Manaus, the Amazon and Rio Negro
4 days / 3 nights
After your hiking/trekking feats in the Gran Sabana in Venezuela, we designed this trip around Manaus to make you discover the area, but on a reduced level of difficulty.
The Amazon does not really have seasons, there is a period of high waters and one of low waters, the difference beeing 10 to 12 meters! The landscape is very different if you come in July when water is at its maximum, or if you come in December, when the level is at its lowest. Because of these differences, we must adapt our itineraries and as such the following description is only indicative.
There are several ways to reach Manaus from Venezuela, by bus, plane, or a combination of both. Click here for an outline of the various alternatives.
DAY 1
Your English-speaking guide comes to meet you at your hotel, if you arrived by bus the previous night, or directly at the airport if you arrive in the morning. In this case he will initially accompany you to your hotel to leave your luggage before going to the Municipal Market.
We will then visit the famous Teatro Amazonas, symbol of ephemeral, grandiose times and wealth, and then the zoological gardens.
The afternoon is free, you can visit the Museum of the Indian or the Museum of the Man of North, both a walking distance from your hotel or you can simply stroll downtown.
DAY 2
( B , L , D )
Your guide comes to pick you up at your hotel to go to the busy port of Manaus and embark immediately on a typical Amazonian boat (made of wood, with open decks, small kitchen, WC, and space to hang your hammock). A small motorboat accompanies our excursion.
We leave around 9am. It is about one hour sailing before reaching the famous "meeting of the waters", where the two big rivers (Solimões and Rio Negro) meet and flow without mixing for various kilometers. This phenomenon attracts often many freshwater dolphins. It is from this point on that the Solimoes takes officially the name Amazon River
Our boat enters the Ecological Park of Janauary where we embark in our small launch to explore the area for a first contact with the flora and fauna of the Amazon. We have good chances to see monkeys, loths, jacanas, etc. as the boat penetrates in narrow igarapés (small arms of the river) where the atmosphere is magical. Our excursion takes us to a footbridge which connects a touristic area (with floating restaurant and local craftsmen) to a lake where you will be able to admire the famous giant water lilies: Victoria regias. Return to the boat for lunch and possibly a short nap in your hammock.
In the afternoon crossing to the Island of Xiborena to observe the varzéa ecosystem. These are very fertile grounds which benefit from the flood of the river. Because of its richness, it is possible to observe many birds. We spend the afternoon sailing across the area, then we start sailing upriver the Rio Negro, in order to sleep there after dinner. Note: the acid waters of the Rio Negro prevent the development of the larvaes of mosquitoes, which are thus in a limited number on this river. This is why we will always sleep on black water rivers.
DAY 3
Our boat moved during part of the previous night, so we wake up in the area of the Island of Jacareubal. Early in the morning the boat starts again so that you can enjoy the landscape during breakfast.
At about 10am, we arrive at the large lake Acajatuba, where we will make an excursion in our launch to visit the inhabitants (Sailing first the Carrao River and then upriver the caboclos, metis of Indians and white) who live from fishing, hunting and flour of manioc. We will observe the manufacturing process of this flour, omnipresent on the Amazonian tables.
Return to the boat for lunch and right afterwards, excursion by foot in the forest. Our guide explains the ecology of this majestic forest, its fragility, its inhabitants, etc. We will focus our observation on the "useful" plants (medicinal, food, of dyeing, trees used in shipbuilding, etc). Our walk in the forest will be of approximately 3 hours. Return to the boat for dinner, then out again at night to appreciate the noises of the Amazonian nights. Our guide will look for caimans and other animals of nocturnal habits. Night on board on the lakeshore.
DAY 4
( B , L )
At daybreak, we board our launch to observe the fauna (especially birds) which are waking up. Possibility to see monkeys too. Return to the boat for breakfast.
We will then sail on the Rio Negro in direction of Manaus, observing the "botos", the dolphins of the area. Stop before lunch to fish (piranhas, catfish, etc. Return onboard for lunch.
Last stopover at the small town of Paricatuba (right bank of Rio Negro) to observe the remainders of a building of the time of the rubber boom (an old halt for the immigrants arriving in the area to work in "seriguais" - area of extraction of the hévea). The building is invaded by a luxuriant vegetation and demostrates the power of nature. We are back in Manaus at about 5h30pm, when the day starts to decline. Our guide brings you back to the airport or the bus station depending on your means of transportion back to Venezuela.
Our prices include:
a bilingual guide, one night in simple hotel downtow (Hotel Kristal), two nights in hammocks on board
all meals as indicated, Ground transportation as indicated, River transportion, Entries to the museums
6 persons: US$670 p.p.
Supplement for 4 persons: + US$190 p.p.
Supplement for 2 persons: + US$420 p.p.
Reduction for groups of more than 7 persons,
Contact us .