Family Expedition to Iguaçu Falls & the Brazilian Amazon - 7 Days

Highlights

• Jet around the base of the roaring Iguaçu Falls in a speedboat
• Get up close to hundreds of weird and wonderful bird species at Parque das Aves
• Stay at a lodge deep in the Amazon and fall asleep to the sound of the rainforest
• Meet Amazonian inhabitants and learn about their culture and traditions

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Foz do Iguaçu, Explore the Brazilian Falls

Welcome to Brazil! Get ready to spend a week exploring what the country is most known for—its natural wonders. You'll arrive at Foz do Iguaçu Airport, where a driver will be waiting to transfer you and your family one hour to your hotel.

After taking some time to settle in, put on your walking shoes and head straight for adventure as you set off into Iguaçu National Park. This huge park and conservation area straddles the borders of both Brazil and Argentina and is home to one of the largest waterfall systems on Earth. With the help of your guide, you'll spend this afternoon on an excursion to see the 275 roaring waterfalls of Foz do Iguaçu (Iguaçu Falls) up close, traversing winding boardwalks surrounded by lush greenery. 

Day 2: Explore the Argentine Falls, Boat Trip to the Base

Rouse the kids early today for a trip over the border and into Argentina's Iguazú National Park, which encompasses the other side of the waterfall system. Upon arrival, you'll board a train to Iguazú's tallest waterfall, the Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat), which drops 260 feet (80 m) into mist-shrouded pools. Disembark and grab some family photos against a backdrop of thundering waterfalls and white spray. Afterward, reboard the train and head to the next station, where you'll take a 2-mile (3 km) walk along wooded footpaths and walkways that bring you closer to the falls and provide a more panoramic view.

Feel the full force of nature later this afternoon with a 2.5-hour boat ride that takes you right to the base of the falls. Enter the jungle through the Sendero Yacaratiá trail via special transport units until you reach Porto Macuco. Your boat driver will equip everyone with a life jacket and a waterproof bag—you'll need it! Choose your seat on the boat and begin your river adventure by weaving your way along the breathtaking canyons of the giant Río Parana. Approach the base of Salto Tres Mosqueteros and prepare yourselves for the shower of a lifetime! 

At the end of this adventurous day, you'll transfer back over the border to your hotel, dry off, and enjoy your last night in Foz de Iguaçu.

Day 3: Visit the Parque das Aves, Fly to Manaus

Treat yourselves to a tropical breakfast in the hotel, sipping on papaya juice and staying healthy with açai bowls. Once everyone's pleasantly satisfied, you'll pay a visit to Parque das Aves (Bird Park) and get up close to 180 species of Brazil's feathered inhabitants. Focused on the conservation of Atlantic Forest species, the park provides an immersive experience where you'll be introduced to a multitude of rare and endangered birds, as well as alligators, snakes, and a butterfly house. 

Later on, you'll collect your bags and meet your driver for a transfer to the airport, where you'll catch a five-hour domestic flight to Manaus in northern Brazil. Fly in over swathes of verdant rainforest and greet your driver in the airport arrivals hall, who will take you to your hotel.

Day 4: Transfer to Juma & Your Amazon Lodge, Canoeing & Nocturnal Excursion

Welcome to the rainforest! The journey to Juma—your Amazonian lodge—is an adventure in itself. First, take a 30-minute speedboat ride, then a bus, and finally, another hour on a speedboat, bringing you deep into the wilderness. During the three-hour journey, you'll stop to observe the Meeting of the Waters, where the muddy waters of the Rio Solimões meet the black waters of the Rio Negro. At this junction point, the two rivers—with different speeds, temperatures, and consistencies—run side by side for several miles without mixing, ultimately forming the great Rio Amazonas. 

On arrival, drop your bags and become acquainted with your home for the next three nights—a comfortable wooden cabin on stilts. This will undoubtedly be a novelty for the whole family! A lodge member will take you to the 100-foot-tall (31 m) observation tower, from where you'll have a bird's-eye view of the Juma region. Learn about the hotel's construction and sustainable practices before embarking on your first rainforest adventure. 

Step into canoes and paddle behind your guide, who will teach you about the igarapés (Amazonian creeks) and the igapós (flooded forests). Immerse yourselves in the sounds of the forest as you glide along the river. After an hour and a half of nosing around the nooks and crannies of the igarapés, come back to the hotel and take off for an evening expedition. Observe exotic-looking frogs, birds, and caimans with the flashlight of your experienced guide. Listen to the orchestra of nocturnal animals and look up at the starry sky where, if you're lucky, you might spot a shooting star. 

Day 5: Sunrise in the Amazon, Rainforest Hike & Piranha Fishing

If you're a parent to teenagers, you may have some trouble waking them up for the sunrise experience, but rest assured that they won't regret it. Leave the lodge during the pre-dawn hours of the morning and follow your guide to a viewing platform overlooking a thick layer of canopy. Hold your breath as the sky begins to change color and the rainforest sheds it's nocturnal coat, coming alive with birdsong. Use your guides' binoculars for a closer look at the emerging wildlife. 

Return to the lodge for a necessary caffeine kick and some breakfast before getting on your hiking gear. Follow your guide through the dense jungle as they point out medicinal, edible, and poisonous plants while regaling you with facts about the forest and its inhabitants. Your impact in the jungle will be kept to a minimum as the exploration walks are constantly changed and updated when one path starts to become overused. 

As the sun sets, board a motorboat and stop at the ideal spot for fishing. This isn't just any kind of fishing, though; you'll be angling for the Amazon's infamous piranhas. Look at these toothy fish up close before casting them back into the river, or you can ask your guide to keep them and add them to a traditional Amazonian fish soup. After a tranquil evening spent on the river, head back to the lodge. 

Day 6: Rainforest Hike with Picnic, Local Village Visit

Today, explore a different side of the jungle—the human one. Begin with a two-hour morning hike, keeping your eyes peeled for any interesting wildlife, such as monkeys, parrots, and a never-ending variety of flora. Just as your appetite wakes up, your guides will stop in a small open space in the forest and set up hammocks for you to rest in while they bake regional cuisine over a fire. Enjoy lunch in this novel environment and gently sway into a siesta, just as the locals do, before carrying on your hike.

Stop at a small compound and enjoy the rare privilege of meeting the local inhabitants. An Indigenous Amazonian will share their knowledge regarding traditional medicinal plants and will demonstrate, among other things, how manioc flour—one of the region's principal exports and drivers of the economy—is prepared. If there's one way to get your kids interested in anthropology and geography, this is it.

Return to the lodge, where a skilled guide will regale you with local tales and legends as well as insights into everyday life in the Amazon. Enjoy your last evening in one of the world's seven natural wonders by looking out for shooting stars, immersing yourself in the sounds of the jungle, and feasting on Brazilian cuisine.

Day 7: Pirarucu Spotting, Transfer to Manaus, Depart 

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