Join Manaus, Brazil

Welcome to Manaus! On arrival you will be met by a representative of Adventure Associates and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day will be at your leisure.

Manaus is located in the heart of the Amazon rainforest along the banks of the Rio Negro – it is the capital of the vast state of Amazonas and is a major departure point for the surrounding area. Access to the city is primarily by aeroplane or boat and it is this isolation that has helped preserve both the surrounding natural environment and the culture of Manaus.

In the evening we will enjoy a welcome dinner at the famous Juma Opera Restaurant. D

Embark Manaus

This morning we’ll be taken on a city tour visiting its most important landmarks. The opulent pink Opera House – more than 120 years old and representing the city’s heyday during the rubber boom. It was chosen by Vogue magazine as one of the most beautiful opera houses in the world!

Fossick through the delights of the famous fresh food market, then admire The Cathedral of Our Lady of Conception, that was officially opened in 1878 and elevated to cathedral status in 1946.

After the tour we will be welcomed aboard our cosy floating home Amazon Dream by the Captain and his crew. After settling into our cabins, we will enjoy commanding views of our departure from Manaus as we head upstream to visit the Rubber Museum.

This visit will give us a better understanding about the golden age of rubber in the Amazon. White gold was the heyday of Manaus. The museum is a complete and faithful reproduction of a rubber plantation at the beginning of the 20th century. 

At dusk we will be treated to a presentation of indigenous rituals at the village of Domingos. B, L, D

Rio Cuieras & Anavilhanas Archipelago

We plan to take an early morning birding tour along the small river of Pagodao where we will experience a true sense of being deep in an Amazonian jungle. Here we hope to catch glimpses of exotic birds in the canopy. We’ll keep our eyes peeled for the pink (Boto) and the grey (Tucuxi) river dolphins. The pink is the largest of the river dolphins with males reaching a maximum length of around 2.55 metres (8.4ft). The grey estuarine dolphin is about half the length with a smaller head and shorter beak.

Later we will take a walk on terra firma (never flooded land). Our guide will explain the resources offered by the forest and how the caboclo indigenous populations used them, like wood and palm trees for housing construction and medicinal plants.

We will then sail to “Tres Bocas”, the three entrances to the Anavilhanas National Park that encompasses one of the largest fluvial archipelagos in the world and is part of a World Heritage Site. The area is known for its abundance of birdlife such as toucans, parrots and macaws.

Later in the afternoon we will head out to observe these wonders of the forest and the stunning landscapes on the “Lago da Pescada.

Back on board we will enjoy the sunset and as night falls the constellations of the southern hemisphere will light the sky as we sail towards the Madada caves. B, L, D

Madada Caves & Nova Airao

This morning we will take a walk for about an hour through the forest to the Madada Caves.  This is a mysterious place which served as a refuge for certain indigenous tribes more than 3000 years ago and is seldom visited by tourists.

Our course is set towards Novo Airao a small town on the banks of the Rio Negro where traditional Amazon riverboats are built and where we will visit the Almerinda Malaquias Foundation. We will be welcomed warmly by the locals who produce delicate native handicrafts and teach environmental education.

Later in the day we will travel towards Tiririca Village. B, L, D

Tiririca Village & Lake Acajatuba

Tiririca Village is a small community located on the right bank of the Rio Negro and is a lovely example of symbiosis between human beings and nature. Birds like the macaw and the buzzard are easily observed around the village. We will also learn how to make cassava flour, a staple food for the majority of the local populations. There will be free time to stroll around the village and observe the nature that lives in harmony with the river inhabitants.

Back on board we will head towards the entrance of Lake Acajatuba. It’s time to observe all the different shades of forest greens along the banks, and hopefully see the dolphins’ ballet of large circles in the shimmering water as our boat passes by.

Arriving in the middle of the afternoon, we’ll disembark for a moment of relaxation on the Jacaré beach to enjoy a cooling swim in the black waters of the Rio Negro. We will anchor here overnight and enjoy a specially arranged BBQ. B, L, D

Acajatuba & Ariau Canal

This morning we will visit the small village of Acajatuba. It is a collection of small, colourful wooden houses built on stilts. There is also a possibility of swimming with pink (Boto) dolphins.

Afterwards we will head off to Ariau. This is a natural canal which joins the Amazon River and the Rio Negro. A magnificent area for seeing wildlife and in particular the “mao amarella” monkeys.

We’ll spend the night at anchor in an arm of the Rio Negro not far from Manaus. B, L, D

Wedding of the Waters

Today we will approach the wedding of the waters!

The “Wedding of the Waters” is where the tea-coloured waters of the Rio Negro share the same channel with the brownish waters of the Rio Solimoes. This meeting is due to the different speed, temperature and density of the two tributaries as they run side by side without mixing for more than 6 kilometres, forming the main Amazon River.

We will continue up Rio Solimoes (the white river) towards Lago Janauaca, keeping our eyes peeled for caiman, which is a crocodilian reptile endemic to South America. B, L, D

Lago Janauaca

Another early morning start to explore Lago Janauaca. At this time, the birds are looking for food, dolphins are hunting in the muddy waters and the fishermen are out in their canoes hard at work. The people who live around this lake are divided between cassava farming, fishing and livestock activities. This region of “Varzea” is particularly fertile thanks to the nutrient deposits during seasonal flooding.

We hope to meet some local fishermen and learn about their piranha fishing.

After dinner we will take a nocturnal outing looking for caiman. B, L, D

On the Amazon River

We leave Janauaca behind and sail east down the Amazon River towards Parintins.

We will have time relaxing on deck as we go with the flow, taking in the life happening along the shore as we cruise down the almighty Amazon River.

On the way we will make outings at some interesting sites in search of birds and exotic plant life. Like the Victoria Amazonica – Giant waterlily. It’s one of the largest of all waterlilies, with enormous leaves that can reach up to three metres wide and support the weight of a small child. B, L, D

Parintins

We will be on board all day making it a perfect opportunity to reminisce about our voyage so far; taking time to sort out the hundreds of photos, do some reading, writing or even painting as we enjoy the sights floating by.

We arrive at Parintins late in the day. Parintins is the town where the Boi Bumba Folk Festival is held each year in June since 1965 when 16,000 souls descend to enjoy the music and festivities. It’s 420km from Manaus and we will be taken on “a behind the scenes” tour of the festival before anchoring for the night near Parintins. B, L, D

Obidos

Today is an exciting day! After a morning outing to check out the flora and fauna on a nearby island we will visit one of the oldest cities on the Amazon River, founded in 1697 and named after the Portuguese city of Obidos. It is located at the narrowest part of the river being only 1,890 metres wide.

In the evening we will come to anchor in Rio Tapajos near the Jari Canal – a beautiful place to observe sloths. B, L, D

Discovery of the Tapajos River

Breakfast in the sunshine on the Tapajos River, before heading on an expedition down the Jari River. This small tributary is bursting with dolphins, birds, and caiman…

Later we will head towards Maguari village which is on the edge of the Tapajos National Forest. The Tapajos River is 20 kilometres wide and mostly black water.

Imagine a different ecosystem with new rivers and cruising into another part of the mighty Amazon basin, with white sandy beaches and lakes creating a magnificent setting!  We will anchor overnight here so we can get up early for a morning hike into the primeval forest. B, L, D

Maguari – Jamaraqua & The National Forest of Tapajos

Our local guides from the communities of Maguari and Jamaraqua will be waiting to lead us deep into the forest looking for gigantic trees. Wildlife is a possibility too – from birds to blue butterflies, and maybe glimpses of agile monkeys and sloths.

After the long walk we can take a swim in the clear water before lunch.

The afternoon finds us sailing down the right bank of the river for a couple of hours to Lake Marai. The plan is to learn more about the Langsdorff Expedition who reached Santarem on 1 July 1828, after enormous difficulties and suffering. The expedition made large collections of scientific specimens which ended up in St Petersburg. Langsdorff’s descendants anxious to preserve his traditions; have set up a place to receive visitors under ecotourism programs.

Later in the day we will visit Braganca Lake for more bird watching at sunset.

This evening we hope to be treated to a ritual dance by the Munduruku Indians. B, L, D

Braganca Lake & Alter Do Chao

Today we will spend time in the vicinity of Barganca Lake, moving about on the lake in small canoes accompanied by local guides.

We will then head for Alter do Chao to spend our last night in the magical heart of the Amazonian Forest.

This evening, weather permitting there will be traditional dances and music on one of the beaches near Alter do Chao.

After dinner, Amazon Dream will sail toward Santarem where we will spend the night at anchor in the cove of Mapiri. B, L, D

Santarem to Manaus, expedition concludes

After a good breakfast we disembark our cosy vessel Amazon Dream, saying goodbye to our wonderful Captain and crew.

There is an option to visit the fish market, if it is open. Lunch will be provided either on board Amazon Dream or at one of the local restaurants, before transferring to the airport for the flight back to Manaus.

Flight G3 1727 departing Santarem at 14:45 arriving into Manaus at 15:05.

On arrival back in Manaus we say our goodbyes and head off in our separate directions, whether it be back home or continuing on another exciting adventure! B, L