Amazon Adventures

Brazil

Cristalino Jungle Lodge

South of the Brazilian Amazon - the world's largest continuous tropical rainforest, is the Cristalino Jungle Lodge's Private Natural Heritage Reserve. It is adjacent to the 460.000 acres Cristalino State Park and the Brazilian Air Force reserve with more than 5 million acres. The geographical location of the Cristalino State Park is strategic for the sustained preservation of an enormous area of Amazon forest. The Park represents an effective barrier between the devastation caused by the traditional economic misuses to the south, such as wholesale timber extraction, cattle ranching, and unsustainable agriculture, and the huge virgin areas to the north.

Cristalino Jungle Lodge is the work of a family who is leading conservation and sustained projects in the Alta Floresta region, which includes support for scientific and applied research through the Cristalino Ecological Foundation - CEF's Field Station. Cristalino State Park is not just a sanctuary for environmental protection in the Amazon. We believe the solution of the Amazon dilemma will not be solved by simply isolating areas as sanctuaries; without change in mans' mental approach together with implementation of new and responsible economic approaches, the vision inherent in the sanctuary's creation will fail. The destruction will come from the smoke from the burning of surrounding forest, from the polluted waters of rivers, and from desertification of the soils. We sense that these problems are inevitable without education of the local people regarding alternative ways to find economic success through sustainable use of the forest and education of consumers in distant urban centers who choose unsustainable forest products, completing a cycle of irresponsible destruction. This is our vision: to opeate the Cristalino Jungle Lodge as a concept of responsible economic activity, and as an example of conservation of nature and social development which contributes to the consciousness of both community and foreign visitors. We invite you to be part of the solution to the Amazon dilemma by investing in adventure, leisure, knowledge and conservation.

Cristalino area ecosystem information

THE CRISTALINO JUNGLE LODGE IS COMPOSED OF:

A floating deck for swimming, wildlife viewing, fishing and relaxing,
2 bungalows with 4 rooms each, private bathrooms, hot water showers (solar heating), roof fans and screens. Two or three beds in each bungalow: 24 people total.
2 large dormitory buildings with five rooms in each building. Twin beds in the rooms (2 persons per room). Shared bathrooms with solar heating showers inside each building. (1 male and 1 female bathroom in each dorm building)
A thatch roof patio for outside dining as well as
relaxing or meeting with groups.
A common living room with sofas, chairs , a small natural history library:
useful for slide shows, meetings and relaxing.
A dining room /bar which offers regional meals and appetizers, well stocked
with various cold drinks and juices.

5 Sample Programs

BRAZIL NUT PACKAGE 4D/3N - Ecotourism

Day 1 - Arrival , welcome drink at the Floresta Amazônica Hotel. Transfer to the lodge. Dinner and slide show.

Day 2 - Breakfast. Hiking and swimming before lunch. After Lunch, Hiking or ropes and rapel course on the "rocky" trail (optional). Dinner by campfire. Night alligator spotting.

Day 3 - Early wake up to observe the wakening of the Forest. Breakfast. Hiking. Return in canoes or motor boat. Swimming and wildlife viewing on the way. Lunch. Motor boat ride up river. Hiking the Sierra trail to watch the sunset. Dinner.

Day 4 - a)Breakfast. Early transfer to Alta Floresta and departure or b)Breakfast. Walk on the Primate trail walk at the back of the Hotel or a visit to the Crafts House; departure.

GIANT OTTER PACKAGE 5D/4N - Ecotourism

Day 1-3 - same as above.

Day 4 - Breakfast. Free day to undertake your own activities: piranha fishing, swimming, canoeing or crafts workshop.Lunch. Down to Teles Pires river in the late afternoon to watch the sunset by canoe or motor boat.
Option: a)dinner at the lodge with piranha soup, or b)transfer to Floresta Amazônica Hotel. Dinner.

Day 5 - a)Breakfast. Early transfer to Alta Floresta and departure or b)Breakfast. Walk on the Primate trail walk at the back of the Hotel or a visit to the Crafts House; departure.

Hilae II PACKAGE 5D/4N - Adventure Tourism

Day 1 - Arrival , welcome drink at the Floresta Amazônica Hotel. Transfer to the lodge. Dinner and slide show.

Day 2 - Breakfast. One hour hiking to camp 1. Preparation of lunch. Lunch. Survival techniques. Sunset up the Sierra Trail. Dinner by campfire, sleep in the jungle.

Day 3 - Breakfast at the Camp. Pack gear and head for camp 2 - : 2 1/2 hour trek. Set camp. Lunch. Survival skills and exploration of the surrounding area. Dinner by a campfire. Sleep in the jungle.

Day 4 - Breakfast. Take gear on a wooden float (across Cristalino River). Short trek to the canoes. Lunch. Canoe back to the Lodge. Survivors' cocktail and ropes and rapel course in the afternoon. Dinner at the Lodge.

Day 5 - Breakfast. Early transfer to Alta Floresta and departure.

EXPEDITION TO THE CRISTALINO WATERFALL
8D/7N - Adventure Tourism

This trip takes you to a virgin rainforest sanctuary; an untouched waterfall in the middle of the Amazon Forest where you will be able to view wildlife that is not afraid of human beings and to test your spirit of adventure. It takes three days of hard and exciting group effort going up river - just to get there. Some of the rapids will be difficult to get through and it will only be possible with serious group effort; you will need to jump in to pull and push the boat upriver in water rip-high in depth.

Day 1 - Arrival , welcome drink at the Floresta Amazônica Hotel. Transfer to the lodge. Dinner and slide show, preparation of equipment.

Day 2 - Breakfast. Early departure, expedition begins. Full day up river without rapids. Picnic in the boat. Camp at the end of the day on an untouched beach. Dinner and campfire. Possible night-fishing.

Day 3 - Wake up early. Breakfast in camp. Departure. Full day up river. Picnic in the boat. About 11:00 o'clock we arrive at the first rapids. The crew will be in the water to go through. Rest of the day with several rapids. Camp close before the last and most difficult rapid. Dinner

Day 4 - Breakfast in camp. Preparation for the last rapid (1 mile long). Arrival at the Cristalino Waterfall. Rest in wild beach beside the waterfall. Matrinchã fishing for lunch. Rest and leisure activities in the afternoon. Dinner. Campfire on the beach.

Day 5 - Breakfast. Exploration of the area (on all sides of the waterfall) and visit to the other waterfalls hidden in the jungle nearby. Lunch. Fishing and leisure activities. Canyoning in the Waterfall (optional) with guidance. Dinner by campfire.

Day 6 - Breakfast. Farewell to the waterfall and beginning of the trip down river. Lunch in the boat. During the trip down river the rapids are easier, even though it still demands the participation of everybody. Camp on the bank of the river. Dinner

Day 7 - Breakfast. Arrival before lunch in the Cristalino Jungle Lodge. Survivors' cocktail and lunch. Rest and "ropes and rapel course" (optional adventure activity) near the lodge. Dinner. Overnight at the lodge.

Day 8 - Breakfast. Early transfer to Alta Floresta and departure.

This is a special tour with special pricing: $1600 per person, minimum of 3 people.

With a bird list of 570+ species of birds and new species found each year , the region of Alta Floresta and Cristalino River Basin is visited by leading ornithologists and birdwatchers. First discovered by Ted Parker and Mort and Phyllis Isler in 1989, the region has attracted the visits of Dr. Yürgen Haffer, Dr. Robert Ridgley, Guy Tudor, Dr. Kevin Zimmer, Bret Whitney , to mention a few.

The great amount of endemisms has attracted birdwatchers from all over the world , because the rivers Teles Pires (or São Manuel) and Xingu act as barriers to the dispersion of bird species. Clients can choose from a set of trails with different habitats and also can go by boat along the rivers to do birdwatching where red throated piping guans are a common view. Along the river, red throated piping guans, endemic to the area, are easily seen. Birds easily seen at the Cristalino Jungle Lodge are aracaris , toucans , parrots and macaws ; the barethroated fruitcrow visits the cecropia trees on grounds daily.

At the Floresta Amazonica Hotel, where clients usually spend one or two nights before entering further into the Amazon, there are great varieties of birds , including the Crimson bellied parakeet and the Black girdled barbet.

Suggested itinerary. We can also customize your trip.

HARPY EAGLE PACKAGE 8D/7N - Birdwatching

Day 1 - Arrival , welcome drink at the Floresta Amazônica Hotel and accommodationl. Observation of specialty & endemic birds on the Hotel ground such as Crimson bellied parakeet and the black-girdled barbet. Overnight at Floresta Amazônica Hotel.

Day 2 - Early morning birding at the Hotel ground. After breakfast transfer to the Cristalino Jungle Lodge. Observation of birds along the way to the lodge. Arrival and accommodation. After lunch: hike "Taboca" trail. Overnight at the lodge.

Day 3 - After an early breakfast, hike the Rocky trail. Lunch. Travel up the Cristalino River by motor boat and walk the Brazil Nut Trail: possible observation of the Harpy Eagle. Overnight at the lodge. Dinner by campfire.

Day 4 - After an early breakfast, hike the Sierra Trail. Lunch. birding at the Ficus trail on the lodge ground. Overnight at the lodge.

Day 5 - Breakfast and trip up river. Birding by the rapids. Observation of river birds such as the Red Throated Piping-Guan , endemic to the area. After lunch, birding along the Cristalino lodge ground trails.

Day 6 - After an early breakfast, trip down river. Birding at Cristalino Ecological Foundation - CEF´s Field Camp at a Teles Pires River Island.. After lunch, a choice of one of the lodge's set of trails.

Day 7 - After an early breakfast, trip up river to Dr. Haffer’s and Kawall´s parrot trail. After lunch, transfer to the Teles Pires river bank. Birding along the access road in the afternoon. Transfer to Alta Floresta late afternoon. Overnight at the Floresta Amazonica Hotel.

Day 8 - Breakfast. Morning free, observation of specialty birds on the Hotel ground. Transfer to the airport for departure.

Prices per person in US$ (Nov. 2007-Oct. 2008):

# of Days	room type	June-Oct.	Nov.-May
4	dbl/bungalow	$570	$435
	sgl/bungalow	$690	$570
	dormitory	$450	$405
5	dbl/bungalow	$760	$580
	sgl/bungalow	$920	$760
	dormitory	$600	$540
6	dbl/bungalow	$950	$725
	sgl/bungalow	$1150	$950
	dormitory	$750	$675
8	dbl/bungalow	$1330	$1015
	sgl/bungalow	$1610	$1330
	dormitory	$1050	$945
extra night	dbl/bungalow	$190	$145
	sgl/bungalow	$230	$190
	dormitory	$150	$135

minimum of 2 people. Children up to 7 years old = free, 8-11 years old = 50% discount

PACKAGES INCLUDE: Daily rates at Cristalino Jungle Lodge and Floresta Amazônica Hotel, Transfers in/out ( airport and lodge - by van and motor boats); Full Board; trips described in the programs, motor boats, canoes, local guide and a bilingual naturalist guide: foreign English speaking guide( other languages under request )

NOT INCLUDED: Extras such as soft drinks, drinks, mineral water, laundry, etc. which have to be paid locally.

WILDLIFE PRESERVATION FEE : US$ 50 per person. This amount will be added to the package in order to support the CRISTALINO ECOLOGICAL FOUNDATION.

Flights to Alta Floresta on Trip Airlines

CUIABÁ (CGB) / ALTA FLORESTA (AFL)
flight # 8R 5506 11:30 / 13:35 Monday to Friday

ALTA FLORESTA (AFL) / CUIABÁ (CGB)
flight # 8R 5507 13:50 / 15:55 Monday to Friday

roundtrip price is approximately US$288

EXECUTIVE COACH TRANSPORTANTION : with W.C., TV, DVD, mineral water and coffee. Distance: 780 km: Cuiabá/Alta Floresta. operates daily.
depart Cuiaba at 7:00 p.m, arrive Alta Floresta at 06:00 a.m.
depart Alta Floresta at 7:00 p.m., arrive Cuiaba at 06:00 a.m.

price each way is approximately US$31.

CRISTALINO JUNGLE LODGE BAGGAGE
It is recommended the use of small suitcases or backpacks on your way to the lodge due to the motor boat trip. Excess luggage can be left safely at the Floresta Amazônica Hotel in Alta Floresta. Guests should bring between 5 and 10 kg. (11 to 22 lbs.) per person.

SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT TO TAKE TO THE LODGE
General items: Binoculars / Hat or cap / Sun glasses / sunblock / insect repellent / camera (bring extra batteries)/ high-speed Films, 400 iso, 800 iso (to photograph inside of the forest) and normal film / Flash light / Cigarettes, if you are a smoker / Personal medicines / Plastic bags to protect bags, backpacks and equipment.
Clothes: swimming suit / long sleeve shirts / T-shirts / sweater / long pants / Shorts / good hiking boots / Tennis / Sandals / socks / Light rain coat to take on trails and boat trips

For bird watchers: binoculars and a good tape recorder.

The Lodge's mini shop: Some basic items are available for sale such as: insect repellent, normal filmes (100 iso), batteries, sunblock, t-shirts, caps, and personal hygienic items

VACCINES: Brazil requires all visitors to be vaccinated for yellow fever. For the Pantanal, Chapada dos Guimarães National Park, Alta Floresta and Cristalino State Park no special vaccinations are required.

WATER: We sell mineral water at the lodge.

YOU CAN PAY YOUR EXTRAS WITH CREDIT CARD:
Master Card / Diners / VISA / American Express / Sollo.
We do not accept Travellers Checks. There is no exchange in town. The Floresta Amazônica Hotel can exchange a small amount of US dollars.