The Brazilian Amazon
Imagine swimming with caiman! Maybe. Piranha? No way! Travel crumbles stereotypes and beliefs. For me, one belief crumbled was the danger of swimming with piranha, the feared aggressive carnivorous fish of the Amazon, fish with razor-sharp teeth that can rip flesh and devour prey in a matter of seconds. During my first trip to the Amazon in 2001, on a hot, sultry day exploring in a canoe, our guide, Max, who continues to guide my groups to this day, encouraged us to hop into the water and cool off. As protector of my group, I was incredulous as I asked, “Are you sure it’s safe? Aren’t there piranhas in these black waters of the Rio Negro?” Max laughed and replied, “Yes, of course, they are everywhere in the Amazon.” And into the water he went! When we realized he was not immediately devoured, but was enjoying the refreshing, healing waters of the igapo, we quickly joined him!
The magic of the Amazon, of course, is the diverse flora and fauna to experience, from the canoe, hiking in the jungle, sleeping in hammocks out under the forest canopy, swimming, and fishing for our evening meal. Meals are prepared fresh from the bounty of the jungle and its waters. Our small groups enjoy learning from Max, a native jungle guide who grew up not far from where we reside in the jungle. His knowledge of plants and animals abounds as he takes us on exploratory journeys most of us have only seen on TV or read about in National Geographic. As with all Soulful Traveling experiences, we interact with and support local communities, focusing on events and activities deemed important by the community inhabitants.
Our entry city into the Amazon is Manaus, the capital of the State of Amazonas, Brazil. A colonial city deep within the jungle and easily accessible only by boat or plane, Manaus is a bustling metropolis important for trade in the area but still retains the magic of the early days with the Manaus Opera House and riverside Manaus mercado.
A wonderful cultural event, second in size to Carnival in Brazil, is the Folklore Festival of Parintins, located in Parintins, Amazonas. At the end of June, this tiny town at the edge of the state of Amazonas and an overnight boat ride from Manaus, awakens with a most spectacular cultural celebration of dancing, music, art, and celebration. The competition between Caprichoso and Garantido, Boi-Bumbá, has begun! Thousands of visitors, mostly Brazilian, flock to this celebration to marvel at the giant mechanized floats, talented dancers and singers, and the beautiful regalia of the performers. Truly a special addition to any Amazon visit, this event will leave you in awe of the magic of the Amazon!
While this program focuses on the Brazilian Amazon near Manaus, Rio de Janeiro, Iguaçu, the Pantanal, Bahia, Olinda, and other beautiful areas of Brazil can be a part of your custom experience in this vibrant, diverse, and extraordinary country.
Exploring the Magic of the Brazilian Amazon
All Soulful Traveling itineraries are exclusive and customized for you and your group. The following are examples to get your creative juices flowing. Any combination of jungle lodge, floating house, and regional boat can be configured for your unique experience. As with every Soulful Traveling experience, we support local communities by participating in programs identified by the inhabitants of the area as we immerse ourselves in Brazilian culture. Any of the locations we visit are ideal for exceptional friend or family gatherings, fitness, relaxation, stress relief, or personal rejuvenation experiences, or growth coaching/yoga retreats. We have certified instructors and facilitators to guide your personal growth or you can bring your own to lead your group. Give us a call and we’ll work together to craft your exceptional journey!
Igapó Canoeing and Jungle Camping (4-6 days)
This unique experience in the Amazonian jungles brings you up close and personal to the flora and fauna of the jungle. Our journey will delight and thrill us by boat, canoeing, trekking, hammock sleeping in the jungle, while being educated by local inhabitants of the areas we visit. At all times, certified Brazilian jungle guides accompany us.
Day 1 – Arrive in Manaus, transport to hotel, evening meal and orientation
Day 2 – Explore Manaus including the Opera House and riverside mercado, then transport from Manaus to the Amazon Rain Forest via speedboat Porto do Careiro, passing by the Encontras das Aguas, the Meeting of the Waters, where Rio Negro and Rio Solimões River meet, where, with a bit of luck, fresh water Pink or Grey Dolphins, botos, will surprise us. Travel to base camp via van, then two-hour boat ride. Awaiting us at Base Camp, will be a spectacular lunch of fresh water fish, beef, chicken, salads and exotic fruits from the Amazon will be served. After lunch, via canoe, our introduction to the igapo, or flooded forests will allow us to observe many animals such as monkeys, sloth, iguanas, spiders and a wide variety of birds.
Day 3-5 (depending upon the length of your experience) – Pre-dawn birdwatching outings, jungle camping with sleeping in hammocks, hiking, canoeing, nocturnal paddling, observing day and night jungle sounds, all await us on this adventure. Briefly, you will be able to live in the jungle as a Native Amazonian, a memory that will last for a lifetime. Long treks provide opportunities to learn about the diverse rain forest ecosystems. The different eco-systems are home to different species of vegetation, animals, birds and insects as the treks will help us understand. We will enjoy fish for dinner, fish that we catch, then roasted over an open fire, while we listen to a few native legends and fisherman stories. Various species of fish are in the Amazon and our guide will identify fish and share characteristics of any fish caught. In the evening, we will go bow and arrow and spear fishing.
Final Day – We will head out early to spot wildlife as we say goodbye to this wonderful majestic place. For breakfast, we will cook some of the edible fruits we have collected throughout our excursions. After breakfast, we will visit an area to see rubber trees and learn about the rubber boom of the Amazon and how it influenced the development around Manaus. After lunch we will return to Manaus for drop off at location of your choice.
Amazon Trekking Expeditions (6-10 Days)
A special tour for who want to explore the Amazon rainforest within an authentic experience, to know the culture of local people, and contemplate the beauties of Amazon. This adventure includes amazon jungle trekking, sleeping in hammocks in an Amazon floating house, and canoeing. At all times, certified Brazilian jungle guides accompany us.
Day 1 – Arrive in Manaus, transport to hotel, evening meal and orientation
Day 2 – Explore Manaus including the Opera House and riverside mercado, then transport from Manaus to the Amazon Rain Forest via speedboat Porto do Careiro, passing by the Encontras das Aguas, the Meeting of the Waters, where Rio Negro and Rio Solimões River meet, where, with a bit of luck, fresh water Pink or Grey Dolphins, botos, will surprise us. Be ready with your cameras or cellular phones as we stop for a few minutes at this amazing physical phenomenon. After a stop at the fruit market in Careiro, our private van will take us to the Mamorí River via the Manaus to Porto Velho Old Road Way, then by boat, we will pass many lakes, creeks, with opportunities to see water lilies with enormous floating leaves large enough for caiman to sun on, native villages, and local communities. An ideal spot for all types of wildlife – birds, alligators, fishes, snakes and monkeys – this trip to the base camp may behold numerous creatures that can surprise you at any time. After arrival at Base Camp, a spectacular lunch of fresh water fish, beef, chicken, salads and exotic fruits from the Amazon will be served. We will explore the jungle via canoe, our introduction to the igapó, or flooded forests will allow us to observe many animals such as monkeys, sloth, iguanas, spiders and a wide variety of birds.
DAY 3-9 (depending on the length of your experience) – Each day will be full of hiking, canoeing, active involvement in building camp, listening to jungle sounds both day and night and the captivating change of jungle sounds with sunrise and sunset. Animal and bird spotting is the highlight of each day, along with learning about animal habitats and behaviors. Nocturnal excursions by paddle canoe allows us to spot the creatures of the night. During sunrise outings we frequently see the pink river dolphin, the bota, as it gracefully glides through the black waters of the igapó, the flooded forests. For a short period of time, you will be able to live as Native Amazonense people, creating a memory you will cherish a lifetime. Long treks provide opportunities to learn about the diverse rain forest ecosystems. The different eco-systems are home to different species of vegetation, animals, birds and insects as the treks will help us understand. We will fish for dinner, with hand lines, nets, rods and traps. Various species of fish are in the Amazon and our guide will identify fish and share characteristics of any fish caught. We will enjoy our fish for dinner, roasted on the fire and enjoy hearing a few native legends or some fisherman stories. In the evening, we will go bow and arrow and spear fishing. We will have the opportunity to visit an Amazonian native’s home and learn about how life is in the Amazon. Daily swimming in the cool, healing black waters of the Rio Mamori is a magical reprieve of the dense humidity and heat within the jungle.
Final Day – We will head out early to spot wildlife as we say goodbye to this wonderful majestic place and take a morning stroll to contemplate the flocks of birds. After breakfast, we will visit an area to see rubber trees and learn about the rubber boom of the Amazon and how it influenced the development around Manaus. After lunch we will return to Manaus for drop off at location of your choice.
Amazon Boat Excursions (3-8 Days)
Traditional boat excursions are a wonderful way to see and learn how locals live and move up and down the river. This can be a stand-alone experience or combined with any length of jungle experience. Boats can be as simple or fancy as you wish, sleeping in hammocks on an open deck, or in an air-conditioned cabin. Daily trekking, meeting up with local communities, nocturnal hikes, canoe paddling, a night of camping in the jungle with sleeping in hammocks highlight this amazing Amazon jungle experience. Boat excursions are private for your group only. At all times, certified Brazilian jungle guides accompany us.
Day 1 – Encontra das Aguas (Meeting of the Waters), January Ecological Park
Day 2-7 (depending upon the length of your excursion) – We will visit several small communities and rural areas including the Cuieras River locale, Arara and Novo Airão where you will interact with local inhabitants and participate in service activities with the locals. Throughout the week, we have day and night jungle trekking, canoeing, piranha fishing, nocturnal treks where we experience close observations of flora and fauna unique to the area including the pink river dolphins, sloths, ant eaters, caiman, piranhas, parrots, macaws, and harpy eagles. One night, we will set up a camp in the jungle, cook our food over an open fire, and enjoy stories and tales of the jungle.
Final Day – Return to Manaus to the location of your choice
The Brazilian Pantanal
The Brazilian Pantanal – the best place on Earth to find jaguars in the wild! A wildlife paradise! The most spectacular river and wetlands sunsets ever! The Pantanal, the world’s largest fresh water wetlands, is found in the southwest corner of Brazil and is teeming with exotic wildlife. We provide the opportunity to explore deep into the Pantanal via small boat, in the back of an open-sided safari truck, and hiking. As we discover local flora and fauna, we also learn about the life of the pantaneiro, the cowboy of the wetlands, how he and his family live with the ebb and flow of the waters. Local cuisine is always fresh and tasty. Comfortable in cabanas, we can enjoy the magic of the sounds of the jungle as they change from day to night, and back again to daylight.
We keep Pantanal experiences small, with no more than seven people. In this way, you are ensured an exclusive experience, one with lots of personal attention and care. While we can’t guarantee a jaguar sighting with every outing, you will definitely see and learn about plants and animals endemic to the area each time you venture out. As with all Soulful Traveling experiences, we interact with and support local communities, focusing on events and activities deemed important by the community inhabitants.
While this program focuses on the Brazilian Pantanal, Rio de Janeiro, Iguaçu, the Amazon, Bahia, Olinda, and other beautiful areas of Brazil can be a part of your custom experience in this vibrant, diverse, and extraordinary country.
Exotic Wildlife Viewing in the Brazilian Pantanal
All Soulful Traveling itineraries are exclusive and customized for you and your group. The following are examples to get your creative juices flowing. In every Soulful Traveling experience, we support local communities by participating in programs identified by the inhabitants of the area as we immerse ourselves in pantaneiro culture. Any of the locations we visit are ideal for exceptional friend or family gatherings, fitness, relaxation, stress relief, or personal rejuvenation experiences, or growth coaching/yoga retreats. We have certified instructors and facilitators to guide your personal growth or you can bring your own to lead your group. Give us a call and we’ll work together to craft your exceptional journey!
Extreme Jaguar and/or Wildlife Safari (4-6 Days)
Day 1 – Cuiabá /Jaguar Camp. Pick up at Cuiabá, Mato Grosso; transfer to the Pantanal via the Transpantaneira Road – the entryway to the Pantanal with stunning fauna and flora – and the beautiful safari has begun with plenty wildlife along the way. Arrival at the lodge for lunch and check-in. In the early afternoon, a trip on an exclusive jaguar searching boat with both expert boatman and guide searching for all kinds of wildlife, but with main focus on jaguars and river otters.
Day 2 – Early morning breakfast is followed by a boat ride in the best area in the world for jaguar spotting looking for signs of recent jaguar activity on the river banks. After lunch, return to the boat looking for the mighty big cat and other interesting wildlife such as Capybaras, Black Howler Monkeys, Iguanas, Caimans and several types of different bird species. Return to accommodations after sunset. The Pantanal is famed for its dramatic sunsets – a photographer’s delight!
Day 3 – After an early breakfast, we’ll journey on the river in a great location with the highest density of jaguars and jaguar sightings in the entire Pantanal. A break for lunch will be accompanied by a transfer to a Wildlife Lodge. After check-in, a short rest. In the afternoon a boat trip looking for more wildlife species until sunset. Dinner is followed by a night safari with our exclusive safari vehicle, using a spotlight to detect animals such as crab-eating foxes, tapirs, caiman and nocturnal birds. Stops will also be made in order to experience the magical sounds of the Pantanal at night.
Day 4 – Early morning start with a safari trip or a nice nature walk. After breakfast, enjoy a nice ecological trail on the grounds of the lodge. Lunch and a little siesta. In the afternoon a boat ride looking for more wildlife species until sunset. Dinner will be followed by a night safari with our exclusive open safari vehicle.
Day 5 – Early morning start with a safari trip. Breakfast will be followed by an ecological trail. After lunch, transfer to our next location, another wildlife lodge. Check-in then, a trekking through the surroundings. Keep your eyes peeled for endangered marsh deer, South American coati, giant anteater, toco toucans, tapirs, and other animals and birds that may be seen at this amazing farm lodge. Dinner will be followed by a night safari.
Day 6 – Early morning safari for wildlife viewing. This morning will be dedicated to observing the Pantanal flora and fauna at the lodge private reserve. Return to the lodge for breakfast. After breakfast a nice walk through the surrounding ecological trails to continue exploring the forest and grasslands to spot animals and birds. Return to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, transfer to Cuiabá. Drop off at the airport or city hotel depending on the client’s preferences.
Serra do Amolar (3 days)
The following stand-alone or add-on itinerary encompasses a three-day/two-night experience spent in the Serra do Amolar Region in a comfortable and well-equipped boat with an expert naturalist guide, cruising the beautiful rivers and creeks for the landscape views.
Day 1 – Pick up at Jaguar Camp Lodge or in Cuiabá in the early morning then, transfer to the Serra do Amolar. The journey takes you on São Lourenço and Paraguay Rivers where you will be able observe plenty of wildlife along the way. In the early afternoon, a trail hike, then river canoeing for amazing sunset viewing.
Day 2 - Early morning breakfast is followed by a boat ride to get to the river for snorkling to see the underwater beauty of Pantanal in crystal clear water. After lunch, on our return to the lodge we will make a stop to see an archeological site, watch the sunset before returning to the lodge for dinner.
Day 3 – Early morning breakfast with lunch will be served at the Riverine Family house between Porto Jofre and Amolar, expect to arrive back to Porto Jofre in late afternoon.