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Belém - Marajó Island - Monte Alegre - Vale do Paraíso - Santarém - Manaus
Jungle Lodge - Tefé - Uakari Floating Lodge
Luxury Brazil Tours & Travel.
Land Price (21 days/20 nights)
De Luxe US$ 5,320
The land price includes escorted transfers, private excursions with professional guides and chauffeurs, entrance fees, indicated category of accommodations, all breakfasts and specified meals except beverages, all transportation except air flights, and travel insurance for guests through the age of 59 years. Over that age, there is a supplementary fee. All prices are per person based on two people sharing a guest room. For a detailed description of our services, see About Our Tours.
Intra-Tour Air Flights & Fares
Air fares are in addition to the land price. A "Visit Brazil Air Pass" is recommended.
This unforgettable two-week journey reveals some of Southeast Brazil's most famous natural wonders: from crossing the majestic Serra do Mar mountain range by train to rafting beneath one of the world's largest and most impressive cataracts: the Iguaçu Falls. Guests will also be shown some of Brazil's best kept natural secrets: the deep Itaimbezinho Canyon and the historical coastal town of Paraty with its archipelagos of densely forested islands, crystal-clear waters and secluded white, sandy beaches.
The South of Brazil
Luxury Brazil Tours & Travel.
The coastal city of Belém, one of the principal colonial cities of Brazil, is a product of the nineteenth-century rubber boom, which brought great prosperity to the region. Today, Belém is a mixture of bustling open-air markets, Portuguese colonial architecture and today's ultramodern skyline. The city enjoys regular afternoon showers - a refreshing interlude to the equatorial heat - and cool nights all year round. Belém's strategic location at the mouth of the great Amazon River makes it an ideal starting point for further exploration of the Amazon Jungle.
Day 1: Belém
Arrival at the airport, meet and greet with our local bilingual guide and transfer in a private air-conditioned vehicle to the hotel. Depending on the time of arrival, there will be an afternoon city tour to introduce the tourist to Belém's main attractions and colonial architecture, reflecting the 17th century architecture of Lisbon that was a source of inspiration for the main housing projects of the time. The tour first visits the Ver-o-Peso ("Check-the-Weight") market. Stretching along the waterfront, the Ver-o-Peso market offers a curious combination of fishmongers, vegetable stalls, witchcraft (Macumba) and rainforest cures. Other sites visited include the Basílica de Nossa Senhora de Nazaré (built in 1909 and inspired in St Paul's Basilica in Rome) and the Museu de Arte Sacra - Brazil's finest museum of religious art. Overnight at the hotel
Day 2: Belém
An early morning tour, which starts out before sunrise and heads for the Ilha do Papagaio ("Parrot Island"), thus named because of the great numbers of parrots and other species that gather there to rest. As the sun appears, thousands of parrots and other birds leave the island for the mainland in an unforgettable spectacle. After witnessing this extraordinary phenomenon, the tour continues through the narrow creeks by motorised canoe, during which the visitor encounters a large variety of plant and animal species. Another interesting feature is the passing boat traffic carrying caboclos - the inhabitants of the region, who cross the river with goods to be sold in the city markets. In the afternoon, a visit to the internationally renowned Emílio Goeldi Museum, which was founded in 1866 and is today one of the most important research centres engaged in the study of the natural history of the Amazon Rainforest. The Museum is a botanical, zoological and anthropological park with more than 2,000 species of plants and trees and over 600 animal species which live free or in captivity within an area of 52 thousand square metres. Lynxes, monkeys, macaws, parrots, sparrow-hawks, parakeets, vultures, wild fowl, alligators and a wide variety of fish, otters, turtles and snakes are amongst the impressive list of native species that can be seen in this lush, miniature Amazon rainforest. Apart from the zoological section, the museum also has a considerable archaeological and ethnological collection displaying various aspects of the indigenous cultures of the region. Overnight at the hotel.
Luxury Brazil Tours & Travel.
The Island of Marajó, northwest of Belém between the Amazon and Tocantins rivers, is one of the world's largest river islands. Over 250,000 inhabitants live in scattered settlements and farms across the island, which in terms of surface area is larger than Switzerland. Research suggests that Marajó was inhabited by pre-Columbian civilizations between 1,000 BC and 1,300 AD, according to archaeological findings such as the intricately designed ceramics now housed in the Emílio Goeldi Museum. Thousands of buffalo (resembling the Indian Brahma Bull) now roam the island, whilst flocks of flamingos and great numbers of other bird species populate this half-marsh, half-forested wilderness. Marajó's main town is Soure, a fishing village and the focal point of the buffalo business. The island also boasts a number of excellent river beaches with a surprising resemblance to idyllic ocean shores.
Day 3: Belém - Ilha de Marajó
Pick-up at hotel in Belém and transfer to the river port of Belém to board the regular passenger boat to the Island of Marajó at 06:30. Arrival at the pier of Foz do Camará and transfer by minibus or car to the ferry crossing of Beiradão, where a motorized canoe is waiting for the boat trip about 1 hour up the Camará river to the cattle ranch Fazenda Nossa Senhora do Carmo. Welcome juice with home-made cakes. After check-in, a tour through the natural grasslands on horseback or tame water buffalo, accompanied by Marajó cowboys, leading to woods and ponds where wildlife can be observed: capibaras, anacondas, wild pigs and birds. After lunch and a short siesta in hammocks on the veranda, a tour by motorized canoe enters the mangrove creeks and branches of the Camará River to spot birds, alligators, monkeys and sloth. After dinner, flashlights can be used to spot alligators on the banks of the river near the house beneath the tropical night sky. Overnight at the lodge.
Luxury Brazil Tours & Travel.
Day 4: Ilha de Marajó
After a buffet-style breakfast, another type of excursion is offered in search of hidden wildlife: in the dry season (September to January) by "Rural", a classic multipurpose vehicle, on a safari-like ride across the grasslands, in the wet period (February to August) by small canoe up the Camará River. After lunch (try the buffalo meat and home-made buffalo cheese), a motorised canoe and short jungle walk will bring visitors to an archaeological site of the mysteriously vanished Marajoara indian tribe, where fine examples of their famous pottery can be found. The rest of the afternoon is free to have a swim, sunbathe and a drink, observing the spectacular Marajó sunset. Dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Ilha de Marajó - Monte Alegre
After breakfast, another ride through the natural grasslands in search of wildlife. After lunch, a motorised canoe will bring the visitors back to Beiradão, where a vehicle is waiting for the 30-minute ride to the pier of Foz do Câmara. Here a regular passenger boat leaves for the port of Belém, from where tourists embark on a boat journey to Monte Alegre.
Days 6 & 7: Monte Alegre - Middle Amazon Boat Journey
Halfway between Belém and Manaus, where the Tapajós and Amazon rivers meet, the pleasant town of Monte Alegre is an excellent base from which to explore the Middle Amazon. To reach this remote location, tourists embark on a fascinating journey starting in the evening and travelling westwards up the Amazon River by passenger boat. Where possible, the boat navigates upstream close to the banks of the river, where the current is weaker, allowing for faster progress. As day breaks, tourists awaken to find themselves on meandering river channels, surrounded by the lush Amazon jungle on every side. Along some parts, the jungle opens up to reveal large floodplains, where large numbers of birds and typical riverside houses built on stilts can be seen. Overnights on the boat. As sleeping under starry skies in hammocks may not appeal to all, Santarém can also be reached by air. Late in the evening of the second day, the boat arrives in Monte Alegre, located on the north bank of the Amazon River, where tourists will be accommodated in the Hotel Panorama for two nights.
Luxury Brazil Tours & Travel.
Day 8: Middle Amazon Boat Journey - Monte Alegre
After breakfast, visitors embark on an exhilarating excursion to the Serra do Ereré, a rugged escarpment of jagged peaks that suddenly rise 300m from the endless Amazon rainforest canopy. This imposing, majestic terrain was once inhabited by ancient indigenous cultures, whose 10,000 year-old remains have led to ongoing debates among scientists as to early human dispersal and the origin of modern hominids. Visitors are taken to the Serra do Ereré by four-wheel drive vehicle (due to the rough and often waterlogged terrain). Once there, tourists embark on a walking excursion of the surroundings, including visits to ancient rock paintings. After returning to Monte Alegre for lunch, tourists are free to explore this small riverside town, strategically located on a hilltop overlooking the river. Overnight in Monte Alegre.
Day 9: Monte Alegre - Vale do Paraiso
Morning departure for a 4-hour bus ride to Vale do Paraiso along either dusty or muddy tracks, depending on the season. The trip is an experience in itself, driving through virgin Amazon Rainforest and across countless wooden bridges. Along the way, photo stops are made at viewpoints and native settlements. By noon, the bus arrives Vale do Paraiso, a densely vegetated gorge cut into the bedrock by a snaking river over millions of years. There are places where the river cascades 85m into deep basins, forming numerous waterfalls and lagoons. Overnight will be spent at one of these waterfalls, in wooden bungalows. The comfortable accommodation is peacefully integrated with the surrounding nature and offers numerous services, including a terrace restaurant.
Day 10: Vale do Paraiso
Jungle trails lead to three of the four waterfalls in the Vale do Paraiso and can therefore be easily reached on foot from the bungalows. For the adventurous, the rarely visited yet most spectacular of the waterfalls can be reached with the aid of an experienced guide. Due to the relentless growth of the dense forest, a path needs to be slashed through the thick vines and undergrowth. After a strenuous 3-hour jungle trek, the waterfall finally reveals itself. Some time is spent at the waterfall for photos and a refreshing dive before returning to the bungalows.
Luxury Brazil Tours & Travel.
Day 11: Vale do Paraiso - Santarém
Morning departure from Vale do Paraiso for a 1-hour bus ride to Alenquer, where tourists board a passenger boat for the 2-hour journey to Santarém. A natural port of call for river traffic, Santarém's life is centred on the waterfront. The low waters of the dry season reveal fine white river beaches, whilst the spectacle of the meeting of the waters contrasts the light brown Amazon with the clear Tapajós. The area around Santarém was home to one of the largest pre-Columbian populations in the Americas, whose ceramics and agricultural techniques have left signs that date back to 2,000 years ago. Founded with the arrival of the Jesuits in 1661, the town's economy has seen the boom and bust of the rubber trade and is now based on forest products, fruit and tourism. Shortly after arrival, tourists are directly transferred to the Beloalter lodge. Located no more than 100 yards from the native Indian Alter do Chão village, the lodge offers comfortable accommodation plus fantastic cuisine in a magical setting which combines the exuberance of the Amazon rainforest with the Tapajós river and its Caribbean-like sand beaches. The afternoon is free to relax or explore the surroundings of the lodge.
Day 12: Santarém
Visitors will have the entire day to relax here and explore the magical surroundings of the lodge. Visitors can opt for excursions to an indigenous settlement, the Tapajós forest reserve or sunbathing on the white river beaches. Overnight at the hotel.
Luxury Brazil Tours & Travel.
Day 13: Santarém - Manaus
Morning transfer to Santarém Airport and the flight to Manaus. On arrival, meet-and-greet with our local bilingual guide and transfer to the hotel, followed by a city tour of Manaus in the afternoon. The rubber boom, which started at the end of 19th century and lasted for about 30 years, was largely responsible for the way Manaus looks today, with its broad avenues and squares. The opulent wealth of this period bequeathed a number of architectural jewels such as the Rio Negro Palace; The Indian Museum, with numerous works of art and tribal artefacts; and the Adolfo Lisboa municipal market, where an astounding range of products are sold. Other attractions include the Amazon Theatre, opened in 1896, and the floating harbour of Manaus, which adjusts itself to the water level. Overnight at the hotel.
Luxury Brazil Tours & Travel.
In the heart of the Amazon Basin is the confluence of the Rio Negro and Rio Solimões, which, after flowing side by side for about 8km without their waters mingling, join to form the Amazon proper. Situated at this meeting of the waters, an island of civilization in the middle of the jungle, Manaus is a natural starting point for tours into the jungle. As the Amazon rainforest is largely low-lying, much of it being periodically flooded, the main transport is by boat - a perfect way of getting to know the exuberant vegetation and diverse wildlife of the region, home to a tenth of the world's 10 million recorded species.'
Day 14, 15 & 16: Jungle Lodge
In the Amazon, and especially along the Amazon River, there are numerous Jungle Lodges located in magnificent spots from which the visitor can enjoy various fascinating guided excursions. Most accommodation of this type provides a rustic yet luxurious ambience surrounded by the vast Amazon Rainforest. Tourists are picked up from their hotels in Manaus and brought by boat to one of the many lodges located on the Amazon River and its tributaries. During the days that follow, visitors will embark on excursions involving canoe trips to explore the surroundings of the lodge; an early morning tour to see the birds flying out during sunrise; exhilarating guided night tours in search of caimans (alligators), which are spotted by scanning the water surface with a strong flashlight; dinner at a floating restaurant; a guided walking tour through the Amazon forest, followed by a visit to a local caboclo dwelling (A typical Amazonian village built on stilts); piranha fishing; observing spectacular sunsets and botos (freshwater dolphins). Visitors will also see the confluence of two great masses of water: the Negro and Solimões rivers. This is where the two tributaries join to form the Amazon River in a spectacular phenomenon in which the black waters of the Negro do not mix with the brown Solimões until several kilometres downstream.
Luxury Brazil Tours & Travel.
Days 17 - 20: Manaus - Tefé - Uakari Floating Lodge
Early morning transfer to Manaus for the flight westwards to Tefé. Located on the banks of the Solimões River in the remote heart of the Amazon basin, Tefé is one of the oldest and most isolated towns in the state of Amazonas, dating from 1686. From here, tourists board a boat for the 2_-hour trip to the Uakari Floating Lodge, during which some wildlife, such as dolphins, can already be observed. The lodge offers the unique possibility of experiencing the largest reserve of flooded rainforest in the world, Mamirauá (1,124,000 ha). To enable scientists and tourists to explore the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve, a floating lodge with 10 apartments has been built to ensure minimal impact on the environment. The lodge was named Uakari after the various types of Uakari monkeys that live in this part of the rainforest. At the lodge, tourists are told about the importance of this reserve and the participatory projects that are being undertaken in partnership with local communities and subsidised by the Brazilian government, private organizations and the Wildlife Conservation Society. The simple but comfortable lodge will be used as a base from which to explore the rainforest and the projects that are undertaken here, either on foot or by canoe, depending on the season. Excursions include a walking tour to spot animals such as spiders, opossums and other nocturnal creatures; jungle hikes through areas inhabited by a variety of monkey species; fishing for piranhas; a visit by motorised canoe to Mamirauá Lake in search of freshwater dolphins, hoatzins and, after sunset, alligators.
Day 21: Uakari Floating Lodge - Your next destination
Morning transfer by speedboat to Tefé for the flight back to Manaus and homeward connections.
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