Discover Manaus & the Brazilian Amazon - 5 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Brazil & Tour Manaus

Welcome to Brazil! After settling in at your hotel in Manaus, take a guided tour of the capital of the state of Amazonas. Highlights include the eclectic style of the 20th-century Black River Palace, which was the official seat of the state government, and the Indian Museum, which explores the traditions of Indigenous peoples in the area. Continue to the neoclassical Palace of Justice and end with a visit to the stunning Amazon Theater, an opera house built in 1896 during the "rubber boom" of the region. 

Afterward, explore this gateway to the Amazon on your own. See the wonder of the "Meeting of the Water," where the dark shade of the Rio Negro clashes with the sandy-colored Rio Solimões. Wander through the mouth-watering stalls of the Mercado Adolpho Lisboa in the European-style Municipal Market building. Here, you can buy everything from fresh produce to herbal and Indigenous medicines. Try local cuisine like Amazonian seafood or hit up a churrascaria for meat, meat, and a side of meat.

Day 2: Transfer to Anavilhanas National Park, Archery & Nocturnal Tour

This morning, you will be transferred from Manaus to the Anavilhanas Archipelago in the Amazon. After settling in, stretch your arms for an Indigenous archery lesson, where you will learn the history and hunting methods of the Waimiri-Atroari people. In the evening, journey into the jungle in search of nocturnal animals. With just the stars illuminating the way, explore the igapós and igarapés (swamps and waterways) by canoe. Keep an eye out for sloths, birds, caimans, and other animals that only appear at night.

Day 3: Recreational Fishing Trip & Visit a Caboclo Community

Take a recreational fishing trip in wooden canoes, which is open to people of all levels. You'll get the chance to catch piranhas and other fish native to the area. Later, head down the Rio Negro to a local Caboclo community. Caboclo refers to people with mixed Indigenous Brazilian and European ancestry or assimilated folks of Amerindian descent. This tour will introduce you to the rainforest's Caboclo traditions, customs, and agricultural practices.

Day 4: Sunrise Tour, Dryland Forest Hike & Canoe Down the Amazon 

Begin the day with a sunrise tour and watch the Amazon come alive at first light. Later, a local guide will take you on a trek into the dryland forest to learn about the area's extensive flora and fauna. The Amazon is home to more species of plants and animals than any other ecosystem on earth—one in 10 known species is contained within this remarkable area. End the day with a canoe tour, where you will paddle through the waterways of igapós and igarapés in a traditional wooden canoe. 

Day 5: Pink River Dolphin Tour, Transfer to Manaus & Depart Brazil

For your final excursion in the Amazon, set out on a river boat to search for pink river dolphins, known for their distinctive rose color, curious natures, and gymnastic skills! The pink river dolphin often appears in South American myths, both as protective and more malevolent figures, so discover for yourself where they fall for you. After the tour, you'll be transferred back to Manaus, and when you're ready to leave, you'll be taken to Manaus Airport for your departing flight. Safe travels!

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