The Motor Yacht Tucano was built entirely new and and went into service in 1997. We could have built a futuristic looking vessel, but the M/Y Tucano was built in the tradition of the steamboats that navigated the Amazon in the late 19th century. Why didn't we build a boat that more resembled a contemporary yacht with "swept back" decks and the "deep V" hull? Because over the many years that we have operated nature cruises in the Amazon we learned that the traditional design has several crucial advantages for Amazon river travel. The two most important of these are shallow draft and large volume of the interior space.

The M/Y Tucano is very wide at its base and has a flat bottom so at its deepest point the vessel draws only five feet. This enables the vessel to explore remote Amazon rivers where "V" hulls cannot navigate. The Tucano routinely crosses the sand bars that cover the entrances of many rivers in Amazonia, and continues on for tens or hundreds of miles farther into the wilderness. We are able to explore the small meandering rivers where wildlife is abundant but which are closed to almost all other passenger vessels. The traditional design is by far the most practical for nature exploration.

Given the typical calmness of the Amazon's rivers, Tucano is able to have three decks resulting in a quite large interior space. The M/Y Tucano has almost twice the interior volume as a comparable "swept back" vessel. This extra space goes into ample overhead ceilings, large cabins, full size bathrooms, and many comforts which would simply not be possible in a contemporary design. Especially important is that the riverboat style allows the M/Y Tucano to have many large windows. Tucano has over seventy windows all of which are three feet high and can be opened for passengers to enjoy the scent of Amazon blossoms. Every cabin has at least four of these windows which makes the vessel bright and airy, which is a very different experience than that of most contemporary yachts with their port holes and sealed skylights. Tucano's large interior space enables the guest to relax in comfort on our exploration cruises.

But just because the M/Y Tucano has the appearance of a traditional riverboat does not mean that it is not a thoroughly up to date and modern yacht. The vessel was built using sophisticated equipment, materials, and advanced construction techniques. From the electrical and water systems to the advanced propulsion and navigation systems, Tucano offers all of the convenience, security, and comfort of a modern yacht. There are individual air-conditioning thermostats in every cabin as well as volume controls for the boat-wide sound system. The vessel has state of the art communications and navigation equipment so that no matter how far into the world's greatest wilderness the vessel may explore, there is still contact with the outside world.

The traditional design of the M/Y Tucano has had another wonderful advantage, the beautiful finish details of the 19th Century. The cabins, Salon, and main corridors are crafted of exquisite solid wood raised paneling. The deep amber color of the varnished wood is accented by polished brass hardware found throughout the vessel. The walls are decorated with framed botanical prints as well as antique maps from the great era of exploration. The Tucano experience offers the classical elegance of a bygone era but combined with the capability and the spirit of modern exploration.

Come with us for the most exceptional, extraordinary experience in the Amazon.