Brazil 8-Day Amazon Rainforest Cruise Adventure

Points of Interest : Manaus

You arrive in Manaus, gateway to the Brazilian Amazon, and are transferred to the centrally located Saint Paul Hotel. From here it is only a short two-minute walk to the famous Amazon Theatre, the historic “jungle opera house” of the rubber boom era.

In the evening you meet the tour leader who will accompany you on your upcoming Amazon journey. Over a delicious dinner you receive a briefing about the itinerary and practical information. Afterwards, you can stroll across the lively city square and soak up the tropical evening atmosphere.

• Meals included : Dinner
• Accommodation : Saint Paul Hotel, Manaus

Points of Interest : Manaus, Amazonas

Today you explore Manaus, the bustling capital of the Amazon region and starting point for most rainforest expeditions. Together with your guide you visit the river port, the atmospheric market halls, the iconic opera house and the historic Palácio Rio Negro, once the residence of a rubber baron and later the seat of the state government.

In the afternoon a boat tour takes you to the famous “Meeting of the Waters”, where the brown Rio Solimões and the dark Rio Negro flow side by side without mixing for several kilometres. Different temperatures, densities and flow speeds create a striking natural phenomenon before the rivers finally merge into the mighty Amazon.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Saint Paul Hotel, Manaus

Points of Interest : Amazonas

After breakfast you drive from Manaus to Novo Airão, a small town on the banks of the Rio Negro. Here you board the traditional Amazon riverboat “Iara”. This rustic wooden vessel has only two guest cabins, creating an intimate and family-like atmosphere on board.

Each cabin is equipped with air conditioning and a private bathroom for your comfort. The experienced crew consists of two boat drivers, an excellent cook and a knowledgeable local guide who will look after you throughout the cruise. Once everyone is on board, the Iara heads upstream along the Rio Negro and your Amazon adventure truly begins.

• Meals included : Full board
• Accommodation : Amazon boat Iara

Points of Interest : Amazonas

Today you navigate through the Anavilhanas Archipelago, a maze of around 400 larger islands and countless smaller, densely forested islets. This protected area is home to an impressive variety of wildlife including spectacled caimans, black caimans, boa constrictors, iguanas, squirrel monkeys, brown woolly monkeys and many exotic bird species.

Botany enthusiasts will also be delighted by rare plants such as the mysterious moonflower that blooms at night. After dark you head out in canoes to search for caimans. By the light of powerful lamps, you spot their eyes sparkling like stars across the dark surface of the river.

• Meals included : Full board
• Accommodation : Amazon boat Iara

Points of Interest : Amazonas

The day is dedicated to exploring the igarapés, narrow side arms of larger rivers that flood parts of the rainforest. In almost complete silence you glide by canoe through the submerged forest, weaving between tree trunks and lianas reflected in the calm water.

Strangler figs, rare orchids and bromeliads create an almost fairytale atmosphere. High in the canopy you may spot red-faced spider monkeys and black howler monkeys. On the tree trunks, tarantulas and other large spiders have built their nests. With a bit of luck, you might even see a manatee, the gentle river-dwelling mammal that inhabits these waters.

• Meals included : Full board
• Accommodation : Amazon boat Iara

Points of Interest : Amazonas

Today you set out on an extended jungle hike to experience the rainforest on foot. Your guide explains the medicinal and practical uses of various plants and trees and shows how the local population navigates and survives in this complex environment.

After the hike you visit a small indigenous settlement. You are introduced to the community’s simple yet ingenious tools and techniques and see how they sustainably use the resources of forest and river for their daily needs. This visit provides valuable insight into the challenging living conditions faced by many indigenous peoples in Brazil and invites reflection on the pressures affecting the Amazon region.

• Meals included : Full board
• Accommodation : Amazon boat Iara

Points of Interest : Amazonas, Novo Airão

On the return journey towards Novo Airão you stop at the atmospheric ruins of Airão Velho, a settlement founded during the rubber boom and later abandoned. Your guide brings the past to life as you walk among the crumbling walls slowly reclaimed by the jungle.

You then continue on foot through the striking rock and cave landscape of Madada. Here your guide demonstrates how latex is traditionally tapped from a rubber tree, explaining the historical importance of rubber for the Amazon region. Back in Novo Airão it is time to bid farewell to the crew of the Iara.

In the afternoon you drive back to Manaus and check in again at the Saint Paul Hotel. Spend your final evening on the opera square enjoying live music, or opt for an optional performance at the magnificent Teatro Amazonas (tickets not included).

• Meals included : Full board
• Accommodation : Saint Paul Hotel, Manaus

Points of Interest : Novo Airão, Manaus

Your Amazon journey comes to an end. After breakfast you say goodbye to your tour leader, whose expertise contributed greatly to the success of this adventure. You are transferred in good time to Manaus airport for your onward or return flight. Farewell and see you again in Brazil!

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Last day : Transfer to Manaus airport for departure