Amazon: lodge, cruise or Alter do Chão?

The Amazon rainforest covers nearly half of Brazil. For travelers, the Amazon is mainly explored from two cities: Manaus, in the heart of the forest, at the confluence of the Rio Negro and the Rio Solimões, and Santarém, on the Rio Tapajós, the gateway to Alter do Chão. Here are the three main options we offer.

A lodge stay: total immersion

A few hours by boat or by road from Manaus, the lodges sit on the riverbanks, deep in the forest. The schedule follows the rhythm of nature: canoe trips at dawn, hikes with a local guide to learn about medicinal plants, pink river dolphin watching, piranha fishing, night outings to look for caimans, and visits with riverside communities.

Three or four nights is ideal. Comfort ranges from a simple wooden cabin to a high-end lodge, but above all the experience is about the forest.

A cruise: the Amazon by water

A cruise on a small boat lets you see more landscapes without changing rooms. Excursions by skiff and walks on land follow one another every day, and the boat moves at night or during meals. It’s a comfortable option, popular with travelers who want to limit walking or who are traveling as a family.

Brazil Vip tip: Whichever option you choose, don’t miss the Meeting of the Waters near Manaus: the dark waters of the Rio Negro and the ochre waters of the Solimões flow side by side for miles without mixing.

Alter do Chão: the Caribbean of the Amazon

On the banks of the Rio Tapajós, the village of Alter do Chão is famous for its white-sand beaches washed by clear fresh water. People come here to swim, to sail toward the Tapajós National Forest, to meet riverside communities and to enjoy a gentler atmosphere than in the Manaus region.

Watch the season: the beaches mostly appear when the water is low, generally from August to December. When the water is high, much of the sand is submerged and the landscape changes completely.

• Lodge — Best for: travelers who want to experience the forest — Suggested stay: 3 to 4 nights — Highlight: immersion and local guides
• Cruise — Best for: comfort, families, reduced mobility — Suggested stay: 3 to 4 nights — Highlight: seeing more landscapes without changing hotels
• Alter do Chão — Best for: nature and relaxation — Suggested stay: 3 to 4 nights — Highlight: freshwater beaches at low water

High water or low water?

River levels vary by several meters over the course of the year. At high water, generally from March to July, you glide among the trees of the flooded forests. At low water, from the end of the southern summer to the end of the year, trails and beaches multiply. There is no bad season, just two faces of the Amazon.

Brazil Vip tip: See your doctor or an international travel clinic before departure: yellow fever vaccination is recommended for the Amazon. Pack long, lightweight clothing, a good repellent and a headlamp.