Amazon Experience

Setting off in a local riverboat from Manaus, your Amazon experience begins with a riverboat ride down the Rio Negro, passing the houses of the ribeirinhos (river people), built on stilts to accommodate the river’s tidal fluctuation. You’ll see floating petrol stations and an ice factory before arriving at the confluence of the Rio Negro and the Rio Solimões.

This is the birthplace of the mighty Amazon River. The ‘Meeting of the Waters’ is where the muddy yellow water of the mighty Solimões and the clear, dark water of the Rio Negro meet and continue to flow together without intermingling. Watch the phenomenon of the two rivers meeting, as their two distinctly coloured waters run parallel for several miles.

Continue on to Lake January, an ecological park situated between the two rivers where you’ll disembark and take a short walk along a boardwalk to observe the waters lilies from privileged lookout point. Exotic birds, monkeys and wild orchids may be discovered here.

Afterwards, from a landing stage, you’ll board small-motorised canoes to journey deeper into the narrow overgrown tributaries. On board the canoe, you'll float under the dense umbrella of trees that add to the quiet mystery of this region. If river conditions permit, you may be able to admire the Victoria Regia water lilies, the leaves of which can measure up to one metre across.

On the return to the floating pier, enjoy a buffet lunch featuring typical Amazonian dishes.

You’ll be given some free time, to browse the local art and crafts, before re-joining the riverboat for your return journey to Manaus.