Highlights of Brazil

The Amazon… the name alone conjures up images of an endless sea of green, lush tropical forest. This is the largest area of tropical rainforest on the planet and is home to the greatest biodiversity on Earth. Uncontacted tribes, isolated from the outside world live deep in the forest, surviving the way they have for thousands of years. The area teems with wildlife, big and small and the diversity of the land is remarkable, from huge cities more akin to a ‘concrete jungle’ to some of the remotest true jungle on Earth. This tour is a voyage into the jungle and is sure to be one you’ll never forget.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - Welcome to Brazil (-)

Upon arrival at Belém’s international airport you will be warmly welcomed by a Blue World Journeys representative and escorted to your hotel by private car. You will have the rest of the day to enjoy at your leisure, exploring the area around your hotel.

Day 2 - Belém (B)

This tour begins early, before sunrise as you head to Ilha do Papagaio (Parrot Island), named for the huge number of parrots and other birds that live here. As the sun rises, thousands of birds fly away from the island to forage on the mainland, in an unforgettable spectacle of flight. Continuing by motorized canoe through narrow mangrove creeks, your guide will point out a large variety of animal and plant species. This afternoon your tour will continue into the city of Belém, which was founded in 1615 by Portuguese settlers. The colonial architecture here resembles that of 17th century Lisbon with Portuguese ceramic tiles a prominent feature. Your tour will include stops at the Basílica de Nossa Senhora de Nazaré, the Muesu Emílio Goedi - a botanical, zoological and anthropological park, and the most important research institute in the Amazon; as well as the Ver-o-Peso market, home to an interesting combination of fishmongers, produce vendors and Macumba (witchcraft) stalls.

Day 3 - Ilha do Marajó (B,L,D)

Another early start is required today to catch the 6:30am ferry to the island of Marajó, the largest fluvial island in the world, similar in size to the entire country of Switzerland. Upon arrival you will take a motorized canoe for an hour up the Camará River to the Fazenda Nossa Senhora do Carmo cattle ranch.

After settling in, you will experience a tour through the area’s grasslands either on horseback, or for something unique, on the back of a tame buffalo, accompanied by Marajó cowboys. You can expect to see capibaras, anacondas, birds and wild pigs here. This afternoon, a tour by motorized canoe will take you close to monkeys, sloths and alligators.

After dinner, you can use flashlights to spot alligators on the riverbanks.

Day 4 - Ilha do Marajó (B,L,D)

Following breakfast, you will take another wildlife spotting tour - in the wet season (Feb-Aug), this will be by small canoe, in the dry season (Sept-Jan), this will be in a safari type vehicle. After lunch you will travel by motorized canoe to the small archaeological site of the mysteriously vanished Marajoara tribe.

The rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy as you please - sunbathe, swim and enjoy a cocktail watching the sunset.

Day 5 - Return to Belém (B,L)

Another wildlife spotting tour follows breakfast as you enjoy a final morning here. After a leisurely lunch you will return by motorized canoe to the port to catch the ferry back to Belém, transferring to your hotel on arrival.

Day 6 - Fly to Manaus (B,L,D)

This morning you will escorted to the airport for your flight to Manaus, in the heart of the Amazon. Upon arrival you will be escorted to the Ceasa river port, from where a 20 minute ferry ride will take you across the Amazon River, passing the famous ‘meeting of the waters’, where the muddy waters of the Solimões River meet the black waters of the Rio Negro, and run side by side without mixing. A 40-minute drive will then take you to the Araça River, where you will board a speedboat for a scenic 2 hour ride to your jungle lodge. Here you will feel like the city of Manaus is a million miles away, as you are surrounded by rich, tropical jungle.

This afternoon you will experience a fascinating canoe trip for an up-close exploration of small creeks and flooded forest, where you may be lucky enough to encounter the region’s unique pink river dolphins. After dinner at the lodge this evening, you will go on a nighttime jungle walk with a guide to observe frogs, birds and caymans for a completely different experience than in the daytime.

Day 7 - Amazon Jungle Lodge (B,L,D)

An early morning departure from the lodge will ensure that you will experience the magnificent sunrise over the jungle, while listening to the sounds of waking birds. An educational jungle hike follows, during which your guide will explain the different plants that are used for medicinal purposes by the local indigenous people. This afternoon you will have the unique opportunity for fish for the infamous piranha in the river, as well as learning more about the fragile ecosystem of the jungle.

Dinner this evening will be provided by the fish that you caught earlier in the afternoon. Following dinner, one of the lodge’s native guides will give an informal lecture about everyday life for the people living in the Amazon and the traditions, legends and culture of the region.

Day 8 - Amazon Jungle Lodge (B,L,D)

Another fascinating day in the Amazon awaits. Today, after breakfast you will depart the lodge for a short hike on one of the trails. These trails are constantly changing to allow for regrowth and to prevent overuse. You will stop in a clearing in the forest to enjoy a lunch of regional cuisine baked over a fire.

This afternoon you will visit a traditional native house and learn more about the fascinating culture of the indigenous people of the region through a local translator. They will share their knowledge of medicinal plants, as well as give a demonstration of how to prepare manioc flour, a very important resource in this area.

Day 9 - Return to Manaus (B)

Reversing the journey back to Manaus, you will have the opportunity to stop at the Pirarucu Floating Dock, in order to see the river’s giant Pirarucu fish, some of which can reach over 9 feet long and almost 450lbs. Upon arrival in Manaus you will transfer to your hotel where you will have the afternoon at your leisure.

This city of 2 million people is located on the banks of the mighty Amazon River, 1000 miles from its mouth. The city was founded in 1660, when Portuguese colonizers built a fortress close by. It remained a sleepy backwater until the late 1800s when the rubber boom brought in huge amounts of money. The city became a home for the rich, who built an opera house, brought in piece by piece from France and was the second city in the country to have electricity, after Rio.

Day 10 - Manaus to Tefé (B,L,D)

Today you will travel much deeper into the jungle, beginning with a flight to Tefé. Upon arrival you will transfer to the Uacari Floating Lodge, on the banks of the Solimões River. This is the remote heart of the Amazon Basin, some 400 miles west of Manaus. The Uacari Floating Lodge offers the unique experience of visiting the largest flooded rainforest on the planet - the Mamirauá, covering an area of 4,500 square miles. During your 2 hour boat ride from Tefé your scientific guide will point out interesting flora and fauna, which varies depending on the season.

Upon arrival you can do a canoe or walking tour, where you will learn about the conservation efforts of the region as well as the various sustainable projects that are being conducted.

Day 11 - Uacari Floating Lodge (B,L,D)

After breakfast you will have the unforgettable experience of visiting one of the local indigenous tribal communities where one of the inhabitants will show you around and give you an insight into their way of life. After a traditional lunch you will board a small canoe for a wildlife spotting tour from the water.

Day 12 - Uacari Floating Lodge (B,L,D)

A morning guided jungle hike will introduce you to some of the fascinating flora and fauna of the region, with your guide pointing out things you would never notice on your own. After lunch you will visit Mamirauá Lake by motorized canoe to look for fresh water dolphins, hoatzins and around sunset, alligators.

During dinner the scientists working at the reserve will inform you of their ongoing research and sustainability projects for you to learn more about this fascinating region.

Day 13 - Return to Manaus (B)

A final sunrise canoe tour is planned for you to enjoy the peaceful serenity of the early morning in the jungle. After returning to the lodge for breakfast, you will take a motorized boat back to Tefé to catch your flight back to Manaus, where you will have the rest of the day at your leisure.

Day 14 - Farewell to Brazil (B))

This morning you will be escorted by private vehicle to the airport in Manaus for your flight home.

Hotels listed below are given as suggestions only to illustrate the standard of hotels used.

Belém - Luxury - Radisson Belém (Superior Room)
Belém - Deluxe - Radisson Belém (Suite)

Only half a mile from Belém’s city center, this modern, glass tower features all the conveniences one would expect from a luxury hotel chain. The stylish air conditioned rooms feature modern decor, tiled floors and bright artwork. The hotel also offers a gourmet restaurant on site specializing in regional cuisine as well as a fitness center, bar and 24-hour room service.

 

Ilha do Marajó - Luxury and Deluxe - Fazenda Nossa Senhora do Carmo

This wonderful fazenda is a working sustainable farm that shares the environmental and cultural beauty of Marajó with its guests. Offering comfortable accommodations and a fascinating variety of tours around the area, it’s the perfect place to stay when visiting the island. Delicious regional cuisine is served with the menu changing daily to reflect seasonal availability of fresh produce.

 

Manaus - Luxury - Tropical Manaus Eco-resort - Deluxe Room
Manaus – Deluxe – Tropical Manaus Eco-resort – Junior Suite

The Tropical Manaus Eco-resort is one of the region’s finest five star hotels. Located in a spectacular setting on the banks of the Rio Negro, about 10 miles from the center of Manaus, the hotel offers a wide range of facilities. Rooms are stylish and modern and have been recently refurbished. Suites feature an additional sitting room and upgraded toiletries and furnishings.

 

Amazon Jungle - Luxury - Juma Lodge

This excellent sustainably built lodge has just 20 intimate bungalows that are seamlessly built into the surroundings of the forest. The entire lodge is built on stilts, 50 feet up, in order to accommodate the rising water levels of the annual floods in the wet season. A great advantage of this is that you’ll get a bird’s eye canopy view of the jungle. All bungalows have private bathrooms, ceiling fans, and parches with hammocks.

 

Amazon Jungle - Deluxe - Anavilhanas Lodge

This beautiful lodge is located on the banks of the Rio Negro in Anavilhanas National Park and is one of the finest jungle lodges in the entire country. Responsibly constructed with local sustainable wood, the lodge features 22 luxurious bungalows and cottages furnished with fine linens and modern bathrooms. Unusually for a jungle lodge, all rooms have air-conditioning and flat screen TVs, as well as floor to ceiling glass walls for spectacular views of the surrounding jungle.

 

Tefé - Luxury and Deluxe - Uacari Floating Lodge

Named by Lonely Planet as one of the top 10 places to stay in the Amazon and a repeated winner of Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence, this wonderful, sustainable lodge is located deep in the jungle. The 10 rooms are simple yet comfortable and the lodge offers unrivaled access to the Mamirauá flooded forest, and access to the spectacular natural wonders located within.

 

Pricing

Price fromUS$4995 per person (Luxury Hotels), or US$5995 per person (Deluxe Hotels), for a private tour based on two people traveling in low season sharing a room.

Hotels listed on the Hotels Tab are given as suggestions only to illustrate the standard of hotels used./p>

Price Includes:

Hotels as described in the itinerary
Services of a Blue World Journeys representative while in Brazil
Shared transportation between Belém and Ilha do Marajó, as well as between Manaus and jungle lodge
Domestic flights Belém - Manaus - Tefé - Manaus
Sightseeing and entrance fees
Meals as described in the itinerary

Price Excludes:

International flights
Travel insurance
Meals other than those listed in the itinerary
Gratuities for guides and drivers
Sightseeing other than described in the itinerary
Additional room charges of a personal nature in hotels (eg: room service, laundry, phone calls, etc.)