Overview
NEW - Wild Brazil: Rivers, Dunes & the Amazon
South America
11 days
10 nights
12 people
Moderate
Wildlife & Nature
Journey through the Amazon and beyond on this adventure through the rainforest, mangroves, and dunes of Northeast Brazil. From Manaus to São Luís, float your way through otherworldly waterscapes on the river, along hidden creeks, and by the sea. Learn first hand about indigenous Amazonian culture and learn about life in the rainforest. Take in colorful colonial towns and soak up the sounds of reggae and sertanejo music.
Special Access: Visit a village built on the disappearing sand-spit that separates the river from the ocean. The village has had to relocate twice due to the tides.
Travel with Purpose: Support a local lodge committed to ecological, socio-cultural, and economic sustainability.
Highlights
- Paddle through Amazonian creeks & go for a dip with pink dolphins.
- Ride across the famed dunes of Maranhão in a 4x4.
- Visit a local village built on disappearing sand-spit.
- Visit UNESCO world heritage towns filled with Afro-Brazilian culture.
- Stay a local lodge committed to ecological, socio-cultural, and economic sustainability.
Explore Amazon villages, fish for piranha, and cool off in lagoon-covered sand dunes.
Day 1
Welcome to Brazil
Welcome to Manaus, the largest city in the Amazon! Take a private transfer from the Manaus airport to your hotel in Manaus, known as the gateway to the Brazilian Rainforest. Meet the rest of your group over a delicious welcome dinner in one of Manaus’s best restaurants, overlooking the exquisite Teatro Amazonas opera house. This stunning music venue is said to have been commissioned by 19th-century rubber barons in order to entice the great opera singer Enrico Caruso to come and perform for them.
Welcome to Brazil
Welcome to Manaus, the largest city in the Amazon! Take a private transfer from the Manaus airport to your hotel in Manaus, known as the gateway to the Brazilian Rainforest. Meet the rest of your group over a delicious welcome dinner in one of Manaus’s best restaurants, overlooking the exquisite Teatro Amazonas opera house. This stunning music venue is said to have been commissioned by 19th-century rubber barons in order to entice the great opera singer Enrico Caruso to come and perform for them.
-
Juma Opera Hotel or similar, Manaus
-
Welcome Dinner
-
Juma Opera Hotel or similar, Manaus
-
Welcome Dinner
Day 2
Juma Jungle Adventure & Nighttime Nature
Your day kicks off with a combination of speed boat rides and drives into Juma, deep in the Amazon. Witness the mesmerizing Meeting of the Waters, where the Solimões and Negro rivers flow side by side without mixing, and feel the temperature change as you cruise past this unique natural phenomenon. Arriving at your Amazon lodge, you’ll be welcomed with a delicious lunch blending regional and international flavors. Later, hop on a canoe and glide through the igarapés (creeks) and igapós (flooded forests), looking out for pink dolphins. You could opt for a refreshing dip too. This evening, embark on a nighttime expedition to spot caimans and other nocturnal wildlife.
Juma Jungle Adventure & Nighttime Nature
Your day kicks off with a combination of speed boat rides and drives into Juma, deep in the Amazon. Witness the mesmerizing Meeting of the Waters, where the Solimões and Negro rivers flow side by side without mixing, and feel the temperature change as you cruise past this unique natural phenomenon. Arriving at your Amazon lodge, you’ll be welcomed with a delicious lunch blending regional and international flavors. Later, hop on a canoe and glide through the igarapés (creeks) and igapós (flooded forests), looking out for pink dolphins. You could opt for a refreshing dip too. This evening, embark on a nighttime expedition to spot caimans and other nocturnal wildlife.
-
Juma Opera Hotel or similar, Manaus
-
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Juma Opera Hotel or similar, Manaus
-
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3
Sunrise Serenade & Sunset Fishing
Start your day at sunrise, soaking in the dawn chorus of birds with binoculars in hand. After breakfast featuring tropical fruits and regional delicacies, set off on an immersive jungle hike led by an expert guide who will reveal some of the Amazon’s many secrets, from edible flora to medicinal plants. Back at the lodge for lunch, spend time exploring its unique architecture (it’s built on stilts), and gain an insight into local sustainability practices. In the late afternoon, set sail on a fishing trip and learn all about the native piranha as the sun sets over the river. You can have your own fresh-caught fish for dinner while chatting with a local guide and your co-travelers.
Sunrise Serenade & Sunset Fishing
Start your day at sunrise, soaking in the dawn chorus of birds with binoculars in hand. After breakfast featuring tropical fruits and regional delicacies, set off on an immersive jungle hike led by an expert guide who will reveal some of the Amazon’s many secrets, from edible flora to medicinal plants. Back at the lodge for lunch, spend time exploring its unique architecture (it’s built on stilts), and gain an insight into local sustainability practices. In the late afternoon, set sail on a fishing trip and learn all about the native piranha as the sun sets over the river. You can have your own fresh-caught fish for dinner while chatting with a local guide and your co-travelers.
-
Juma Opera Hotel or similar, Manaus
-
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Juma Opera Hotel or similar, Manaus
-
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4
Indigenous Insight
Set out on a jungle hike this morning, spotting rare birds and wildlife. Stop for a delicious lunch cooked over an open fire in the middle of the forest, then take some time to relax in hammocks like the locals do. In the afternoon, we'll be welcomed into a local home to learn firsthand about indigenous culture and the Amazon’s medicinal plants. Learn how to prepare manioc flour, a local staple used to make a range of dishes from fresh breads to stews. Return to the lodge to relax amidst the sounds of the jungle and have dinner.
Indigenous Insight
Set out on a jungle hike this morning, spotting rare birds and wildlife. Stop for a delicious lunch cooked over an open fire in the middle of the forest, then take some time to relax in hammocks like the locals do. In the afternoon, we'll be welcomed into a local home to learn firsthand about indigenous culture and the Amazon’s medicinal plants. Learn how to prepare manioc flour, a local staple used to make a range of dishes from fresh breads to stews. Return to the lodge to relax amidst the sounds of the jungle and have dinner.
-
Juma Opera Hotel or similar, Manaus
-
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Juma Opera Hotel or similar, Manaus
-
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5
Exploring the Capital of Amazonas
After breakfast, make your way back to Manaus, stopping along the river en route to see giant native Pirarucu fish, some of which grow to 10 feet long and 440 lbs! Back in Manaus, enjoy free time to explore the city. For dinner, we recommend Biatüwi, a restaurant specializing in Amazonian indigenous food including fish stews, maniwara ants, and guaraná juice, made from red Amazonian berries.
Exploring the Capital of Amazonas
After breakfast, make your way back to Manaus, stopping along the river en route to see giant native Pirarucu fish, some of which grow to 10 feet long and 440 lbs! Back in Manaus, enjoy free time to explore the city. For dinner, we recommend Biatüwi, a restaurant specializing in Amazonian indigenous food including fish stews, maniwara ants, and guaraná juice, made from red Amazonian berries.
-
Juma Opera Hotel or similar, Manaus
-
Breakfast
-
Juma Opera Hotel or similar, Manaus
-
Breakfast
Day 6
Exploring São Luis
Say hello to São Luís, the colorful capital of Maranhão and your gateway to the breathtaking landscapes of the Lençóis Maranhenses! After landing and checking into the hotel, the day is yours to explore this UNESCO-recognized city brimming with Afro-Brazilian culture. Stroll through the atmospheric historic center lined with cobbled streets and pastel colonial mansions. Dive into the city’s lively reggae scene or try tiquira at one of São Luís many markets, an indigenous cassava-based spirit that has been made here for millennia.
Exploring São Luis
Say hello to São Luís, the colorful capital of Maranhão and your gateway to the breathtaking landscapes of the Lençóis Maranhenses! After landing and checking into the hotel, the day is yours to explore this UNESCO-recognized city brimming with Afro-Brazilian culture. Stroll through the atmospheric historic center lined with cobbled streets and pastel colonial mansions. Dive into the city’s lively reggae scene or try tiquira at one of São Luís many markets, an indigenous cassava-based spirit that has been made here for millennia.
-
Blue Tree Towers Sao Luis or similar, São Luís
-
Breakfast
-
Blue Tree Towers Sao Luis or similar, São Luís
-
Breakfast
Day 7
Parnaíba Delta Paradise
Head out towards to the seaside village of Tutóia, then set sail on a boat tour of the Parnaíba Delta. Experience a kaleidoscopic blend of landscapes: a mix of dunes, mangroves, islands, and even a slice of tropical Amazon rainforest. You'll visit the Port of Armadillos on Santa Isabel Island and glide through creeks and rivers, spotting monkeys, iguanas, and scarlet ibis along the way. Enjoy the delta sunset before returning to Tutóia for the night, where your accommodation is just steps from the beach.
Parnaíba Delta Paradise
Head out towards to the seaside village of Tutóia, then set sail on a boat tour of the Parnaíba Delta. Experience a kaleidoscopic blend of landscapes: a mix of dunes, mangroves, islands, and even a slice of tropical Amazon rainforest. You'll visit the Port of Armadillos on Santa Isabel Island and glide through creeks and rivers, spotting monkeys, iguanas, and scarlet ibis along the way. Enjoy the delta sunset before returning to Tutóia for the night, where your accommodation is just steps from the beach.
-
Pousada Delta Village or similar, Tutóia
-
Breakfast
-
Pousada Delta Village or similar, Tutóia
-
Breakfast
Day 8
Hidden Beaches & Rolling Dunes
Start your day with a short trip to Paulino Neves, nestled in the protected Rio Novo region. From there, embark on a 30 km off-road adventure through North-East Brazil's iconic dunes and hidden beaches. By midday, your journey ends in Cabure, a unique village built on a shifting sand-spit separating the river from the ocean. Cross the river to Atins, a once small fishing village now on the cusp of a tourism boom thanks to its proximity to the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. Check in to your hotel and enjoy lunch, before heading out in 4x4s to explore the nearby dunes for a breathtaking sunset. Return to your hotel for the night.
Hidden Beaches & Rolling Dunes
Start your day with a short trip to Paulino Neves, nestled in the protected Rio Novo region. From there, embark on a 30 km off-road adventure through North-East Brazil's iconic dunes and hidden beaches. By midday, your journey ends in Cabure, a unique village built on a shifting sand-spit separating the river from the ocean. Cross the river to Atins, a once small fishing village now on the cusp of a tourism boom thanks to its proximity to the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. Check in to your hotel and enjoy lunch, before heading out in 4x4s to explore the nearby dunes for a breathtaking sunset. Return to your hotel for the night.
-
Pousada Jurara or similar, Atins
-
Breakfast
-
Pousada Jurara or similar, Atins
-
Breakfast
Day 9
Otherworldly Landscapes of Grandes Lençó
Today you'll be bedazzled by the beauty of our planet. Set off on a boat trip up the Rio Preguiça (Lazy River), passing the Mandacaru Lighthouse for sweeping 360° views of the different landscapes, and enjoy the mesmerizing color contrasts between these different eco-systems that rarely meet. Explore Vassouras, a fishing community known for its friendly monkeys, before heading to Barreirinhas. Check into your hotel, then hop into a 4x4 for an exhilarating ride across Rio Preguiça into the Grandes Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, home to the world’s only desert with freshwater lakes. Each one beckons travelers to trek across the sand and dive into its miraculous turquoise waters. This will be a day you will never forget.
Otherworldly Landscapes of Grandes Lençó
Today you'll be bedazzled by the beauty of our planet. Set off on a boat trip up the Rio Preguiça (Lazy River), passing the Mandacaru Lighthouse for sweeping 360° views of the different landscapes, and enjoy the mesmerizing color contrasts between these different eco-systems that rarely meet. Explore Vassouras, a fishing community known for its friendly monkeys, before heading to Barreirinhas. Check into your hotel, then hop into a 4x4 for an exhilarating ride across Rio Preguiça into the Grandes Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, home to the world’s only desert with freshwater lakes. Each one beckons travelers to trek across the sand and dive into its miraculous turquoise waters. This will be a day you will never forget.
-
Pousada Jurara or similar, Atins
-
Breakfast, Lunch
-
Pousada Jurara or similar, Atins
-
Breakfast, Lunch
Day 10
Maranhão Flavors & Historic Treasures
After an early transfer to São Luís, enjoy an afternoon tour of the city's historic center. This UNESCO World Heritage site boasts exceptionally preserved Portuguese colonial architecture and a unique rectangular street plan. Visit the Gastronomy Museum, and stroll through buzzing markets, sampling local delicacies like cachaças, liqueurs, and dried shrimp. Discover Giz Street, one of Brazil's most beautiful streets, and admire its colorful colonial palaces. Climb up to the City Lookout, situated on the rooftop of the old Bank of the State of Maranhão for sweeping views of the city. Wrap up your day with a farewell dinner at a rustic waterfront restaurant offering stunning views of São Marcos Bay and showcasing the exotic flavors of Maranhão cuisine.
Maranhão Flavors & Historic Treasures
After an early transfer to São Luís, enjoy an afternoon tour of the city's historic center. This UNESCO World Heritage site boasts exceptionally preserved Portuguese colonial architecture and a unique rectangular street plan. Visit the Gastronomy Museum, and stroll through buzzing markets, sampling local delicacies like cachaças, liqueurs, and dried shrimp. Discover Giz Street, one of Brazil's most beautiful streets, and admire its colorful colonial palaces. Climb up to the City Lookout, situated on the rooftop of the old Bank of the State of Maranhão for sweeping views of the city. Wrap up your day with a farewell dinner at a rustic waterfront restaurant offering stunning views of São Marcos Bay and showcasing the exotic flavors of Maranhão cuisine.
-
Blue Tree Towers or similar, São Luís
-
Breakfast, Dinner
-
Blue Tree Towers or similar, São Luís
-
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11
Farewell
After 10 days of exploring some of Brazil’s many wonders, hopping from river to rainforest and epic sand dunes, it’s time to bid farewell to this tropical fairytale region and the friends you’ve made along the way. A private transfer will take you to Sao Luis Airport for your departing flight. Or if you fancy sticking around for more adventures, check out the Atlas Obscura Guide to Brazil for itinerary inspiration. Adeus, until our next adventure!
Farewell
After 10 days of exploring some of Brazil’s many wonders, hopping from river to rainforest and epic sand dunes, it’s time to bid farewell to this tropical fairytale region and the friends you’ve made along the way. A private transfer will take you to Sao Luis Airport for your departing flight. Or if you fancy sticking around for more adventures, check out the Atlas Obscura Guide to Brazil for itinerary inspiration. Adeus, until our next adventure!
-
Breakfast
-
Breakfast
What is included?
-
Accommodations throughout the trip.
-
Most meals (as described in the itinerary).
-
Transportation (as described in the itinerary), including airport transfers.
-
Admission/entry to activities (as described in the itinerary).
-
AO Trip Leader throughout the trip.
-
Special access to AO places and experiences (as described in the itinerary).
-
All gratuities (not including AO Trip Leader).
What is not included?
-
Flights to and from destination.
-
Pre-/Post-trip accommodations.
-
Travel insurance (strongly recommended).
-
Visas and passport fees.
-
Meals outside of those described (including most alcoholic beverages).
-
AO Trip Leader tip.
Additional info
Pricing & Trip Deposit
Deposit to book your trip: $250 USD.
Balance due 90 days prior to departure.
The listed price of the trip is per person based on double occupancy.
Pricing & Trip Deposit
Deposit to book your trip: $250 USD.
Balance due 90 days prior to departure.
The listed price of the trip is per person based on double occupancy.
Traveling Solo?
You’re in good company.
Opt for a Private Room to yourself, subject to availability, for a supplemental cost of $1,625 USD.
Solo travelers typically make up about half of our small groups. With curiosity at the center of our experiences, there’s a natural camaraderie that develops over the course of a trip.
If you don’t opt for a Private Room, you'll be matched with another solo traveler of the same gender.
Traveling Solo?
You’re in good company.
Opt for a Private Room to yourself, subject to availability, for a supplemental cost of $1,625 USD.
Solo travelers typically make up about half of our small groups. With curiosity at the center of our experiences, there’s a natural camaraderie that develops over the course of a trip.
If you don’t opt for a Private Room, you'll be matched with another solo traveler of the same gender.
Activity level
This tour has a moderate activity level. Consider four to six miles of walking each day, with lots of time spent moving around and on your feet. You should be comfortable walking on both flat and uneven ground, as well as stairs.
Activity level
This tour has a moderate activity level. Consider four to six miles of walking each day, with lots of time spent moving around and on your feet. You should be comfortable walking on both flat and uneven ground, as well as stairs.
Arrival & Departure
Manaus International Airport (MAO) connects to a range of flight hubs in North & South America. The best flight connections to Manaus are offered by LATAM Airlines and Azul Brazilian Airlines.
*Airport transfers are only provided if arriving & departing on the trip dates, or if pre/post arrangements have been made through Atlas Obscura.
Arrival & Departure
Manaus International Airport (MAO) connects to a range of flight hubs in North & South America. The best flight connections to Manaus are offered by LATAM Airlines and Azul Brazilian Airlines.
*Airport transfers are only provided if arriving & departing on the trip dates, or if pre/post arrangements have been made through Atlas Obscura.
Have more questions?
Check out the Essential Trip Information for this trip or our general FAQs.
Any questions about this trip? Don't hesitate to reach out
-
Call us at +1 833-919-9154
-
Send us a
You might like these
Trip inquiry
Have a question for us about NEW - Wild Brazil: Rivers, Dunes & the Amazon? We're here to help!
-
Call us at +1 646-961-4857
-
Check out our FAQ
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Trip inquiry
Have a question for us about NEW - Wild Brazil: Rivers, Dunes & the Amazon? We're here to help!
-
Call us at +1 833-919-9154
-
Check out our FAQ
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.