Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
trip.
Birds
including macaws, hummingbirds, jacanas, cormorants, herons,
kingfishers, hawks, chacalacas and toucans can generally be spotted - but you need
luck to see hoatzins, trogons, cock-of-the-rock or blue macaws. You might see
alligators, snakes, sloths, river dolphins and a few species of monkey on a three-day
trip - though you can see many of these anyway at INPA or the Parque Ecológico
do Janauary (see p.368). Sightings for
large mammals
and
cats
, however, are very
rare, though chances are increased on expedition-type tours of six days or more to
deep-forest places like the Rio Juma. On any trip, make sure to get some time in the
smaller channels in a canoe, as the sound of a motor is a sure way of scaring every
living thing out of sight.
If you want to sleep in the forest, either in a lodge, riverboat or, for the more
adventurous (and perhaps those on a low budget), swinging in a hammock outside in a
small jungle clearing, it really is worth taking as many days as you can to get as far away
from Manaus as possible.
5
Amazon Gero Tour
Dez de Julho 679, Centro
T
92 3232
4755,
T
92 9983 6273,
W
amazongerotours.com.
One of
the most reliable and experienced operators, the owner
Geraldo (Gero) Mesquita organizes tours mainly to the
Mamori and Juma areas. Great rainforest accommodation is
available in Gero's own
Ararinha Jungle Lodge
, located on the
scenic and peaceful Lago Arara (see p.377) just off the
Parana do Mamori. It offers a range of prices and levels of
comfort from family suites and standard rooms to hammock
space in the round viewing platform above the circular
restaurant. Tours include boat and canoe trips, jungle hiking
and visits to native people, with accommodation in
hammocks, overnight in the bush, visiting or staying at local
family houses, or in luxury lodge accommodation.
Amazona Tours
Rua Floriano Peixoto 215, Sala 206
T
92 3234 5079,
W
amazonatours.com.
This agency
specializes in river cruises, with accommodation in
hammocks or cabins, and tours in the Amazon region. They
also offer short trips to the meeting of the waters, fishing
and alligator spotting, as well as transfer services, city
tours, hotel bookings and flight reservations for the whole
of Brazil. At the time of writing the agency had just opened
its own jungle lodge too.
Iguana
Dez de Julho 667, Centro
T
92 3633 6507,
T
92
9615 0480, 24hr
T
92 9105 5660,
W
amazonbrasil
.com.br.
Based in the
Hotel Dez de Julho
, this company,
which operates regularly in the Juma and Mamori areas, is
able to organize most kinds of trips, from overnights in the
forest to longer lodge- or camp-based trips. They have an
attractive lodge in the Juma area that offers private
wooden cabins with own shower room or shared dorms.
Maia Expeditions
Rua Badajós 62
T
92 3613 4683,
W
maiaexpeditions.com.
This highly experienced operator
offers private boat expeditions in cabins and hammock
accommodation, along with high-end yacht trips. The
company runs the lovely
Amazon Turtle Lodge
, a sustainable
lodge with eighteen suites 100km southeast of Manaus
in the beautiful Mamorí region. The lodge aims to
develop and improve living standards by providing
English lessons, educating residents about tourism,
organic food production and preserving the environment,
with the underlying aim of self-sustainability.
LODGES
Anavilhanas Lodge
T
92 3622 8996,
W
anavilhanaslodge.com.
This boutique lodge is
located just across the river from the Parque Nacional do
Anavilhanas, one of the world's largest freshwater
archipelagos with over four hundred islands.
Accommodation is in well-appointed bungalows or
cottages, there's a welcoming bar and lounge area, and
an open-fronted restaurant with superb home cooking.
Excursions are fun and educational, and include trips
into the beautiful Anavilhanas archipelago, a UNESCO
World
Heritage Site. All-inclusive packages from
R$2024
/person for 3 days/2 nights.
Dolphin Lodge
T
92 3663 0392,
W
dolphinlodge
.tur.br.
Located along the peaceful banks of the Rio
Mamori, 78km southeast of Manaus, this welcoming lodge
offers accommodation in rustic wooden rooms with private
bathrooms. There is plenty to see and do in the immediate
vicinity; the area here is rich in macaws, dolphins, birds and
alligato
rs, to name a few. All-inclusive packages from
R$979
for minimum two people for 2 days/1 night.
Juma Lodge
T
92 3232 2707,
W
jumalodge.com.
This smart lodge offers accommodation in twenty well-
appointed forest- and lake-view bungalows sitting on
stilts perching among the treetops. Four of the
bungalows have solar-heated water, and the welcoming
restaurant with rustic furniture has wonderf
ul view
s
over the lake. All-inclusive packages from
R$1147
/
person for 2 days/1 night.
