4-Day Amazon Jungle Cruise Brazil

You board at 9 AM at the pier of Hotel Tropical in Manaus. The Amazon jungle cruise in Brazil opens with an Amazon briefing: a quick rundown of the region’s fauna, flora, river basins, and local customs, plus a look at the maps to trace the route ahead.

Afterwards, reach Lago Janauary, a rich Amazon ecosystem fed by the Rio Solimões and full of birds, reptiles, exotic plants, and giant trees. The boat moors, and you set out by canoe through the area, with likely sightings of tucuxi and pink river dolphins and seasonal birds (such as the cocoi heron, egrets, blue-and-yellow macaws…) along with giant Victoria amazonica water lilies.

Back on the water, sail to the Meeting of Waters, where the Rio Negro and the Rio Solimões run side by side for several kilometers before merging. From there, continue up the Rio Negro toward the Anavilhanas Archipelago, with navigation continuing into the night.

Meals included: Lunch / Dinner

The day dawns on the Rio Negro with an early water tour to watch the sunrise. After breakfast, you get close to pink river dolphins and to the pirarucu, the largest scaled fish in the world.

Next, sail to an Indigenous settlement of people originally from the upper Rio Negro. You go ashore to the village for a presentation of their traditional customs, with dance, history, and handicrafts, followed by an exchange in the native Tuiuka and Tukano languages.

In the afternoon, continue to the Rio Ariaú, a blackwater river lined with characteristic vegetation and giant trees and a stretch with a high concentration of wildlife. Take a water trail by speedboat with piranha fishing and likely interaction with squirrel monkeys.

After dinner, head out to spot caimans and other nocturnal animals, then continue night navigation.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

The day begins as you navigate toward Praia Grande, a river beach with a free morning to swim, try stand-up paddle, or walk along the sand. Return to the boat for lunch on board.

In the afternoon, sail to the caboclo community of Santo Antônio (also known as Tiririca) for a walk and a visit to the Casa de Farinha (cassava flour house), a regional fruit orchard, and a handicraft shop. When the river is high, the program includes an immersion in a central lagoon in the middle of the forest.

You spend the night and have dinner on board, in the heart of Anavilhanas National Park.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

After a short navigation, you arrive in the town of Novo Airão for a city tour. This includes a visit to the Almerinda Malaquias Foundation (FAM), a project that combines income generation through woodworking with environmental education for local children and youth, plus the optional AANA (Novo Airão Artisans Association), with fiber, wood, and Indigenous handicrafts.

Have lunch at the Flor do Luar floating restaurant, then transfer from Novo Airão back to Manaus by air-conditioned taxi or van. This is the end of our 4-day Amazon Jungle Cruise in Brazil.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch