From Fortaleza
Departures Tuesdays
The objective of this program is to give through different activities the knowledge of different Ecosystems, showing different aspect of the Forest, the Coast and. over all, Nature in Brazil.
Day 1 – Tuesday - Fortaleza
Arrival in Fortaleza. Reception by our local guide and transfer to the selected hotel. Overnight.
Day 2 – Wednesday – Fortaleza / Manaus
Brazilian buffet breakfast served at hotel’s restaurant.
Morning half day City Tour.
City Tour Fortaleza:
During the tour we will go sightseeing by the main tourist points in Fortaleza. Such as: Beira Mar avenue, Porto do Mucuripe, Bairro Aldeota, the ex presidente Castelo Branco Mausoleum, Iracema beach, the Central Market, The fort Nossa Senhora da Assunção, The cathedral, Praça dos Mártires, the centre of tourism, the old Cadeia Pública, - stop for shopping), Leste Oeste avenue, The cultural centre Dragão do Mar, Monsenhor Tabosa Avenue.
At scheduled time, transfer to the airport. Arrival in Manaus and transfer to the hotel. Overnight.
Day 3 – Thursday – Manaus / Novo Airão / M/V Desafio
Brazilian buffet breakfast served at hotel’s restaurant.
06:45 – Departure from hotel in Manaus to the pier. You will board regular ferry boat that transport trucks, cars and people to the other side of the river. This will be the first contact with the reality of the people in Amazonas. The river crossing has a 10 Km length. Upon arrival, disembark and visit the fruit and fish market. We will continue through the regional road that will take us to Novo Airao. On the way we will encounter plantations of bananas, sebus, ceramic factories, and native vegetation already destroyed. We will visit a farm on a 30 minutes walk where we will see in the middle of the jungle fishing creation with 50,000 tambaquis, 1,200 turtles, and artificial beach for the turtle’s egg nesting and a lab for treatment of the turtles. We continue and reach a lake where we stop and sail a narrow river in canoes, visiting the river source (springs). Back to the bus we continue until the Manacapuru pier with its regional boats and fruit and fish market. Next we visit an igarape with crystal clear water and stop for lunch. Then we go through the road until Novo Airao, were M/V Desafio is waiting for us.
19:30 – Boarding and welcome drink. Dinner on board. Meeting to discuss the day’s trip and the following days. Navigation until the point where we will stop for overnight.
Day 4 – Friday – on board
Early wake up and departure to find the dolphins (river Amazon dolphins). Feed them with fish and back to the boat. Breakfast during navigation. Then visit a community that lives by the river, being in contact with their inhabitants, the so called “caboclos”. Walking through the jungle, survival training and explanations on the forest biodiversity. We will be able to see how manioc flour is manufactured, the life in the community, the public school and the medical post. Back to the boat for lunch. Navigation. In the afternoon we go out to fish the “piranha”, the most feared fish. Baits will be given to each adventurer so they can feel the ferocity of these fishes when they bite it. Return to the boat in time to rest before dinner. At night, sailing in canoes for observation of possible snakes, monkeys and pacas or “tatu”.
Day 5 – Saturday – on board
Navigation restarts before wake up. Breakfast and departure to meet the Indians and have contact with the tribe and see some of their rituals. Back to navigation and enjoy the amazing green that the Amazon offers. Lunch. Arrival at a lake where we may tour with the possibility of some bird watching and the magnificent Victoria Regia. Dinner and departure to look for the alligators with flash lights in the middle of the jungle.
Day 6 – Sunday – on board / Manaus/ São Luiz
Early departure to enjoy the sun rising in the jungle, the awakening of the birds and the forest. Return to the boat and breakfast. Navigation towards the famous “meeting of waters” where the River Negro meets the brownish waters of River Solimoes, without mixing for several kilometers. Return to Manaus arriving around 11:30 am. Disembark.
Lodging at a hotel in Manaus till time to be transferred to the airport to catch the flight to São Luiz.
Day 7 – Monday – São Luiz
Arrival in São Luiz and transfer to the hotel. Immediately check-in. Brazilian buffet breakfast served at hotel’s restaurant. Time to rest.
In the afternoon, half day City Tour.
City Tour São Luiz:
A trip trough the history of Marana. Live the almost 400 years of a multi ethnic city, large popular culture and owner of one of the bigger historic sites of the Americas. This trip is panoramic and on foot at the Praia Grande and Desterro districts (known nowadays as Reviver), with the guide support. A dialogue about the historic surrounded by the history.
Overnight.
Day 8 – Tuesday – São Luiz / Barreirinhas
Brazilian buffet breakfast served at hotel’s restaurant.
7:00 am – Departure in private transportation to Barreirinhas (aprox. 3hrs and ½ drive), the entrance door to the Lençóis Maranhenses. Arrival and lodging.
2:00 pm – Regular tour by 4 x 4 vehicles to the Great Lençóis with a visit to the best lagoon in the time of the visit.
Overnight.
Day 9 – Wednesday – Barreirinhas
After breakfast served at hotel’s restaurant departure to a regular excursion on a speed boat on Prejudices River with stops at Assures, Mandacaru and Caburé, returning to Barreirinhas at the end of the day (lunch not included).
Overnight.
Day 10 – Thursday – Barreirinhas / São Luiz
Brazilian buffet breakfast served at hotel’s restaurant.
Morning free.
At scheduled time, transfer in private transportation to São Luiz. Arrival and lodging.
Day 11 – Friday – São Luiz / ...............
Brazilian buffet breakfast served at hotel’s restaurant.
At scheduled time, transfer to the airport.
What to take...
Rainy season in the Amazon is from December to March
- bathing suit,
- sunglasses, suntan lotion,
- casual clothes, t-shirts, shorts,
- tennis shoes, sandals
- personal medication