Amazon Adventures

Brazil Tours and Travel

Brazil Conservation Projects

One of the best-known rainforest conservation efforts in Brazil, the Golden Lion Tamarin Conservation Project (GLTCP) , is a mere two-hour drive from the city of Rio de Janeiro.The Golden Lion Tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia) is a strikingly beautiful squirrel-sized primate, that exists only in the lowland Atlantic Rainforest of the state of Rio de Janeiro, is one of the most endangered primate species on earth.All of the approximately 1000 remaining wild individuals are found in the Poço das Antas Biological Reserve and the surrounding private land.

The Mamirauá Project is located 600 km (373mi.) west of Manaus in the State of Amazonas, the heart of the Amazon Rainforest. The Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve is the largest (1,124,000 ha) Brazilian protected area conserving flooded forest ecosystems, and the only operational area conserving the "várzea" flooded forest. This area is important not only because of its unique biodiversity and endemism, but also because it is the first Brazilian conservation unit designed to integrate the preservation of internationally significant biodiversity resources, fragile habitats, sustainable resource management and participatory management with traditional communities.

Praia do Forte is now the headquarters of the extensive national turtle conservation project, TAMAR Project, with national and international prestige, credibility and recognition. In the state of Bahia, the largest number of spawnings of the Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), considered to be one of the most threatened with extinction all over the world. Bahia is also the place where the largest concentration of Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta caretta) occurs on the Brazilian coast. The TAMAR Project was set up in 1980 to preserve the sea turtles, which traditionally lay their eggs on the beaches and were in threat of extinction. Female sea turtle emerge on deserted beaches during the months of September and March along the mainland coast of Brazil. After nightfall, thousands of turtles come ashore to lay their eggs, and with the right timing visitors can witness the miraculous hatching of the tiny turtles.

Day 1 (Sunday) - arrive Rio and transfer to hotel. Afternoon tour to Sugarloaf.

Day 2 - breakfast, then full day visit to the Poço das Antas Biological Reserve to see the Golden Lion Tamarin.

Day 3 - breakfast, then transfer to the airport to fly to Salvador, where you will be met and transferred to Praia do Forte. Visit to Projeto Tamar- the sea turtle project for preservation of the species, where it is possible to see the various species of Brazilian turtles at their different life stages. Return to hotel walking along the beaches, such as “Papa-Gente" with the natural swimming pools and " Lord's Pools". Stop for lunching at local restaurant. Visit the ruins of Garcia D'Ávila's Castle, considered the first big Portuguese construction of the 16th century in Brazil. Chance to enjoy a beautiful view of the coastline covered with coconut trees.

Day 4 - breakfast, then meet at the humpback Whale Institute at 07am, where you'll have 30 minutes lecture in English and Portuguese at the "Humpback Whale Institute" of Praia do Forte where researchers provide information on the life and habits of the creatures as well as initiatives by national and international organizations to prevent indiscriminate hunting of humpbacks. After the lecture, whale watchers are conducted to the port of Praia do Forte to meet the schooner's crew. Inflatable boats take small groups to the schooner a few hundred yards off the beach. The schooner boat is taken out for a tour of approximately 25 nautical miles to see these enormous mammals that migrate from the cold waters of the South Pole to mate and give birth in the warm waters of Bahia. An environmentalist guide will accompany the group providing relevant information throughout the journey. We'll return to land around 11:30h and the return transfer to the hotel in Salvador. Salvador historical city tour in the afternoon. Dinner and folklore show at Miguel Santana Theater. (whales are there from July-November)

Day 5 - breakfast, then free morning till you are transferred to the airport to gly to Manaus, where you will be transferred to your hotel.

Day 6 - breakfast, then transfer to the airport to fly to Tefe where the visitors will be met at the Tefé’s airport. Around 10 minutes (by car) away from the airport is the “Flutuante do Areia Branca” where will be the start of the journey to Mamirauá Reserve. The trip to the Reserve is made by boat and takes about one and a half hours. On the way you can enjoy the breeze and the magic scenery. Also you will be to see the little boats across the river. You might even be able to spot wildlife, such as pink dolphins (Inia geofrensis) at Tefé Lake and tucuxis (Sotalia fluviatilis) in the Solimões River during the trip to the lodge. You will be welcomed by our staff at the lodge. There will always be an English-speaking person at the lodge. Our staff will give you rapid recommendations and explanations on the running of the lodge (meal times, solar power, water, no swimming, etc) and you will be asked to fill in the visitor’s registration form. At this time you will be able to meet all the employees responsible for making an excellent stay. The Naturalist guide will accompany you on some activities and all outings have to be accompanied by a local guide. You must listen to their recommendations at all times especially those regarding your own safety. The local guides don’t speak English fluently.
The lunch will always be served between 12:30pm and 13:30pm.
The outings in the afternoon are starting at 15:30 when the climate is not so hot.
At 15:30 you will be ready to go on a walk (dry season) on one of the trails. You will be taken with your whole group to do an Interpretative Trail. The naturalist and the local guide, combining scientific and traditional knowledge will help you to interpret the varzea’s environment (flooded forest). On this first hike, eight points strategically chosen are classified and explained for them. During the “Flooded season” you will make a trip by large canoe among channels and lakes into forest bringing together all guests’ group.

During the flood (May-July) all trails will be done in a small paddle canoe (your guide will paddle you through the trail). The dinner will be served around 19:30. After dinner you will watch a BBC documentary about Mamirauá Reserve.

Day 7 - - The animals wake up with the sunrise and to maximize the wild life viewing you must also to wake up early to visit the trails. The break fast is served at 06:30am and at 07:00am the activities start. Another trail will be taken, on foot or by canoe, in the new area chosen to observe the nature. Our trails are designed not to be physically straining and most of them can be walked in three hours at the longest. In the flooded season (May- Aug.) the jungle trip will made by canoe as the level of river varies around 12 meters during the “Rainy season”.
At 15:30 you are invited by the researchers that are working in the ecotourism area to participate of their field work, complementing the technical information in the presentation. If you prefer you can go on another wildlife viewing.
After the dinner, you will be ready to do a night tour (on foot or by small canoe) with good chances to see the nocturnal fauna, as tarantula spiders, opossum (Didelphis marsupialis and Philander opossum), two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus) and brown throated three toated sloth (Bradypus variegatus), amazon bamboo rats (Dactylomys dactylinus), bats (Rhynchonycteris naso and Noctilio leporinus), etc. This activity is short and takes around 40 minutes.

Day 8 - - If you choose to visit a local village, this morning is the time to do it. The Ecotourism program has had plenty of discussion with the local communities about those visits and agreed on 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 . Depending on the village, you might have the opportunity to buy locally produced handicrafts - take small change with you. If you don’t wish to visit the local community there is possibility to do another trip together with your the local guide.
This afternoon you will be taken on a motorised canoe to Mamirauá Lake, a beautiful lake inside the total preservation area of the Reserve. At the lake you will probably have memorable encounters with pink river dolphins (Inia geofrensis), hoatzins (Opistochomus hoazin) and perhaps the pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) fish. You will stay there until the sunset and on your way back you will spot black caimans (Melanoschus niger), bats (Rhynchonycteris naso and Noctilio leporinus), night birds…
The Dinner is at 20:00 so you will have the opportunity to hear a talk about the ecosystem and about the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Institute – its work, its research, etc. The naturalist guide will do the Mamirauá presentation at 20:30.

Day 9 - - The departure from the Lodge will be at 09:30am on Monday. However to enjoy your last morning at the Reserve we're planning a trip by canoe at 06:30am. After the breakfast you are be ready to return to Tefé, whre you will be met and transferrred back to the airport to fly to Manaus for overnight.

Day 10 - depart Manaus

Possible extension:

The Ecological Reserve of Sebuí is located in the small continental side of a bay called Baia dos Pinheiros, between the regions of Guaraqueçaba and Superagui National Park. This region is one of the UNESCO Wolrd Heritages Sites in Brazil: Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves. Access to the Reserve is usually done by boat, leaving from the town of Guaraqueçaba (50 minutes).The majority of the forest presents an altered primary stage and occupies an approximate area of 310.4 hectares, or 75% of the 400.78 hectares of the reserve. Currently, the Reserve already counts on its Plan of Handling and has elaborated Projects for the proper sustainability.

Works carried in the Reserve resulted in a preliminary listing of 91 species of birds, 26 of them endemic of the Atlantic Forest biome, 5 included in the list of endangered species from the state region, 2 national and 2 globally threatened birds. Among these, the endemic and endangered Red Tailed Amazon Parrot - Papagaio-da-cara-roxa (Amazona brasiliensis). Withdrawals made in the Conservation Area of Guaraqueçaba mention of the occurrence of about 70 species of mammals in the region. Among these mammals, the most important is the Black-faced Lion Tamarin - “mico-leão-da-cara-preta” (Leontopithecus caissara), already registered in areas adjacent to the Reserve.

Day 10 - Arrive in Curitiba and transfer to the Comfort Hotel.

Day 11- Early transfer to the railway station for the train journey from Curitiba to Paranagua on the coast. Serra Verde Express train (three hours) - the most scenic stretch of railway in Brazil, disembarking at Morretes, a small colonial town enroute. We stop for a seafood lunch on the way and arrive at the lodge late afternoon. The area of 400 ha is part of the Environmental protection area of Guaraqueçaba and is located in an estuary behind the Superagui National Park. Rest of the day free. Overnight at Sebuí Lodge.

Day 12- Guided walks and kayaking through the Atlantic Rainforest, mangroves and creeks. Excursions to Pinheiro island, refuge of the endemic and endangered Red Tailed Amazon Parrot, as well as nearby fishing villages and beaches. Overnight at Sebuí Lodge.

Day 13- In the afternoon we return to Guaraqueçaba, where will overnight. Guaraqueçaba, located on a gorgeous bay with the peaks of Serra do Mar dominating the background, is the oldest town in Paraná. Overnight at Bambuza Pousada.

Day 14- Leave by boat from Guaraqueçaba to Paranaguá. From there private transfer to Curitiba (airport or hotel).