Brazil Amazon Extension | Ecopark Amazon Lodge

On arrival into Manaus you will be met and transferred from Manaus airport to the Amazon Ecopark Lodge, a 30 minute boat ride away, on the banks of the Rio Taruma.

After settling in to your comfortable room, we visit the Monkey Jungle Reserve and marvel at the many different species of very playful and friendly monkeys. The Monkey Jungle is a centre for the rehabilitation of primates that were rescued from illegal traders or from areas of Brazil that have been flooded or burned. Many of the monkeys are orphans. On arrival the animals receive any necessary veterinary treatment and time to acclimatize to their new home, before being released into the wild. Species of monkeys at the Monkey Jungle include the Spider monkey, Woolly monkey, Squirrel monkey and Capuchin monkey.

Later in the evening, a delicious dinner will be followed by a trip by canoe to spot alligators.

We awake to the fresh morning mist and the magical sounds of the jungle coming alive. After breakfast we set off on a Nature Hike: with over two million species of flora and fauna the thick, impenetrable jungle will have you in awe of its immensity! There are around 10kms of jungle trails in the Ecopark area, which includes virgin rainforest, natural savannahs, creeks and crystal clear steams. The guide teaches you how to find potable water, how to improvise a shelter from natural resources found in the jungle, what plants can be eaten as well as basic orientation and first aid.

We return to the lodge for lunch and time to relax, after which we visit the homes of caboclos or local Amazonian residents. Learn about their traditions and customs, the history of the Amazon, how cassava meal is prepared and the rubber cycle including how they smoke the extracted rubber sap. There is also the opportunity for piranha fishing. The notorious piranha is perhaps the most feared freshwater fish in the world. However, it is a common misconception that they are vicious man-eaters and the majority of species are not carnivorous. They make a delicious meal, if you manage to catch them … with the help of our experts!

This morning we depart on a full day tour to the “Meeting of the Waters”, a remarkable phenomenon where the black water of the Rio Negro converges with the lighter muddy brown water of the Rio Solimões before they finally merge to form the mighty Amazon River. The two rivers are different temperatures and run at different speeds alongside each other without mixing for several kilometres, in what is known as the “Meeting of the Waters”.

Following this excursion we have the option of more piranha fishing from canoes.

We return to the lodge in the early evening for dinner and another atmospheric night in the jungle.

After breakfast, you will be collected from your hotel and transferred to Manaus airport for your onward flight.