The Brazilian Amazon

Mamirauá Reserve

The Mamirauá Reserve is an excellent choice for those who wish to experience the Amazon at a lodge located further away from Manaus. Flying from Manaus to the town of Tefe, guests are then transferred by boat to the unique floating lodge.

Sample Itinerary

Day 1 – Upon arrival in Manaus, transfer to Hotel Tropical for overnight stay.

Day 2 – Transfer from hotel for morning flight to Tefé. Upon arrival, transfer to the Pier. Departing around 12:00 from Areia Branca Pier, by boat, enjoy the breeze and the scenery. Perhaps spot wildlife, such as pink dolphins at Tefé Lake and tucuxis in the Amazon River.

Arrival around 14:00 at the Uakari Lodge. Introductory talk on safety procedures, environment, meal times, solar power etc Afternoon reconnaissance, by local canoe, to the heart of the forest where you will have the opportunity to view various species of animals. Dinner. Talk about the ecosystem and the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Institute – its work, research, etc.

Day 3 – Opportunity to visit a local village. (The Ecotourism program has had plenty of discussions with the local communities about those visits and agreed an informal itinerary with a series of attractions they would like to show and talk about). A person from the community will meet your group and show you around the village. Depending on the village, you might have the opportunity to buy locally produced handicrafts - take small change with you.

Lunch followed by time for rest. Later in the afternoon, another hiking or canoe tour, exploring a different region of the reserve. Dinner with researchers that are working in ecotourism after which they give a presentation on their work.

Day 4 - Animals in the forest wake up at sunrise, so if you are interested in seeing as much wildlife as possible, waking up early is recommended. Breakfast  followed by an Interpretative Trail. The naturalist and the local guide, joining scientific and traditional knowledge will help you to interpret the varzea's environment (flooded forest).

Trails are designed not to be physically straining and most of them can be walked in three hours at the longest.

During the flood (May-July), all trails will be done in a small paddle canoe (your guide will paddle you through the trail).

Afternoon, choice of accompanying a research team to participate in their field work thus supplementing the technical information given the previous night. Or, if you prefer, another wildlife viewing tour, travelling around the landscapes, channels and lakes system that compose part of the varzea's ecosystem.

After dinner, night tour with chance to see nocturnal fauna such as spiders, opossum, two-toed sloth, rats, bats, etc.

Day 5 – On the last day in the Reserve, opportunity to set out early  to see even more wildlife such as capuchin monkeys, howlers, uakaris and squirrel monkeys, three-toed sloths, hoatzins, etc. If you prefer, piranha fishing outing.  

Afternoon trip by motorised canoe to lake Mamirauá, a beautiful lake inside the total preservation area of the Reserve.  Perhaps see pink river dolphins, hoatzins and  pirarucu fish. Stay until sunset and, on the return, spot caimans, bats, night birds etc.

Dinner and overnight.

Day 6 – Early departure during the beautiful Amazonian sunrise.  Return shared transfer to Tefe, for flight to Manaus. On arrival, transfer to Hotel Tropical Manaus for overnight.

Day 7 – Depart Manaus and transfer to airport for flight to your next destination.