Starting at Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge in Brazil’s Amazon, view the wildlife of the rain forest, and learn about the customs and traditions of its native inhabitants. In Rio de Janeiro, enjoy Christ the Redeemer Statue (Corcovado), Sugarloaf Mountain, world famous beaches, and a Samba dinner show. And, in Iguazu Falls, appreciate the majesty of 275 cascades that stretch for nearly two miles, and observe the flora and fauna of the National Park while riding the ecological forest train.
Customization: This tour can be customized to suit your requirements.
Activities: Cultural/historical sightseeing, river boating, wildlife viewing, hiking, and interaction with Amazon natives.
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Day 1: Manaus
Depart to Manaus via overnight flight.
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Day 2: Manaus/Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge/Alligator Spotting
After passing through immigration and customs, proceed to the reception area, where our inbound services representative will be holding a sign with your name on it. You will be met at the airport by our representative, and then driven to the pier for the one hour motor boat ride to the Amazon Ecopark Lodge. Upon arrival, you will have a reception with a local juice drink, check-in, and be shown to your room. Dinner and evening tour by canoe for Alligator spotting. Overnight at Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge.
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Day 3: Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge/Nature Hike/Visit with Native Amazonians
Morning nature hike. After lunch, you will depart the lodge in paddle or motorized canoes accompanied by a bilingual guide to learn about the traditions and customs of native Amazonians. Overnight at Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge.
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Day 4: Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge/Meeting of the Waters
Today you will have a full-day Meeting of the Waters tour. You will depart early morning on board a double deck boat. The boat travels down the Rio Negro, navigating along the shores of the City of Manaus, allowing passengers to view the Amazonas Theater, the Port of Manaus, and the customs and interesting aspects of local life, including houses on stilts. The Meeting of the Waters is a spectacular junction of Rio Negro and Rio Solimões. The junction forms the famous Amazon River that runs all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. The waters of the two rivers run together for about 12kms, side by side, without mixing. The phenomenon occurs due to the different temperature, density, and speed of the waters of the rivers.
The journey continues along the Amazon River to the Island of Terra Nova, where lunch will be served in a typical restaurant (buffet style, international and regional dishes). Depending upon the water level, a visit to a typical caboclo (local inhabitants) villa will be included (at Terra Nova Island) during this full day tour. (May not be available during the months of May, June, July and sometimes August, when the villa is flooded). During times when water level is high, lunch may be moved to a restaurant on Janauary Lake, in which case there will be no visit to the villa. Overnight at Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge.
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Day 5: Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge/Monkey Forest/Manaus/Rio de Janeiro
After breakfast, visit to the center for rehabilitation and re-introduction of wild animals (known as the Monkey forest). The center was created in 1991 with the intention of receiving animals which have been confiscated from illegal commerce. This is a joint project with the Municipal Secretary of Environment and Sustainability. In this center, the animals are initially put into quarantine to be evaluated and taken care of by a team of veterinarians and biologists. With a high success rate since the start, the animals manage to reproduce naturally, creating new families and ensuring survival of the species.
In partnership with the FFV (Live Forest Foundation), a non-profit institution overseen by Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge, a unique feeding system has been developed. Twice a day, (10:30 am & 3:30 pm), the animals receive supplements of their natural diet, ensuring that they are being fed the necessary nutrients. Check-out at 11:30 am, and transfer to Manaus for your return flight to Rio de Janeiro. Overnight in Rio de Janeiro.
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Day 6: Rio de Janeiro/Samba Dinner Show
This is a free day to enjoy Rio de Janeiro. In the evening, you will have dinner at one of Rio’s liveliest barbecue houses followed by a real Samba show with ‘mulatas’ and ‘batuqueiros’ showing you Brazilian rhythms, folklore and fancy carnival costumes. Overnight in Rio de Janeiro.
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Day 7: Rio de Janeiro/City Tour/Christ the Redeemer Statue / Sugar Loaf Mountain
This tour begins with a panoramic city tour of downtown Rio de Janeiro, passing by the Sambodrome and the pyramid-shaped Metropolitan Cathedral. You will pass Cinelandia square, and historical buildings such as the Municipal Theatre, the National Library, and the National Museum of Fine Arts. Then, you will go to the Cosme Velho train station. The cog wheel train will climb up through the Tijuca Rainforest and bring you to the steps of the Christ the Redeemer Statue (Corcovado). At 2,300 ft. above sea level, you will have a breathtaking view of the City of Rio de Janeiro, the Guanabara Bay, Sugar Loaf Mountain, the nine mile Rio-Niteroi Bridge, the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, and the Atlantic Ocean. Barbeque lunch. In the afternoon, you will drive along Rio’s famous beaches to the Praia Vermelha cable car station where you will be taken to the Urca Mountain (mid-way station) with its gardens and look-out points. Then, the second part of the ride will take you to the peak of Sugar Loaf Mountain, 1,300 ft. above sea level. Overnight in Rio de Janeiro.
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Day 8: Rio de Janeiro/Iguazu Falls (Brazilian Side)
Early morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Iguazu Falls. Upon arrival, you will have a 1 and ½ hour tour of the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls. Located in Iguazu National Park, these spectacular falls are comprised of 275 individual cascades, and are more than 1.90 miles wide and 260 ft. high. You will walk along the main trail (one mile) on a catwalk above the lower Iguazu River to the series of falls that comprise the Devil’s Throat. Then you will take an elevator to an observation deck for a spectacular panoramic view of the falls. At the end of this tour, you will be transferred to your hotel on the Argentinian side. Overnight in Puerto Iguazu.
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Day 9: Iguazu Falls (Argentinean Side)/Great Adventure Tour
In the morning, you will return to Iguazu Falls to view the falls from the Argentinian side and for the Great Adventure Tour. On the Argentinian side of the falls, you will visit the Interpretation Center to learn about the biodiversity of the jungle and the culture and history of the surrounding area. You can also take the Ecological Forest Train to the Garganta del Diable (Devil’s Throat) Station and the Cataratas Station, which will take you to the upper and lower circuits, and other walking trails. In the afternoon, you will have the Great Adventure Tour. First, you will ride semi-rigid zodiac boats to reach the bottom of San Martin, Bosetty, Tres Mosqueteros and Canon de Garganta del Diablo falls and down the river rapids up to Puerto Macuco (two miles from the falls). Then, you will ride in an open jeep along the rainforest, observing the local flora and fauna with the aid of specialized guides. Overnight in Puerto Iguazu.
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Day 10: Iguazu Falls/Sao Paulo or Rio de Janeiro
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to your final destination via Sao Paulo or Rio de Janeiro.