Our Anavilhanas Jungle lodge stay, discover the nature of Brazil

Visit the largest freshwater archipelago in the world: The Anavilhanas National Park

The Anavilhanas archipelago includes some 400 narrow islands with forms carved by the current, spread out over 90 kilometers along the Rio Negro which widens out to 27km at this point.

It is the largest group of river islands on the planet and it is certainly a privilege to visit this extraordinary and unique place.

The appearance of these jungle – covered islands changes radically throughout the year,  especially between the rainy and wet seasons. In fact, the appearance of the entire region completely changes.

From December to May (the rainy season), many of the green islands become submerged by the river´s tributaries. If you visit during this period, you will be met with an immense body of water from which the tops of the trees and some high points on the islands emerge. To take a canoe through the foliage of the igapó (the flooded forest) has a magical and surreal side to it.

During the dry season (from June to November), the water slowly retreats, by mid-October there are miles of deserted beaches of fine sand around each islet, making it a paradise for lovers of sun and beaches. (Don’t forget a good sun screen, as the sun can be quite strong in this region). We then sail through the narrow channels that separate the islands to choose your paradise beach for the day.

This region is home to a unique ecosystem which is protected by the Anavilhanas Ecological Station, an integral part of the Amazon Conservation Program, in coordination with the Chico Mendes Biodiversity Conservation Institute. It is therefore a sanctuary serving as a refuge for local biodiversity, now threatened by the increase in river traffic and the pressure of fishing.

By exploring the labyrinth of waterways between the islands of the Anavilhanas archipelago, you will certainly see some very rare animals of the Amazon. For example the placid peixe-boi (manatees) or the pink dolphins of Amazonia (Inia geoffrensis). As well as thousands of birds that fly from one island to another in an explosion of color and strange cries.

Enjoy luxury accommodation in the heart of the Amazon: Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge

It’s here in the heart of the truely wild nature that the Anavilhanas lodge is located.

This charming and high-standard accommodation option will seduce you. The quality of its bungalows constitute a perfect mixture of modern lines and local, authentic materials with an ecological approach of minimum impact on the environment.

The lodge has about twenty suites decorated with care and offering all the modern comforts (hot water – air conditioning) that you need. All perfectly integrated with the surrounding nature to minimize the visual impact of the installations which blend perfectly into the surrounding environment.

Let yourself be carried away by the unusual charm of the two bungalows  (superior category) offering a panoramic view of the forest with a bay window no less than 10 m long. A stay in one of these is really a special occasion, a unique experience of total immersion in the heart of the Amazonian forest.

A stay in the Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge includes all meals. You will discover a delicious cuisine that elegantly uses local produce to create the tastiest dishes.

A team of guides is constantly present to propose different activities designed to add a fun and active dimension to your stay, and assist you on your exploration of this amazing ecosystem. You will be able walk the forest paths, fish like the locals, discover the nocturnal animals, explore in a pirogue and meet the Botos – the pink dolphins of the Amazon. A unique opportunity to encounter a very rare and unfortunately endangered animal.

A particularly attractive feature of this lodge is the 13m high observation tower rising above the canopy. Standing at the top with a pair of binoculars, you can observe life in the treetops or contemplate the fantastic twilights, rich in the region’s colors. You will experience a bewitching show of sound and light if you pay attention to the forest awakening as the day gives way to the night.

Moreover, there is a swimming pool set facing the river, ideal to refresh you during the hottest hours of the day.

Anavilhanas is a charming lodge and an original concept perfectly combining authenticity and luxury. Everything is organized so that your stay is a seamless and unforgettable experience; treat yourself to a different view of the Amazon!

Visit the “Paris of the Americas” a city lost in the Amazon

To complete this fabulous stay at the centre of the Amazonian rainforest, you must visit the regional capital, Manaus, the famous “Paris of the Americas”.

An important crossroads in the Amazon thanks to its strategic position at the confluence of the Solimoes and Negro rivers. Manaus is above all a city of merchants and adventurers. They have always come here, attracted by the riches extracted from the forest and with dreams of fortunes made by reselling the goods in Europe.

This intense commercial trade led to a high level of prosperity in the region. It culminated with the trade of rubber sap which, once vulcanized, became the highly coveted rubber.

It was at this time, that there were many rich merchants who wanted to give their city the image of a great European capital. It was these affluent members of society that built the beautiful buildings that you will see during your guided tour.

When seeing these structures, you can really imagine the extreme power and wealth of these families who in their time had the means to meet the technical, financial and human challenges that these constructions represented. This gives an idea of the prosperity of the times. They had to bring artists, craftsmen and an enormous quantity of materials and already assembled pieces from the best workshops across the Atlantic to build the masterpieces that we can see today.

The famous municipal market, Mercado Adolfo Lisboa is an example. It was reopened in 2013 after 7 years of renovation. The beautiful wrought iron halls of several thousand m² were entirely made in Scotland before being transported by boat and then mounted on the spot. Also, there is the Amazonas Theatre whose 36,000 tiles are from Alsace, the marble is Italian, the metal structure is English and the furniture and tapestries are Parisian. In 1896, when it was completed, it was simply the most extraordinary building in South America!