Itineraries — Brazilian Amazon

The Brazilian Amazon is one of the world's great ecotourism experiences — a journey into the planet's largest rainforest massif, covering 5.5 million km² (60% of Brazilian territory), home to 25% of world terrestrial biodiversity, generating 20% of atmospheric oxygen and bordering the world's largest river by water volume (3 times Mississippi's flow). For travellers, it's a dive into primary nature, a life-marking experience.

The region is touristically organised around two main gateways: Manaus (Amazonas), the "Paris of the Tropics" (2.2 million inhabitants, Theatro Amazonas 1896, spectacular Encontro das Águas) and Belém (Pará), Amazonian mouth capital (1.5 million inhabitants, Ver-o-Peso market, tacacá and pato no tucupi cuisine). Manaus is the privileged gateway for Rio Negro eco-lodges — the iconic Amazon ecotourism experience.

The tourist proposition is clear: spend 3-5 nights in a lodge deep in the forest (Anavilhanas, Juma, Mirante do Gavião, Tiwa Amazonas — €300-500/night full board) with daily activity programme: guided jungle hike, pirogue excursion in igarapés (small streams), pink dolphin observation (Inia geoffrensis, endemic to Amazon basin), sunset piranha fishing, night listening to jungle sounds, respectful visit of caboclo communities (mixed populations descending from indigenous). River cruises (4-7 nights, €1,500-3,500/person) on comfortable boats are an alternative to explore more widely.

Our advice: integrate the Amazon into a complete Brazilian trip (10-15 days minimum) — it combines ideally with Rio (4 nights) and another stop (Pantanal, Salvador, Iguazu) for a diversified trip. Avoid 100% Amazon trips under 7 days (exhausting logistics for too brief an experience).