Mamirauá Reserve – Uakari Lodge

Day 1 – From Tefé to Mamirauá / Getting to know the Uacari Lodge

The excitement already begins in the transfer from the airport / hotel to the lodge. After a short drive to Lake Tefé, we will go for one hour long boat ride. There is no hurry to arrive, as the ride in itself is part of the experience: to contemplate the landscape, the confluence of the black water of the lake and the muddy waters of the Amazon River, the riverside communities and their houses built on poles in the water. In the Mamirauá Reserve, there are more than 350 species of birds, mammals and fish, and not to mention the biodiversity of the flora, one of the richest on the planet.

The next enchantment is evident upon arrival at the floating lodge, a true walkway between two worlds. We have left the gray of the metropolises to the green of 18th century naturalists. After check-in, a guide will present the itineraries and experiences of the next few days. Also, before dinner, a trail or canoe trip is organized to get to know the surroundings of Uacari and establish the first contact with the pristine nature of the place.

Our day ends with a presentation on the history of the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve and the ongoing projects of the Mamirauá Institute for Sustainable Development, a research unit financed and supervised by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Brazil.

Day 2 – Visiting traditional communities and night trail

Get ready for an intense day of getting to know remote communities, observe their inhabitants and the diversity of landscapes that the forest offers. Together with a guide, after breakfast at 6:30 am, we will take a trail or get on a boat (depending on the season) to head to a riverside village. Making our way through the mangroves we can observe the resilience of the residents who adapted to this environment up close, a place where the water level can rise up to 12 meters.

Upon returning to the lodge, there is nothing better than enjoying a typical Amazonian lunch with products from the forest. Then, following local tradition, feel free to rest until 15:30. Coming up next is a trail to discover the forest. Just walking on the trail allows you to smell the aromas and feel the humidity that emanates from an Amazonian maze of trees and plants. Do you dare to explore more or does your imagination stop you?

Dinner time, and then at dusk another seductive adventure is waiting for us: the night trail (can also be done by canoe depending on the season). An unforgettable experience that will leave you enchanted with the sounds of the forest. It’s difficult to see birds and animals however, we hear the most incredible sounds and get to fall asleep with them when it’s time for bed.

Day 3 – Morning trail and forest discovery

With sunshine or rain, get ready for a long day of discovering the beauties of the Amazon. After a hearty breakfast with local fruits and cassava-based delicacies, it is time to observe some animals and many of the 16.000 species of trees that populate the Amazon, competing for space and light.

If the tour is by canoe (rainy season), the chances of seeing a pink dolphin up close are greater. Hear the sound of monkeys and pay close attention to the banks of the river and lakes to spot river turtles and capybaras. Keep in mind that it is also possible to come across anacondas and alligators! Among the branches or in the middle of the dense vegetation and shallow igapós we will be able to spot plenty of different species of birds being quite noisy.

Return for lunch and rest, because in the afternoon there is more. Get ready for an immersion in the Amazon and learn more about the lives of its inhabitants.

Sailing through the Mamirauá Lake, while admiring the forest’s reflections in the still waters local guides will tell the history of the region together with some other local legends and stories. But this will also be a time to get to know each other a bit better, they also want to know who we are, where we come from and how we live. This interaction takes you around the world, as many travelers are foreigners.

Before returning to the lodge, pause for a snack while watching the Amazonian sunset. The journey ends in the middle of the dark night, and we carefully turn on our headlights to spot nocturnal animals. Once at the Lodge, it is time for dinner. How about rewinding that special day?

Day 4 – Immersion in the forest and meet the researchers

As the intention of the trip to Mamirauá was focusing on the meeting between cultures and individuals who live in the forest, today we will dive deeper into this. At 7 am we leave for another community in order to get to know the daily lives of its inhabitants, how they live and what they eat. After returning to the hotel for lunch, anyone who wants to, can read the books in the lodge’s library or watch documentaries to learn more about the Amazon.

It’s time to say goodbye to the forest during one last canoe trip. Only imagining the Amazon rainforest, the dense vegetation, its sounds and aromas, its people, is simply not enough! You have to see and feel this extraordinary experience for yourself.

In the evening, after dinner, biologists who carry out research in the area will join us for an enriching conversation about local animals and the result of scientific research, which has been helping in the development of conservation strategies in the reserve. Take the opportunity to ask anything you would like to know more about!

Day 5 – Return to the city of Tefé

Checkout and breakfast at 5:30 am, and departure to Tefé (airport or hotel).
What makes this trip different? In addition to discovering the diverse forest of the Amazon, our journey contributes to the economy of the forest, bridges the gap between travelers and those who promote and strengthen these productive chains.

• We will depart to the Uacari Lodge from the city of Tefé (Amazonia), from the airport or the hotel where you are staying.
• There are weekly flights by the airline Cia Aérea Azul that leave from Manaus. This is the easiest way to get to the city of Tefé.
• Flights from Manaus to Tefé only depart on Tuesdays (AZUL5244) and Fridays (AZUL5245)
• One of our hosts will meet you at Tefé airport and direct you to the port of the city.
• We recommend the use of sunscreen and insect repellent (we will pass through areas with a lot of mosquitoes)

Important notes:

• The itinerary for the first day may change due to flight delays or weather conditions
• For security reasons, we do not offer this tour to children under 10. Pets are not allowed.
• The above day-to-day activities may undergo changes due to weather, we always prioritize the participants’ safety
• Optional activities subject to availability of seats at the time of booking
• The observation of animals in their natural habitat is an activity that depends on several factors (and luck!). Therefore, we cannot guarantee the sighting of any species in advance.

The Ministry of Health recommends (however, not mandatory) vaccination against yellow fever for all travelers over 9 months of age who enter endemic areas in Brazil, such as the Amazon region