South America - Clean Breaks: 500 New Ways to See the World - page 253

as Ribeirinhos (meaning “Amazonian River
People”), whose livelihoods are based on fishing
and agriculture. Guests at Uakari can join day-
trips to visit one of their villages, led by a local
guide who will help to explain their way of life.
During the flood season (May-July) you can
also paddle in a small canoe along eleven trails
to see red howler monkeys, squirrel monkeys
and scarlet-faced white uakari monkeys
(throughout the rest of the year the trails can
be walked). You can also canoe on the Mamirauá
Lake, where pink river dolphins, manatees and
caimans swim among the submerged trees.
The lodge has ten thatched wooden cabins,
built on floating timber. Each is basic but fairly
comfortable, with two king-size beds, a bathroom
(with hot-water shower) and a terrace facing
the forest. Dinner is served in the main lodge
building (expect lots of fresh fish, fruit and
juices). The lodge has been designed with various
environmentally friendly technologies, such as
rainwater collection, solar power for lighting and
water heating, and a sewage filtration system to
limit its impact on the river habitat.
The reserve is the first place in Brazil where
conservationists are working with Amazonian
communities to involve them actively in
conservation and tourism, as an alternative
income to plundering natural resources. So by
staying at this floating lodge, you will not only
get to meet the river people and the abundant
wildlife in this remote part of the Brazilian
rainforest, but you'll be helping to test the
waters, literally and metaphorically.

332 meet tHe river PeoPle of
tHe amazon, Brazil

Jungle lodges are ten-a-plenty in Peru and
Ecuador, but there are surprisingly few in
Brazil, given that so much of the country is
home to the Amazon Rainforest. One of the few
gems is Pousada Uakari, a floating lodge at the
confluence of the rivers Japurá and Solimões in
the heart of the enormous Mamirauá Reserve
in northern Brazil, the largest protected area of
flooded forest in the Amazon.
The local people in this region are known

Top: A bird's eye view of
Pousada Uskari; Bottom: The
riverside lodges at Pousada
Uskari are built on floating
timber

Need to know Tefé - the gateway town to the
reserve, from where you'll be collected and taken
to the lodge by boat - can be reached by boat from
the jungle city of Manaus in two days. Boats depart
every day (except Wed) at around 10am. For the
latest departure times, prices and reservations
contact Manaus Port: T [phone]. For
prices, activities and reservations at Uakari Lodge
see W www.uakarilodge.com.br; T [phone]
4160. UK-based Tribes Travel organizes package
tours to the lodge; for prices and itineraries visit
W www.tribes.co.uk; T [phone].