed to 3 Atlantic rain forest empower you to create the experience you want. More than 20,000 species of plants and It is a long voyage, but the coast of South America is long and rich in more than 1,361 species of animals, points of interest we want to experience, not merely “drive by.” In the end, 42% of which occur nowhere else in you might even wish there was more time to linger in a host of locations. the world! The Atlantic rain forest is considered a diversity “hot spot”—and we’ll get to experience it in four different locations: in Parati, Ilhéus, Paranaguá and Rio de Janeiro. —Bud Lehnhausen, Expedition Leader THIS IS THE FIRST TIME we’ve OFFERED A COMPREHENSIVE EXPEDITION IN THIS GEOGRAPHY & OUR EXPEDITION TEAM IS COUNTING THE REASONS THEY WANT TO GO 4 Six UNESCO World Heritage sites 7 Rare/endangered species An opportunity to visit a number of sites of cultural or nat- See the endangered golden lion tamarin near Rio de ural importance: Paramaribo, Suriname, a unique pocket Janeiro. And have the tantalizing prospect of seeing of Dutch influence. Salvador de Bahia, the first capital of rare parrots, toucans and other birdlfe. Brazil. Fernando de Noronha, a pristine marine park. Rio de Janeiro, awarded UNESCO status in September 2012 8 Superb colonial architecture for its natural setting and unique outdoor living culture. The Exploring the towns and cities along this coast is a Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves for their wildlife and marvelous opportunity for anyone beguiled by charis- biodiversity. And if you take the extension, Iguazú Falls is matic locations and the poetry of endemic places. one of the world’s most spectacular waterfalls. 9 Music 5 Abrolhos Archipelago Steel band and calypso! Samba, bossa nova, forró! A stunning marine reserve that is also an important Our expedition ethnomusicologist, Jacob Edgar (see footnote in the history of evolutionary biology—as page 18), has arranged presentations and perfor- Charles Darwin conducted studies here in 1830 during mances by some of South America’s finest artists that his voyage aboard the H.M.S. Beagle. will have us dancing and learning a great deal about South American music. 6 Riveting history For anyone with an avid historical sense—the stories of 10 Vibrant New World cities exploration, the extraction of gold, sugar and cacao, plus A rare chance to see and compare the lifestyles of the unprecedented blending of European, African and three of South America’s greatest cities: Rio de Janeiro, Amerindian cultures will provide a vivid voyage narrative. Montevideo, and Buenos Aires. Sunset over the Orinoco River. THE AMAZON | THE ORINOCO | THE ESSEQUIBO & KAIETEUR FaLLS Photo of pink river dolphins by Kevin Schafer from the article “River Spirits,” published in National Geographic magazine, June 2009. At right: clockwise from top left: Cocoi heron taking flight, Guyana; Kaieteur Falls; city of Belém, Brazil. 6 NOT ONE, BUT THREE LEGENDARY RIVERS This voyage presents a rare opportunity to visit the South American continent’s most significant rivers, experience extraordinary riverine environments, and see a host of great places that many people don’t ever get to see. The artery of a continent, and the largest volume river in the world, the Amazon nourishes the lives of Peruvian Indians, Colombian lumberman and Brazilian homesteaders, among others. The main stem is undammed and undredged—with currents among the cleanest of any river in the world. We’ll explore the rich delta region, looking for brilliant tropical birds: toucans, macaws, kingfishers, and hoatzins, as well as the pink river dolphins known locally as botos.