HOUSEBOAT JOURNEY:

7 days, 6 nights

SINGLE: $10,500 – DOUBLE/TRIPLE: $8,350

DAY 1:

On the first day, we’ll pick you up from your hotel and make our way to a beautiful houseboat that will be our shelter and travel! We’ll share some welcome drinks upon arrival. If you enjoy alcohol, Brazilian cachaça will be served and I must recommend a taste. Cachaça is a white rum mad from distilled cane juice, rather than rind. It has a unique flavor that is slightly sweet, and a plush, smooth texture.This will be an excellent chance to meet the crew of the river boat we’ll be staying on and discuss our routes, as well as familiarize ourselves with the facilities onboard. From there, we’ll lift anchor and be on our way!

Our first feature will be the spectacular “Encontro das Águas,” or “The Meeting of Waters.” This is the confluence of two very important Brazilian rivers, the Rio Negro and the world’s longest river, the Amazon. The Rio Negro, or “Black River” is so named because to the dark silt that marks it’s bed, whereas the Amazon river is bedded with pale sand. This union is a natural marvel, and something you can only see right here!

We’ll be traveling the Rio Negro eventually, but first we should visit the nearby streams to get an understanding of how Amazonian river life works. These “floating houses” are a cultural tradition that dates back centuries, using the rivers abundant resources while remaining safely afloat on the water’s surface.We’ll then visit an ecological park called Janauari Lake to see giant royal victories, massive water lilies native to this area.

We’ll have lunch on board, a sampling of some of the local fare, before we set course down the Rio Negro. We’ll stop in a small channel river called the Ariau, this is a perfect spot to see the sunset while we enjoy some dinner. We’ll be dining to the songs of hundreds of native bird species, which grow active at dawn and dusk. Many of these birds don’t migrate between hemispheres, so hopefully many of you will be hearing them for the first time!

After dinner we’ll venture out by speedboat to explore the rivers and tributaries at night. This is an excellent opportunity to see and hear the rare, nocturnal wildlife active in the jungle. After our safari night trip, it’s back to the houseboat for some much needed rest!

DAY 2:

After your first night on the houseboat I’ll encourage  you to rise before the sunrise. The view we’ll have from the deck is simply fantastic and I want you to see it! Then, we’ll prepare a hearty breakfast for the day’s journey. 

Upon the voyage, we’ll be searching the myriad of channels and tributaries for wildlife. We’ll disembark for a jungle walk, where I’ll explain the flora and fauna, including medicinal plants. Survival is unique in the Amazon, and knowing what is safe to eat and drink is essential. Then, it’s back to the houseboat for lunch and a brief siesta (break).

Once we’re full and rested, we’ll head out for some piranha fishing! We’ll explore different areas throughout the afternoon and into the evening, visiting natural landmarks and learning a bit  about navigation and travel using the great rivers. Then of course, we’ll mark the end of the day with another gorgeous, iconic sunset. We’ll head back to the houseboat to eat dinner and discuss all we’ve seen. This will be a perfect time for comments, questions, and a passionate reliving of the day’s events!

DAY 3:

On the third day, we’ll awaken before sun-up (that is of course, if we missed our chance to see the beautiful sunrise!). We’ll have an opportunity to listen to the stirring of birds during our Amazon breakfast.

From here, we’ll journey down river to meet a local family; we’ll get an idea as to how they live and how they survive in the Amazon. This is an opportunity to ask questions and share knowledge with the humble people who call this place home. Then, we’ll head back to the lodge for more delicious local cuisine at lunch followed by, you guessed it, a siesta!

Once rested, we’ll travel ever further down the river for a visit with the indigenous natives. Here is a chance to see and share indigenous Amazonian culture. We’ll witness a ritual of their tribe, see how their tribe has survived for millenia, and even see a special performance of music and dance! These are real natives, and we’ll show them our respect and reverence, while knowing that our collective excitement is something captured in their smiles!  

We’ll head back to the houseboat in time to see the sunset, share a well-earned meal, and laugh and revel in all the day’s highlights!

DAY 4:

On our fourth day, we have another chance (for those willing) to see a glorious sunrise. Breakfast will be served and our next excursion will be by boat ride deep into the jungle. We’ll spend the day setting up a camp, using the survival techniques we’ve learned on our journey so far. We’ll organize our sleeping areas, collect wood for cooking and warmth, then make lunch.

When we’re ready, we’ll explore the surrounding area. As we’re now deep in the jungle, we’ll be extra considerate and mindful in how we explore, but the bounty of nature on display will be staggering! We’ll see monkeys, birds, tarantulas, and whatever else luck allows!

After exploring we’ll need to prepare the fire for dinner. A barbeque meal will be shared as we marvel at the unbound nature right before our eyes. Then we’ll need to prepare our sleeping areas with mosquito nets and settle into our hammocks. The deep jungle plays a song that truly can only be experienced, not described! Rest assured, your dreams will play to the tune of the jungle!

DAY 5:

After an overnight stay in the deep jungle, it’s time to have a “jungle breakfast!” We’ll spend time planning our hikes over the meal, sharing some insights I’ve learned from over 30 years on how best to traverse this hostile land. 

From here we’ll pack up the backpacks properly for a day in the jungle. We’ll walk deeper in, feeling the serenity of an untouched, untamed wilderness. Throughout our journey I’ll be helping you acclimate to this land. We’ll focus on survival tactics, do’s and don’ts, as well as navigation tricks used by the Amazon’s indigenous people. 

Once we’ve hiked to an area suitably “deeper” into the jungle, I’ll call for a rest where we will make camp as before to take lunch, though this time, we’ll be observing the very heart and lungs of the jungle, far from human intervention.

After lunch it’ll be time to apply what we’ve learned by venturing beyond camp in search of native wildlife. This deep in, the jungle speaks with its own voice, and the sound transcends all language. We’ll see even rarer, more elusive species, and understand how to co-exist with them. Once we’re feeling hungry, it’ll be time to return to camp to rekindle the fire, and cook dinner. Over dinner, we’ll discuss our next activity, a “night walk”  in the jungle.

We’ll leave camp after sunset, careful to be respectful, but knowing that some of the most unique denizens of the rainforest can only be found at night! Out here, we are a minority to the various wildlife that inhabit this space, so I’ll be sharing all my collected experience to keep you safe. Fear not, because safely traveling this jungle is my life’s work and joy!

Like the previous night, we’ll get the unique opportunity to hear the jungle’s song once more as we drift off to sleep beneath the canopy. Sweet dreams!

DAY 6:

On the sixth day, we’ll prepare a big jungle breakfast to give us the energy to hike back to basecamp. On our way back, navigation and landmarks may have changed, so we’ll mind the absolutes. The jungle is ever-changing!

We should arrive back at basecamp hungry from our journey. We’ll make lunch and have a short siesta, then explore the smaller channels and tributaries to see a side of Brazilian river life few will! We’ll set up some fishing gear, and catch something for dinner. You’ll find no more fresh meal than one caught and prepared by your own two hands

After dinner we’ll take the boat again, but this time for a night voyage. Seeing the river at night, and hearing the forest speak while safely on the boat is a beautiful experience, one you’ll treasure for years to come. Then, it’s back to basecamp for a peaceful, hard-earned rest. Sweet dreams again!

DAY 7:

On our final day, we’ll take breakfast and begin our journey out of the deep jungle. Our next excursion will be by boat ride to see the unique Amazonian River Dolphin (pink dolphin) in its natural habitat. You will have an opportunity to swim with them and don’t worry, they’re very friendly!

We’ll enjoy as much more nature as time will allow but sadly, our journey is coming to an end! Take this moment to breathe, stare, and appreciate this beautiful place that I have come to love, cherish, and respect; I hope you have to! 

We’ll return to the lodge for our final lunch. We’ll discuss the trip in detail, sharing memories and laughter, and perhaps even a few tears. After lunch, we’ll have some time to double-check everything, then we’ll depart for Manaus city, arriving around 4 PM. 

I’ll have one last opportunity to thank YOU for a wonderful, shared experience we’ll remember forever!