TWELVETH BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATION TRIP IN THE AMAZON

To become familiar with the Amazon environment, observe its vegetation closely, understand its ecology better and for anyone who wants to learn to draw or paint flora species in watercolor:  this is the trip programmed with Dulce Nascimento, a Botanical Illustrator and a graduate of the School of Fine Arts of Rio de Janeiro, orienting and teaching the techniques of collecting plants and how to adapt oneself to field work.  Dulce improved her technique at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, as a scholar of the Margaret Mee Foundation and has gone on several botanical expeditions in the Amazon.

Objectives: Furnish the students with fundamental information on the drawing of elements of nature.                           

                 Develop and stimulate observation of the forms, colors and textures of nature and artistic skills of the students

                 Teach basic technical norms applied in Botanical Illustration

The trip will be from May 24th  (a Monday) to May 30th  (the following Sunday) and will be accompanied by Gilberto Castro, a biologist with wide experience in the Amazon. This is not only a Botanical Illustration trip, but also a wonderful opportunity to see and explore nature in the Amazon, in virtually untouched areas.

Since 2006 we have upgraded our accommodations and are now doing our trip in a boat that has been built by Gilberto Castro.  We will still enjoy the advantages of a small group (maximum of 18 passengers), but with a whole new level of comfort. The “OTTER” is 88 feet long and 24.6 feet wide, has four decks, nine passenger cabins, 8 double cabins with large twin beds, one with a large double bed, individual air conditioning units in each cabin, all with private bathrooms with hot water showers. On the first deck we have the command, five passenger cabins, crew quarters, kitchen and service areas. On the second deck we have 4 passenger cabins, a 350 square foot enclosed dining room, a small open veranda, and service areas.  On the third deck we have 2 covered verandas, one in the front and one in the back, one sun deck area with a Jacuzzi tub and showers, a bar, a toilet and a nice 250 square foot enclosed living room. The fourth deck is a 360° panoramic sun deck.             

Flights: There are several flights from various companies, both from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, leaving in the morning, arriving in Manaus in the early afternoon between 1:00 P.M. and 2:00 P.M.  Return flights should be bought for the planes leaving Manaus in the early afternoon after 1.00 P.M. as the boat returns around 11.30 A.M. on Sunday. There are also direct daily flights coming from Miami on TAM airlines and from Atlanta on Delta airlines.

The cost of the boat part of the trip is US$1,400 per person and includes botanical illustration lessons, transfers in Manaus from the airport to the boat and from the boat to the airport, all meals on board, mineral water, excursions in the canoe and walks in the forest.  The cost of the airfare is not included in the above price.  If you are coming from abroad, a valid Passport will be required, as well as a Visa for certain countries (such as the U.S.A, Canada, Australia, etc.).

Special offer: for one person accompanying an artist participating in classes US$1,300. For others not participating in the classes but that want to join the trip, US$1,300.  Passengers of previous trips pay the promotional price of US$1,300.

Prices do not include: alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, personal and baggage insurance, laundry, tips, airline tickets, hotel costs in Manaus and entrance fees to the Manaus Opera House and museums.