A tour to discover all the charms of Amazonia!

The culinary delights and magnificent wildlife of the Amazon lowlands await you in Belém and Marajó !

Your tour starts in Belém, on the immense Amazon estuary, more than 100km inland.

In a truly unique atmosphere, where the tropical flora integrates with a superb “Art Nouveau” heritage, the “Ver-O-Peso“ food market will offer a first glimpse of the exotic  region.

This is a chance to sample rare local flavours by strolling through the dozens of multicoloured stalls. You will taste delicious dishes with exotic names such as Cupuaçu sorbet or Pato no Tucupi, a duck dish that numbs your lips; the Jambu leaves found in the sauce have anesthetic properties. An unusual multi-sensory experience that you won’t forget, rich in flavours, smells, sounds and colours.

One of our partners is the Goeldi zoological park, here you can discover the amazing tropical ecosystem. You will see rare animals that are difficult to find in the wild such as the blue macaw, the anaconda or the “king of the forest”, the jaguar.

You will be accompanied by a guide who will share with you his knowledge and understanding of the local natural environment.

Next stop – Marajó, “the shield island” or “Marajoara” in the local language. This island is situated opposite the town of Belém, in the middle of the Amazon delta. Almost the size of Switzerland, it reigns over the river and the Atlantic Ocean and is divided into two very distinct halves.

You will sail there along the Amazon River! It’s a 3 hour boat ride to reach the island and this will give you time to realize the incredible enormity of the Amazon river as it flows into the ocean.

The people live on the eastern side of the island on its beaches and fields. There are fazendas (large farms or ranches) and vast flooded plains where they raise buffalo; the main inhabitant of the eastern part of the island.

As the island is partly marshy, buffalo, which have inhabited the island as far back as people can remember, are an ideal alternative to horses for transport. Even the mounted police ride buffalo!

On the western side, a thick mangrove extends over the entire coastline, as well as a practically impenetrable inland forest . This is the kingdom of macaws, toucans and sloths.

Walking through the streets of Salvaterre, you will discover the lively local culture. From here you will go to your “pousada” (lodge). It is worth spending a little time visiting the surrounding villages which still hold traditional pottery workshops, a legacy of the local indigenous people and their extraordinary skills. It is a privileged moment to learn more about an indigenous civilization that lasted nearly a thousand years (400 to 1400 AD) and which, at its peak, had a population of more than 100,000. It’s also a good opportunity to bring back some original and ecological souvenirs and participate in the local economy at the same time!

For an authentic stay, you will be in a fazenda (ranch) hotel in the heart of Marajó Island. With simple but comfortable facilities and decor influenced by local crafts and materials you will find it easy to relax here during this island getaway.

You can discover how a local ranch works with no compromise on the comfort of your holiday.

The second part of your tour: From Manaus to Anavilhanas.

After discovering the incredible entrance to the Amazon forest with Belém and Marajó, you will take a flight of 2 hrs to the amazing city of Manaus built in the very heart of this huge tropical forest.

You will start your Amazon forest adventure in this great urban clearing, with the splendid Amazonas neo-Renaissance Theatre, a vestige of the transitory prosperity linked to the rubber making era.

With grandeur and decadence, this city and its inhabitants have been able to adapt over the course of time to alternative prosperous periods and economic decline. We want you to discover this fascinating and rich history and so offer the services of an experienced guide to take you on a captivating visit of Manaus, the capital of the state of Amazonia.

To top off this splendid visit, there’s nothing better than a cruise along its main waterways, a private cruise with a guide will take you from Manaus into the jungle, going up the Rio Negro, one of the two main tributaries of the majestic Amazon river.

Aboard a traditional style boat, exclusively for you and yours, you will arrive at an immense natural lake, the Acajatuba lake. This region is a true jewel of nature, home to the Anavilhanas archipelago and its 400 islands.

During this expedition in the labyrinth of igarapes, (tributaries connecting the rivers) your guide will suggest exclusive activities depending on the season, weather conditions and your desires. There are all sorts of things to do!

You can fish for piranha, go canoeing at night to see caimans, canoe through the Igapos (the submerged forest) or explore the jungle on foot and lots more! If you are lucky you may see a pod of botos, the famous pink Amazon dolphins.

You may even be able to swim among them, a wonderful experience never to be forgotten!

On this boat trip you will also meet the communities that live all year round on the banks of the rivers, the famous Ribeirinhos (literally inhabitants of the shore), the Caboclos, the mixed race locals who will show you some of their secrets of how to survive in this beautiful yet unforgiving environment. You can also meet the original Indian inhabitants of this isolated world, famous for their traditional craftsmanship.

Downstream from Manaus, on your return trip, you will discover the “Encounter of the Waters” which is both a strange and magnificent phenomenon. For several kilometres you will sail on a half-yellow, half-black river before the waters of the Negro river and the Solimoes river finally mingle and give birth to the Amazon.