Along the Amazon and the Rio Negro

• Day 1 Manaus - Rio Negro

  Boarding. Lunch on board.Guided tour of Manaus. Visit to the Rubber Museum. Cruising on the Rio Negro. We'll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. Dinner and overnight onboard your ship.

• Day 2 Rio Negro

  At dawn, you'll explore the Rio Negro aboard a private boat, just as the birds take flight—macaws, parrots, and even fish eagles. With some luck, you may spot the grey river dolphins (Tucuxi) or the elusive pink dolphins. Return on board for breakfast. Then, set off on a forest walk to discover the astonishing diversity of the flora: hardwoods, palms, and vines. The local riverbank communities have formed associations to protect the region's flora and fauna. In this area of primary forest, the jungle abounds with fruits, oils, resins, and natural dyes, which are valuable for handicrafts and traditional medicine. We’ll return on board and begin cruising toward “Três Bocas.” In the late afternoon, head out again aboard a private boat to observe the wildlife and stunning scenery around Lago da Pescada. We’ll be cruising toward the Anavilhanas Archipelago. Dinner and overnight onboard your ship.

• Day 3 Madada Caves, Rio Negro

  Departure for a hike through primary rainforest toward the Madada Caves. The rock engravings carved in relief by ancient tribes are over 3,000 years old. During the walk, you'll be introduced to the region’s rich plant biodiversity and learn about the many trees and vines used in indigenous medicine. In the mid-afternoon, you'll board a private motorized boat for a wildlife observation excursion. Keep an eye out for snowy egrets, macaws, and fish eagles. We'll be cruising toward the Meduini River. Dinner and overnight onboard your ship.

• Day 4 Jaú National Park

  At dawn, set out on an exploration aboard a private boat around the Meduini River—an extraordinary site known for its unparalleled biodiversity. We'll be cruising toward the Jaú National Park, possibly accompanied along the way by botos (pink river dolphins) and tucuxis (grey dolphins). This UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site is a preserved paradise and the largest protected area of tropical rainforest in South America, covering approximately 23,000 km². It is one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet. During a guided forest walk, you'll seek out some of the most emblematic trees of the Brazilian rainforest, including the Samauma, a towering giant of the Amazon that can reach heights of up to 90 meters. In the afternoon, we'll be cruising toward the Carabineni River, followed by a private boat excursion to explore its waters and the wildlife that inhabits them. Dinner and overnight onboard your ship.

• Day 5 - 6 Rio Jau

  At sunrise, embark aboard a private boat to discover the local wildlife and flora. You'll then meet the natives of a nearby village, who will take you by canoe to explore the local fauna, including monkeys, in a silence only interrupted by the rhythmic movement of the paddles. You'll visit the village and the school. Enjoy an afternoon of relaxation and wildlife observation as we cruise along the waters of the Rio Jau—an enchanting interlude in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. Dinner and overnight onboard your ship. If the weather permits, embark on a private boat excursion to observe the nocturnal wildlife. In the darkness, the beams of the flashlights reveal dozens of pairs of glowing eyes—caimans, camouflaged along the riverbanks.

• Day 6 Itaobal - Airao Velho

  Departure for a hike along the Itaobal Trail (~3 hours) to discover a beautiful waterfall and a crystal-clear lake. You'll observe the local wildlife, and perhaps spot some sleeping caimans. Next, you'll visit Airáo Velho, an abandoned village that once flourished as a center for the rubber industry until the 1950s. There, you'll see remnants of the region's golden age, when cacao, coffee, and orange plantations thrived. In 1955, the residents of Airáo Velho migrated further down the river to establish the present-day Novo Airão. Over time, the vegetation has overtaken the old ruins, blending with the remnants of former homes. Dinner and overnight onboard your ship.

• Day 7 Novo Airao

  Visit to the village of Novo Airão, nestled on the banks of the Rio Negro and gateway to the Anavilhanas Archipelago, the second-largest freshwater archipelago in the world. The village offers beautiful handicrafts, a local brewery, and a warm welcome. In the afternoon, we'll be cruising toward the village of Acajatuba. Once there, you'll board local boats to observe the riverbanks and the waters of the river. Dinner and overnight onboard your ship.

• Day 8 Acajatuba

  You'll discover the preserved village of Acajatuba, a collection of small colorful wooden houses built on stilts. Then, you'll board local boats and cruise toward the Ariau Canal, which connects the Amazon River to the Rio Negro. This area is a prime location for wildlife observation, particularly the mão amarela monkey. Dinner and overnight onboard your ship.

• Day 9 Meeting of the Waters

  At sunrise, the magic of the Amazon rainforest unfolds before you: the reflections of trees and sky in the water, the noisy flight of birds, and the daily rhythm of life with its flotilla of canoes. You'll witness the remarkable phenomenon of the "Meeting of the Waters" or "Encontro das Águas," where the Solimões River, the name given to the Brazilian portion of the Amazon River before it meets the Rio Negro, mixes with the dark and acidic waters of the Rio Negro. The two rivers, with their distinct colors, yellow and silt-laden from the Solimões, and dark from the Rio Negro, intertwine for nearly 80 kilometers, creating a beautiful lace-like pattern before eventually merging into the mighty Amazon River. Dinner and overnight onboard your ship.

• Day 10 Janauacá Lake

  As nature awakens, you'll explore Janauacá Lake aboard a private boat. The birds are foraging for food, dolphins hunt in the muddy waters, and fishermen’s canoes are hard at work. The lake’s inhabitants divide their time between cassava farming, fishing, and livestock raising. This region, known as "Varzea" (meaning floodplain), is particularly fertile due to the nutrient-rich deposits left by seasonal floods. Return on board for breakfast and then set off on a cruise upriver along the Manaquiri River. You'll observe the local wildlife and flora until sunset. In the late afternoon, we'll be cruising along the Solimões River toward Manaus. Dinner and overnight onboard your ship.

• Day 11 Manaus

  Breakfast on board. Disembarkation.

Along the Amazon and the Rio Negro, An Exclusive Cruise through Pristine and Hidden Nature ItineraryMAO_PP Itinerary