Itinerary

Day 1      Arrive Manaus

Arrive in Manaus late at night on a direct flight from the U.S. (not included in land price) and transfer to the Tropical Manaus Business Hotel.
    
Meals: (none)
Lodging: Tropical Manaus Business Hotel (or similar)    

Day 2      Manaus / Anavilhanas

You may wish to venture into Manaus for a bit of early morning exploring on your own. (Or you may opt to arrive a day early.)  Established in the 17th century by Portuguese settlers, the village was renamed Manaus in the 19th century after it had become the center of a thriving rubber business. Visit the Teatro Amazonas, an elegant opera house opened in 1896 at the peak of the rubber boom.  Fifteen years in the making and built with the wealth of local rubber barons, the building includes a lobby of marble and inlaid tropical hardwoods, a fine concert hall, and a romantic mural in the upstairs ballroom.

You will transfer to Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge via van and riverboat (3-½ hours total).  Here you will have the unique experience of living in the Amazon forest. Settle into this small, charming ecolodge that brings together nature and comfort in a subtle and harmonious fashion. Here, you are on the Rio Negro in the middle of Parque Nacional de Anavilhanas. The greatest river archipelago in the world, the Anavilhanas park contains about 400 islands that extend for over 55 miles of untouched native forest.  The park is a maze of lakes, rivers, and riverbanks that are home to very rich and diverse plant and animal life.  Located on the Rio Negro, your jungle lodge tastefully pairs nature with local culture. After lunch, enjoy activities at the lodge such as bird watching or hiking the property. In the evening, you'll definitely want to inquire about the night tour for some caiman catching, an exhilarating outing and fun for anyone, especially kids of any age.  (Caiman are a species of alligator, and Brazil's Amazon basin has four varieties.  The most common – and the one you'll probably get to handle on your expedition – is the spectacled caiman, which can grow up to 7-8 feet long.)
    
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge, (or similar)    

Day 3      Anavilhanas

This morning, take a boat ride to explore the many channels, lakes, and islands of Anavilhanas National Park. Discover the unique ecosystem by observing the flora and fauna of one of the islands. Return to the lodge for lunch and then explore the natural forest with a local guide who will reveal some of the mysteries of the Amazon jungle. Marvel at the guide's seemingly encyclopedic knowledge of trees, herbs, fruits, jungle survival tools, and natural remedies. Return to the lodge by hiking or by paddling a wooden canoe through the calm waters of the surrounding area. If you would prefer exploring the local environs at your own pace and style, you are free to do so, making certain that your guide has full knowledge of your whereabouts.
    
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge (or similar)    

Day 4      Anavilhanas

Awaken with the forest this morning and paddle out by canoe to watch the colorful dawn sky transition to beautiful sunlight as the jungle wildlife awakens with you. We may see thousands of birds flying out from their evening roosts.  Return to the lodge for breakfast and then head out again for a memorable fishing experience. Watch out for the piranhas! (Or, is it the piranhas that should watch out for the fishing party?)  In the afternoon, visit two indigenous craft shops to observe and learn how locals make their wares. Then visit a local boat maker, who will also share his craft, one that has been passed down from one generation to the next over the years.
    
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge (or similar)    

Day 5      Anavilhanas / Manaus

After breakfast, check out from the lodge and transfer by boat and van back to Manaus. You will have the afternoon and evening to explore more of the city. Overnight in Manaus at the Tropical Manaus Business Hotel.
    
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Tropical Manaus Business Hotel, www.tropicalmanausbusiness.com/br (or similar)    

Day 6      Manaus/Campo Grande/Pantanal

Transfer to Manaus airport, from which you will fly to Campo Grande and then transfer to Refugio da Ilha (around 135 miles, of which 40 miles are asphalt and the remainder are dirt roads – approximately three hours).  The Pantanal is a vast, high flood plain between the Amazon basin and the high Andes. The Pantanal floods between September and December, creating a lush sanctuary for birds and wildlife. The region is sparsely populated, with few roads and little economic activity other than ranching and ecotourism.  You will stay on a working cattle ranch, Refugio da Ilha,  in the heart of rich wildlife country.  Accommodations are modest, but quite adequate and comfortable.  Here, you will learn not only about the natural history of the area, but also about the lives of the people who live here.
    
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Refugio da Ilha (or similar)    

Day 7 - 9      Pantanal

Each day, venture out from the ranch by jeep, boat, kayak, horseback, or on foot according to the objectives of our exploration and your own ambition. We suggest making use of the dawn and dusk periods for wildlife, birding, and photography. Days will be comfortably warm with a slight chance of a shower. Nights may be cool.  Our guides and hosts will customize activities and programs for us on request.

We‘ll walk along the river, woods, and savanna, seeking the animals and birds found in the area. Our photographic safaris are done in a 4x4 vehicle with comfortable seats and a sun shade. The Pantanal is home to a great variety of animal life such as anteaters, armadillos, wolves, coati, wild pigs, capybaras, swamp deer, red deer, Mateiro deer, black howler monkeys, giant otters, alligators, and tapir. Birds you are likely to seen and possibly photograph include rheas, Seriema cormorants, various species of herons and egrets, wood storks, jabiru, buff-necked Ibis, roseate spoonbills, southern screamers, shorebirds, many species of ducks, and many passerines (perching birds).  We will have a spotting scope and field guides with us to help with identification.

You may choose to go kayaking on the River Correntoso for a close approach to the birds and wildlife. No special skill is necessary. Also, horseback riding is one of the best ways to explore the Pantanal, allowing visits to areas that are inaccessible by other means. You can reach local flooded areas, where the water is too deep for motorized vehicles, too shallow for boats, but easily traversed on horseback. Before each trip, guides provide basic instructions about horseback riding. The Pantaneiro horse is well suited for the terrain and comfortable in this fine watery wilderness.

OPTIONAL Flightseeing – An excellent way to appreciate the extent and patterns of the Pantanal is from the air. For an extra cost, you may join a flightseeing trip aboard a Cessna 182 to obtain an aerial perspective on the region.
    
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Refugio da Ilha (or similar)    

Day 10      Pantanal/Bonito

After breakfast, transfer by vehicle to Bonito (about a four-hour drive). This region of Brazil is locally renowned for spectacular caverns, grottoes, waterfalls, and crystal-clear streams.  Reception and accommodation at Pousada Olho D'água.
    
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Pousada Olho D'�gua (or similar)    

Day 11      Bonito � Grottos and River Floating

After breakfast, visit Gruta do Lago Azul (about 12 miles from Bonito). About 275 yards down from the cave's entrance, you encounter a spectacular deep blue lake. Expert divers have never reached the bottom of this lake, and local people believe there is a great subterranean river that feeds it. The sun’s rays on the water create a spectacle of rare beauty. Next, visit the Sao Miguel grotto, first walking about 200 yards on a bridge across the forest to arrive at the cave's entrance. Inside the grotto, you will find spectacular stalactite and stalagmite formations. After lunch (not included), raft down crystalline Rio Formoso, passing by Ilha do Padre (Priest Island), and over three small waterfalls and two rapids. Return to Bonito late afternoon. Overnight at Bonito.
    
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Pousada Olho D'�gua (or similar)    

Day 12      Rio da Prata/Buraco das Araras

Early in the morning, depart to Rio da Prata Ecological Refuge (about 30 miles away). Snorkel down the transparent blue waters of the Olho D'Água and enjoy the sights.  Later, hike the trails of the impressive refuge’s primary forest and enjoy lunch while there.  This is also an excellent area for birding and nature photography. On the way back to Bonito, stop at Buraco das Araras, a sanctuary where a large number of scarlet macaws roost in the evenings. Spend your last night in the area in Bonito.
    
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging: Pousada Olho D'�gua (or similar)    

Day 13      Campo Grande/Rio de Janeiro

After breakfast, transfer to Campo Grande for your flight onward to Rio de Janeiro. Upon arrival in Rio, transfer to your hotel, the Windsor Martinique, where your afternoon is at your leisure.
    
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Windsor Martinique (or similar)    

Day 14      Rio de Janeiro/Sugar Loaf/Corcovado

After breakfast, depart around 8:00 am to explore Sugar Loaf, a dramatic granite rock and well-known Rio landmark.  Ride up by scenic cable car, stopping briefly at the first section, then riding the second and most beautiful section to the top (about 1,300 feet above the sea).  Once there, you'll have panoramic, breathtaking views of the whole city and Guanabara Bay.  Visit Corcovado and the most famous of Rio's images, the status of Christ the Redeemer, located inside the Tijuca National Park.  You'll have late check-out at the hotel until 4:00 pm when you will transfer to the airport for your flight home, or consider a three-day/two-night extension to spectular Iguazu Falls.  (See separate itinerary extension.)
    
Meals: Breakfast

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