Luxury Amazon Cruise in Brazil

📍 Departure from Manaus at 9 am

Day 1: Meeting of Waters / Lake Janauari / Indigenous community

Starting the great adventure of the luxury Amazon cruise in Brazil, the Zaltana crew will welcome you onboard. While navigating through Amazonian waters, a meeting will be held, giving instructions, clarifying doubts, and demonstrating eco-friendly practices of minimal impact during the trip (bringing together the best of nature with comfort!). Contemplating its water, we will visit Encontro das Águas (Meeting of Waters), where Rio Negro (black waters) and Rio Solimões (brown waters) run side by side for more than 9 km. You will be able to appreciate this rare phenomenon of nature and understand why these waters do not mix.

We will enjoy a delicious lunch onboard. In the afternoon, we will go on a speedboat ride to explore Lake Janauari, an ecological park that has more than 9 thousand hectares, a region full of Amazonian species, such as bromeliads, orchids, and the famous water lily (Victoria amazonica), one of the largest aquatic plants in the world.

Later in the day, we will visit an indigenous community where a wealth of Brazilian cultural diversity is concentrated. Here, we will have the opportunity to witness a captivating performance of traditional singing and dancing.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of opening your room’s curtains and being surrounded by nature. During our luxury Amazon cruise in Brazil, we’ll journey to the Nova Esperança community, situated along the banks of the Cuieiras River, an ecological haven, home to a diverse range of animal species and ancient trees. This visit will provide us with a unique chance to immerse ourselves in the local culture, discover their customs, and exchange knowledge.

While we’re there, we’ll have the chance to hike through the forest and discover the natural treasures hidden amongst the trees, learning about their medicinal benefits along the way. Later, we’ll explore the Anavilhanas islands by speedboat and venture to 3 Bocas, where the island’s lush vegetation is mirrored in the dark waters, creating a surreal environmental scene. To round off the day, we’ll take part in the traditional activity of piranha fishing, where we’ll learn how to catch this famous fish which is a key ingredient of Amazonian cuisine.

Today, we’ll enjoy a full day of leisurely navigation, taking in the various landscapes formed by the islands. We’ll pass by the city of Novo Airão, which is the nearest city to the Anavilhanas National Park, and continue sailing until we reach Acajatuba. This area boasts several igarapés and canals that connect the Negro River to its neighbouring Solimões River, making it an ideal location for eco-tourism activities.

In the evening, our luxury Amazon cruise in Brazil takes us on a search for caimans and other nocturnal animals along the river banks. Our knowledgeable native guide will teach us how to use our flashlights to spot the distinct yellow eyes of these creatures.

On our last full day of the luxury Amazon cruise in Brazil, we’ll delve into the highlights of Acajatuba! We’ll kick off the day by visiting the Amazon River Dolphins, the ‘botos’, one of the most beloved and docile mammals in the Amazon. Unfortunately, these creatures are at risk of extinction and are only found in the Amazon, making this a truly special and exciting experience!

Next, we’ll take a thrilling speedboat ride along the Ariaú River, renowned for being the filming location of the movie ‘Anaconda’. As the Ariaú River is formed by the union of the Solimões and Negro Rivers, it boasts a unique blend of fauna and flora from both environments. It’s not uncommon to spot various wild animals, including sloths, howler monkeys, and squirrel monkeys as well as several bird species such as jaçanã, parrots, herons, and gipsy ancestors.

Afterwards, we’ll go on a forest hike that will lead us to the giant Samaúma tree. It is considered the mother of Amazonian trees and a significant part of Brazilian folklore. 

As the day comes to an end, we’ll begin preparations for our Luau on the beach Praia Grande, surrounded by lush Amazonian vegetation. We’ll light a campfire and enjoy some excellent local food, including various types of hot fish. We’ll spend the evening sharing our experiences and perceptions of the Amazon before settling in for the night on board the boat Zaltana moored at Praia Grande.

The waters that welcomed us at the start of our journey will now bid us farewell as we make our way back to Manaus, marking the end of this incredible luxury Amazon cruise in Brazil.

We will enjoy a delicious farewell breakfast while enjoy navigating through the waters of Rio Negro, enjoying the last moments of this great adventure.

With renewed energy, we return home with the certainty that travelling through the Amazon on the Zaltana Boat is a unique adventure, which will make us reflect on how much we must protect the greatest natural heritage in the world. Join us on this exciting Luxury Amazon Cruise in Brazil, a lifetime experience! 

🏁 The return time to Manaus is flexible