The Negro River Side: An Introduction to the Amazon

Balneario Cachoeira do Castanho - After picking guests up from their hotel, the journey begins with a one-hour drive west from Manaus to the Cachoeira do Castanho region. Here, participants will board a motorized canoe, a simple vessel commonly used by locals. The adventure continues with a 2.5-hour hike through the jungle, where a guide will introduce various medicinal plants, demonstrate shelter-building techniques, and explore other fascinating aspects of the environment.

Note: While wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed, the presence of animals is assured, and with some luck, they may be spotted. Closed shoes and long pants are recommended, and during the rainy season (October to July), expect mosquitoes and muddy terrain.

Balneario Cachoeira do Castanho - Following the jungle hike, guests will head to a floating house for lunch, featuring options like fish or chicken, rice, beans, spaghetti, and manioc flowers. While special meals like vegetarian options are not available, vegetarians can enjoy rice, beans, and spaghetti. After lunch, there’s time to relax, enjoy the view, or take a refreshing swim before the next tour segment.

Balneario Cachoeira do Castanho - Post-lunch, the canoe journey continues to a platform where researchers study pink river dolphins. These gentle and friendly creatures can grow up to 3 meters long and weigh up to 200 kilos. Visitors can get close to these remarkable mammals and capture memorable photos. Swimming is also an option here, so bringing swimwear and towels is advised. Beverages like beer or coconut juice may be available for purchase, so carrying some cash is recommended.

Balneario Cachoeira do Castanho - The tour proceeds with a canoe ride through the scenic Negro river side. During the flood season (March to August), the “Igapó” phenomenon occurs, where the forest becomes flooded, offering a breathtaking landscape to navigate.

Balneario Cachoeira do Castanho - The adventure includes a stop for piranha fishing. While not overly difficult, catching a piranha requires caution due to their sharp teeth. Guides will handle the removal of fish from hooks. If a sizable piranha is caught, it can be prepared for dinner, offering a delicious taste experience.

Acutuba Beach - The tour continues with a paddle to the river’s center to witness a stunning sunset, perfect for capturing memorable photos. Guests are encouraged to tag the experience on Instagram.

Balneario Cachoeira do Castanho - As night falls, the search for nocturnal creatures begins. With luck, a caiman may be spotted, providing opportunities for videos and photos.

Balneario Cachoeira do Castanho - After completing the day’s activities, guests return to the guest house for dinner and an overnight stay. Accommodations are simple, with beds equipped with mosquito nets and private toilets. This experience offers a glimpse into the lifestyle of many Amazonian people. For those who prefer hotel comforts, a 12-hour jungle experience is available, allowing a return to Manaus. The tour can also be divided into two-day tours, starting and ending at the hotel in Manaus, with an option to book a river day tour the following day.

The Amazon River Side and More of Our Region

Balneario Cachoeira do Castanho - Day two begins early, around 5:30 am, with a ride to witness the sunrise and the awakening of nature. Located near the equator, the Amazon is most active during the transition from night to day, increasing the chances of spotting birds and other wildlife. The sunrise itself is a spectacular sight. Note that rain is common during the rainy season, which may affect this activity.

Comunidade Indigena CIPIA - The second day involves a longer journey using a faster speedboat to visit an indigenous village. Here, guests can learn about the culture and history, and witness traditional rituals. The community, originally from the Colombia border, now resides closer to Manaus while preserving their culture and language. Souvenirs are available for purchase (cash only, small bills).

Praia do Tupe - During parts of the dry season (August to September) and flood season (January to June), guests can visit one of the region’s most beautiful beaches, perfect for swimming, photography, and enjoying warm waters and white sand.

Parque Ecologico Janauary - During the flood and part of the dry season (January to September), the tour includes a visit to this ecological park. Guests can enjoy lunch at a floating restaurant with a variety of food options, including vegetarian. A walk through the flooded forest leads to a lake with water lilies, accessible via a suspended walkway near the tree canopy. When water levels are insufficient, lunch is served at another floating restaurant along the Negro river side, offering the same quality food but without water lilies.

Comunidade Catalao - During the flood and part of the dry season (January to September), the tour navigates the Amazon river side to reach a floating village on Lago do Catalão. Over a hundred families live here in houses built on large floating logs, complete with schools, churches, shops, and restaurants, creating a unique lifestyle.

Comunidade Catalao - The lake features a fish farm with Pirarucu (Arapaima gigas), the largest freshwater fish with scales. Guests can use rods with bait to feed these river monsters and experience their power.

Meeting of Waters - The tour concludes with a visit to the “Meeting of Waters,” a natural wonder where two rivers, one brown and one black, flow side by side without mixing due to differences in density, velocity, temperature, and acidity.

Port of Manaus - The return to Manaus includes a view of the city’s border, starting with the industrial park housing over 400 factories, including Samsung, Panasonic, Sony, Honda Motors, and Harley Davidson. Guests will see South America’s largest private floating port, the fish port, and the main port with numerous boats for navigating northern Brazil. Observant guests may spot the dome of the Amazonas Theater, the first beer factory, and other historical buildings from the rubber boom. The estimated arrival time at the hotel is around 5 pm.

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

• towel, swimming suits, boots, souvenirs

So many exciting activities are possible in two days and one night excursion in Amazon.
Jungle trekking, cayman (alligator) spotting, visit to the phenomenon of the meeting of the rivers, visit to an indigenous tribe, overnight like a native, boat ride, piranha fishing, visit to the lake with water lilies, visit a floating village, fishing for the giant pirarucu (arapaima), sunrise, sunset etc.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.