Amazon Adventures

Brazil Tours and Travel

Mamiraua Reserve In the Brazilian Amazon

The ecotourism program at Mamirauá is just beginning. But the beauty and the information accumulated by the scientific research and the traditional understanding of the caboclo people, are already available for small groups of visitors. It is possible to admire concentrations of Amazonian fauna never before recorded. Thousands of caiman can be easily observed in the dry season. Concentrations of up to 15 000 cormorants and herons are seen fishing in the lakes, which boil with fish.In the trees, numerous groups of monkeys share the branches with sloths and with beautiful bromeliads and orchids. River dolphins, legendary creatures in the flooded forest, enchant all who see them.

Mamirauá is also home to approximately 400 species of bird and at least 45 species of mammal. One of the strangest is the White Uacari Cacajao calvus, a monkey of four kilos which feeds almost exclusively on
the seeds of unripe fruits. Uacaris live in bands of up to 50 individuals, and travel many kilometres every day, in search of their favourite foods. Also endemic to Mamirauá is the Black Headed Squirrel Monkey Saimiri vanzolinii, and the lakes and rivers provide a refuge for the Amazon Manatee Trichechus inunguis and the Red River Dolphin Inia geoffrensis. Some of the most important tropical timber species are still found in the area protected by the RSDM.

The Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve (RSDM) was created in 1990 as an
Ecological Station by the Governor of the state of Amazonas. In 1996, with the completion
of the Management Plan, its status was changed to that of a Sustainable Development
Reserve, again by the state government. Scientific research is one of the principal activities within the
Reserve, and various theses (Masters and Doctoral) and scientific articles have been produced and
published about Mamirauá. This research was essential in the drawing-up of a Management Plan for the Reserve.

Mamirauá is one of the areas protected by the international Ramsar Convention of the IUCN, as a wetland of global importance. In addition, it has been proposed that the Reserve should form part of a future UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Brazilian Amazon. At present, it is included in one of the Ecological Corridors to be implemented by the PPG-7 Program for the Protection of Brazilian Tropical Forests.

"Absolutely excellent - fantastic facilities and loads of wildlife. Thanks so much for all your help...I won't hesitate to use you again or to recommend you to friends". - Mark

See videos

Package from Monday to Friday

First day: Monday - At 07:50am the TRIP flight arrives at Tefé, the visitors will be met by the Sales and Marketing Manager at the Tefé’s airport. Around 10 minutes (by car) away from the airport is the “Flutuante do Areia Branca” where we will start the journey to Mamirauá Reserve. The trip to the Reserve is made by speedboat and it takes about one and an half hours. On the way you can enjoy the breeze and the magic scenery. Also you will be to see the little boats across to 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 in some activities and all outings have to be accompanied by a local guide (the local guides don't speak fluent English. You must listen to their recommendations at all times, especially those regarding your own safety. To enjoy your first morning at the Reserve you will make a short trip by canoe.
The lunch will always be served between 12:30pm and 13:30pm.
The outings in the afternoon start 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 to them. During the “Flooded season” you will you will make a trip by large canoe among channels and lakes into forest with the whole group.

During the flood (May-July) all trails will be done in a small paddle canoe (your guide will paddle you through the trail).
After the dinner, you will have the opportunity to hear and talk about the ecosystem and about the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Institute – its work, its research, etc. The naturalist guide will do the presentation at 20:30.

Second day: Tuesday - The animals wake up with the sunrise and to maximize wildlife viewing you must also to wake up early to visit the trails. But 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 choose not to visit a village you can go for another tour with your local guide. After lunch, you can rest in a hammock, watch a video about research done at Mamirauá or an award-winning BBC documentary on Mamirauá, read a book, or just chat as the outings will only be carried out when the sun goes down a little. In the afternoon you will go to hiking or canoe tour, always exploring a different region of the reserve. The dinner will be served around 19:30. After dinner you can watch a video about the flooded forest or just to hear the song of animals at night in your room and to relax for the next day.

Third day: Wednesday - A new and different trail will be chosen to view the wildlife in the jungle. Our trails are designed not to be physically straining and most of them can be walked in three hours at the longest. During the flood (May-July) all trails will be done in a small paddle canoe (your guide will paddle you through the trail).
This afternoon you will be taken on a motorized 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 can enjoy this night to talk to the staff or to see another kind of documentary.

Fourth Day: Thursday - The animals wake up with the sunrise and to maximize the wildlife viewing you must also to wake up early to visit the trails. The breakfast is served at 06:30am and at 07:00am the activities start. Another trail will be followed, on foot or by canoe, in the new area chosen to observe the nature. If you prefer you can try traditional fishing or piranha fishing. This activity is a means of survival for the local community and it is transferred from generation to generation. The local resident will teach you to fish with a harpoon and the handling with bait and long line also. In the afternoon you have a choice to accompany a researcher’s team and participate in their field work and supplementing the technical information given last night. Or if you prefer, you can go on another wildlife viewing tour, travelling around the landscapes, channels and lakes that compose part of the varzea’s ecosystem. After the dinner 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 trail is short and takes around 40 minutes.

Fifth Day: Friday - Now that you are more used to the forest, if you are really quiet and set out early enough, you might see even more wildlife like capuchin monkeys (Cebus paella), howlers (Alouatta seniculus), uakaris (Cacajao calvus calvus) and squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus and Saimiri vanzolinii), three toed sloths (Bradypus variegates), hoatzins (Opistochomus hoazin), etc. Another trail will be traveled on this last morning.
The departure from Lodge will be after the breakfast around 09:30 on Friday. Before leaving, we would be grateful if you could fill in the evaluation form. It is very important for us to know your thoughts about the trip; in this way we can always improve our services. The flight from Tefé to Manaus leaves at 19:00am, so when you come back to Tefé, our Sales and Marketing Manager will be bring a driver taxi who will take your baggage to a trust partnership (Anilce’s Hotel) so that you have the possibility to walk around and see the city. Around 17:30 the same driver will pick you up at the hotel and take you at the Tefé airport.

“It is important to mention that the activities described above can be changed because of environmental factors, water level variation and climate conditions.”

We had such a terrific time. Everything was so smooth and easy and the lodge experience itself was wonderful and memorable. We love the model they are using for this placeand are happy to serve as a reference on it. David Nicks

Package from Friday to Monday

First day: Friday - At 12:40 pm the TRIP flight arrives to Tefé and then the visitors will be received by the Sales and Marketing Manager 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.

Second day: Saturday - 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.

Third day: Sunday - 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.

Fourth day: Monday - 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. But before leaving, we would be grateful if you could fill in the assessment’s form. It is very important for us to know your thoughts about the trip; in this way we can always improve our services. When you came back to Tefé, the Sales and Marketing Manager will be waiting for you in Tefé’s port together with the driver taxi. Both accompany you to the airport to drop you off at 10:40am.

“It is important to mention that the activities described above can be changed because of environmental factors, water level variation and climate conditions”.

"The trip was fantastic!!! it all went off without a hitch. Mamiraua was really fascinating, great hosts and guides, excellent food, beautiful surroundings. We saw lots of wildlife, the river is amazing, the flooded forest unbelievable." Kathleen Obrien

Fri.-Fri.. or Mon.-Mon. Package

This is a special package for people who have more time and want enjoy a little more of the amazon-flooded forest. You're going to do longer hiking and canoes tour that you have the opportunity to view the fauna and longer interaction with the communities. This longer package was developed for people who don't care with the discomfort of the forest like the heat, mosquitoes and for people wish to know deeply the wonders of the forest.

Second day: Saturday - The animals wake up with the sunrise and to maximize wildlife viewing you must also to wake up early to visit the trails. But 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 choose not to visit a village you can go for another tour with your local guide.
In the afternoon you can practice traditional fishing or piranha fishing. This activity is a means of survival for the local communities and it is transferred from generation to generation. The local resident will teach you to fish with a harpoon and the handling with bait and long line too.
After the dinner, you will have the opportunity to hear and talk about the ecosystem and about the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Institute – its work, its research, etc. The naturalist guide will do the presentation at 20:30.

Third day: Sunday
The breakfast is served at 06:30am and at 07:00am the activities start. In this first morning 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, joining scientific and traditional knowledge will help you to interpret the varzea’s environment (flooded forest).
The excursions are started at 15:30 when the sun is hot less. In the afternoon you have a choice to accompany a researcher’s team and participate of their field work and supplement the technical information given last night. Or if you prefer, you can go on another wildlife viewing tour, travelling around the landscapes, channels and lakes that compose part of the varzea’s ecosystem.
After the dinner, 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 trail is short and takes around 40 minutes.

Fourth Day: Monday - The animals wake up with the sunrise and to maximize wildlife viewing you must also to wake up early to visit the trails. Another trail will be a new area chosen to observe the nature during the morning. Our trails are designed not to be physically straining and most of them can be walked in three hours at the longest. During the flood (May-July) all trails will be done in a small paddle canoe (your guide will paddle you through the trail).
This afternoon you will be taken on a motorized 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…
After the dinner, you will have other opportunity to see the mystery night fauna. However you will be the guest of the forest, as you will stay one night in the forest in one tree house especially designed for this purpose. Accompanied by a local guide, you will make a trip by boat to this place and can enjoy making night-lights. When you stay in the tree house, you will hear the night sounds of the forest inhabitants.

Fifth Day: Tuesday - This morning you will make another visit to a local community, there you have the opportunity to visit the preserved lakes, the field where is planted the manioc – the main food of the river people. This time you can know more about the “ribeirinhos”, their reality and also to exchange experiences. The return will be around 12:00, so bring your sun block.
After lunch, you can rest in a hammock, watch a video about research done at Mamirauá or an award-winning BBC documentary on Mamirauá, read a book, or just chat as the outings will only be carried out when the sun goes down a little.
In the afternoon you will go on another hike or canoe tour, always exploring a different region of the reserve.
After the dinner you can watch a video about the flooded forest or just to hear the songs of anight nimals in your room and relax until the next day.

Sixth Day: Wednesday - In the morning you go to a longer journey on another trail together the local guide. At this moment you need to talk low to improve your viewing opportunity, because the sounds will make the animals flee. This activity takes all morning. In the afternoon in the Reserve, you’ll visit another research project, developed in the Ecotourism area. At the research floating station, you watch a presentation where you have the opportunity to go out with the researcher and understand their works. At night, together with the local guide you will have opportunity to see the night animals again on a second night tour,but at this time the trip will be made by canoe.

Seventh Day: Thursday - Now, you are more used to the forest, if you are really quiet and set out early enough, you might see even more wildlife like capuchin monkeys (Cebus paella), howlers (Alouatta seniculus), uakaris (Cacajao calvus calvus) and squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus and Saimiri vanzolinii), three toed sloths (Bradypus variegates), hoatzins (Opistochomus hoazin), etc. Another trail will be taken in this morning.
In the afternoon you go to see the Araçazinho Lake or Japura Lake, two of the most beautiful lakes of the Mamirauá Reserve, there live howlers (Alouatta seniculus) and squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus and Saimiri vanzolinii), several species of birds like parrots (Amazona sp), toucan (Ramphastus sp), etc.
The Dinner is at 20:00. So you can enjoy your last night to talk to the staff or to see another kind of documentary.

Eigth Day: Friday - Now, that you are more used to the forest, if you are really quiet and set out early enough, you might see even more wildlife like capuchin monkeys (Cebus paella), howlers (Alouatta seniculus), uakaris (Cacajao calvus calvus) and squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus and Saimiri vanzolinii), three toed sloths (Bradypus variegates), hoatzins (Opistochomus hoazin), etc. Another trail will be traveled on this last morning.
The departure from Lodge will be after the breakfast around 09:30 on Friday. Before leaving, we would be grateful if you could fill in the evaluation form. It is very important for us to know your thoughts about the trip; in this way we can always improve our services. The flight from Tefé to Manaus leaves at 19:00am, so when you come back to Tefé, our Sales and Marketing Manager will be bring a driver taxi who will take your baggage to a trust partnership (Anilce’s Hotel) so that you have the possibility to walk around and see the city. Around 17:30 the same driver will pick you up at the hotel and take you at the Tefé airport.

“It is important to mention that the activities described above can be changed because of environmental factors, water level variation and climate conditions.”

Package Prices through June 2009: (land only - no flights)
Monday to Friday - US$630 per person double
Friday to Monday - US$550 per person double
Friday-Friday or Monday-Monday - US$990 per person double
Single supplement is $50 per night.
no children under 12 allowed

Prices include: all meals, water, juice, coffee, tea, standard tours and guiding

Prices do not include: soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, insurance, extra transfers

Tefe is now accessible by local flight from Manaus. Our contact in Manaus can arrange the flights for you. Current flight info is:

Mondays:
depart Manaus at 5am on TripAirlines, arrive Tefe at 650am
depart Tefe at 1120am on Trip Airlines, arrive Manaus at 250pm
Fridays:
depart Manaus at 1120am on TripAirlines, arrive Tefe at 1240pm
depart Tefe at 7pm on Trip Airlines, arrive Manaus at 820pm

"I wanted to let you know that we got back yesterday and I cannot thank you enough for putting us onto the Mamiraua Preserve. From the time we got to Manaus, where Maristela's person met us BEFORE the person from the Meeting even knew we were in the builidng, to every transfer at Tefe and back, to the two people Misha and Jorge (sister and brother) that were the head naturalists, to all the guides we had, to every meal, and most importantly to the way that they accomodated our desires to see stuff, this was probably the best experience I have had. Our guides Nelson and Aumede (spelling?) were superb and everyone in between was fantastic. I met some really neat people there from across the globe and I promise that I will let people know about them and your service. Thanks for getting us started on a great experience.If you ever need a testimonial, do not hesitate to write me. By the way, all the other people that were there worked with you guys as well and all were as impressed as I."
Llewellyn D. Densmore, Ph.D.
Professor and Associate Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University

Photo credits:
4th photo - Josivaldo Modesto
7th, 8th and 10th photo - Peter Schoen
9th and 11th photo - William Quatman
12th photo - Carlos Nader