Rio Negro Cruise

Experience the slow river travel in the Brazilian Amazon in this 07-day river cruise program, sailing in a small boat upstream of Rio Negro. The boat capacity is 16 passengers. The boat can be privatized or the trip can be shared with other passengers. The cruise starts in the city of Manaus and goes all the way to Foz do Rio Jau and inside Jau National Park, to Carabinani, then back to Manaus. Discover the UNESCO Heritage sites of Anavilhanas Archipelago and Jau National Park, as well as Rio Solimões. This area of the river has almost no mosquitoes due to the natural insecticide found in its waters, being one of the most wild and preserved portion of the Amazon. The paths, waterfalls, and creeks will not be crowded by tourists – you will have an intimate experience with the forest and the giant river. Climb the giant trees, swim with the pink dolphins, visit indigenous communities, observe monkeys, sloths, dolphins, and birds at nights and at sunrise/sunset time. Meet the warm-hearted riverside communities from northern Brazil, which live hand in hand with the nature. Marvel at the greatness of samaúma and macucu trees – the lungs of the forest. The program is an excellent choice for nature lovers, for families travelling with teenage children, a group of friends or couples, as well as for senior travellers. The program includes accommodation onboard the boat, with a lot of comfort and charm. We can tailor this itinerary to suit your plans by changing the length of the trip or the order of activities.

07 Days – From £1,900 per person

*equivalent in USD, EUR accepted

Itinerary: Manaus, Anavilhanas Archipelago, Velho Airao, Manaus

Included

Price is per person, based on 16 people sharing the entire boat (separate en-suite double or twin cabins)
Accommodation onboard a luxury eco-boat (More Info) in air-conditioned cabins
Full board on the boat ( except alcoholic drinks)
Pick up and drop of in Manaus Hotels / Manaus Airport / Manaus River Port
Crew and Support Team
All the excursions mentioned in the itinerary with experienced guide
All transfers by car on a private basis
Entrance & guiding fees to all the mentioned National Parks
Canoe for exploration trips
Binoculars, fishing rods, barbecue grill
Tree climbing equipment (on request)
All mandatory local taxes

Excluded

Alcoholic Drinks
Visa, where applicable
International & Domestic Flights (See Flights to Brazil)
Personal Expenses
Insurance
Tips & Gratuities

Flights

International flights are not included in the package price. We give you the freedom to book the flights yourself, use miles and choose your preferred airline, and if you are stuck we can help you find the right connections. Return flights to Brazil start from £800 per person, depending on the connections and time of the year. Fly to Manaus Airport (MAO).

For families and groups (starting with 5 pax), we can book domestic flights in Brazil, during the high season, and if the trip is part of a more complex itinerary. This is to ensure a seamless travel and no complications.

How to Book

Send us a message on WhatsApp or email us at brazil@boutiquetravelexperts.com to check availability, discuss your preferences and get a quote.

This is a sample itinerary and prices are correct at the time of writing. We can tailor it to suit your plans by changing the length of the trip or the order of activities. More days can be added. Other hotels can be chosen, according to your liking. You can also combine this trip with other sights in Brazil, like the cosmopolitan Rio de Janeiro, the other places in the Amazon, the fascinating Pantanal, the culture of Bahia or the deep canyons of the south. For more travel inspiration check these itineraries.

When to Visit

It is good to visit year round.

There are two season: the dry season from September to March and the flood season from April to August.

To avoid unpleasant weather surprises, we recommend to check our Brazil Weather Guide to plan your trip in the right season. Click on the month you want to travel in and see the tours which are best for each month of the year.

Day 1 - Manaus to Anavilhanas

Today board the boat in Manaus and meet the crew for a short briefing. As you start sailing upstream Rio Negro, visit Seringal rubber museum in Vila Paraiso, located on the banks of Taruman lake. Later, stop for swimming at Praia Grande beach. Next, sail to Anavilhanas Archipelago (3 hours) towards Tres Bocas, around Barbosa area. From the upper deck, observe the black waters of the mirror-like river, pink dolphins jumping up and colourful Amazonian birds flying over. If lucky, you can spot the cute sloths in the trees. Get closer to them during kayak rides or when swimming. The boat will stop overnight in a safe area – a white-sand beach or a peaceful bay. Enjoy the beautiful starry sky at night. Overnight onboard.

Day 2 - Anavilhanas Archipelago

Wake up to the sounds of nature. What a spectacle! After a lovely breakfast listening to the birdsongs, head out for a canoe trip for a more intimate encounter with the Amazon, exploring aquatic trails, igapós, lakes and islands. Swim in the beautiful waters of Rio Negro, spending relaxing moments. Continue navigation to Saraca community and visit the manioc house. Learn about the process of making manioc flour, the precious Brazilian food. Later, go trekking in the wonderful forest with a local guide, to see the fauna and flora (2 hours). Return to the boat and continue sailing in the area of Anavilhanas National Park. At night, go on an aquatic trail to spot nocturnal wildlife. Overnight onboard.

Day 3 - Madada Caves & Airao Velho

After breakfast, discover the giant rock formations of Grutas do Madadá, located remotely in the middle of the jungle. Visit the petroglyphs dating from 800 BC and the ruins of Airão Velho, a ghost city and a true open air museum. Continue to the wild waterfall formed during the flood season. After the walk, you will have a traditional lunch with roasted fish. During the dry season, on the way back, stop for swimming on the beautiful white sand beaches contrasting with the dark waters of Rio Negro. During the flood season, go piranha fishing. Return by boat (1 hour) through the islands of Anavilhanas National Park. Anchor for the night. For dinner, gather around the bonfire (in dry season), with native folklore storytelling. Overnight onboard.

Day 4 - Jáu National Park

Today continue to Foz do Rio Jau and advance inside Jau National Park till Carabinani. During the dry season, board a speedy canoe trip through inland lakes, seeking packs of giant otters, bicoh monkeys and other animals. Next, enjoy Carabinani waterfalls. Take a refreshing swim in the quick waters of the waterfalls (from September till May). Enjoy the surrounding lush greenery. Later visit the indigenous community and go a forest trail with a local guide. Visit the huge trees around the community. Here you will see the giant samauma trees and marvel at their majestic stand. During the night take a canoe ride to spot alligators and nocturnal animals. Overnight onboard.

Day 5 - Acajatuba

Today the boat will set course to the other side of Rio Negro, toward Rio Solimões. Navigation back is faster, the boat following the river’s flow. Discover aquatic trails of the archipelago before returning to Novo Airão. Take a short city tour in Novo Airão to see the artisan workshop of Almerinda Malaquias Fundacao and local attractions. Enjoy lunch at the floating restaurant Flor do Luar in Anavilhanas National Park. Relax and swim in Rio Negro. Visit Lago Acajatuba, the home of the pink dolphin, a unique species of the Amazon. The experience of meeting and swimming with this playful animal is truly amazing. Later, visit the riverside community and share enjoyable moments with the local people. Overnight onboard. Navigation during the night.

Day 6 - Rio Ariau

At dawn the forest offers wonderful sky colors. After a beautiful sunrise on the beach, navigate up the Rio Ariaú, beautiful black water with lots of vegetation, monkeys and sloths. Native guides will guide you through the jungle for an educational trekking (1,5 hours). Here again, you will see the giant samauma trees. If you wish, you can even climb to the tower. Learn about the healing plants of the Amazonian rainforest from the local guides. It is really fascinating to see how wonderful is the forest and all its plants. At night, after dinner, search for alligators and other nocturnal animals. Overnight onboard.

Day 7 - Return to Manaus

With the break of the day, the forest wakes up too, and the sounds of nature are magical. Today is your last day on the boat while you are approaching back to Manaus. On the way, stop at Tuiuka community to meet a fascinating indigenous group for a warm cultural encounter. This is one of the nicest communities to visit around Manaus. On your arrival to the big metropolis, you will disembark with your luggage at the port. You will be met and transfer to your hotel or to the airport around late afternoon. Spend a few more days in Manaus and take a day trip to Presidente Figueiredo or fly to Santarem and take a river cruise from Alter de Chao.

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