Amazon Jungle Full-Day Experience with Pink Dolphins from Manaus

Lake Castanho and the drive from Manaus

Manaus is the capital of the state of Amazonas and the gateway to the Brazilian Amazon, a city of nearly two million people surrounded by rainforest and rivers. The tour starts with pickup at your hotel at about 08:00 and a drive of roughly an hour west of the city in an air-conditioned car, leaving the traffic behind for the quiet countryside of the Amazon basin.

Your host meets you at Lake Castanho, a lake fed by the rising and falling waters of the Amazon rivers. From here every activity is done in a simple wooden motorised canoe with no roof, the traditional way of travelling in the region. The lake and its channels change completely between seasons, and in the wet months from November to June the water reaches deep into the trees, so the guides sometimes move activities to the best spots for the time of year.

Jungle trek and Amazonian lunch

The canoe takes you to the edge of the forest for a trek of about three hours. Your guide shows you giant trees, vines, fruits and the medicinal plants used by local communities, explains how people survive in the jungle and points out insects, birds and other wildlife along the trail. Long trousers, closed shoes, insect repellent and a raincoat are essential, as the forest is hot, humid and often wet.

After the trek you sit down to a simple lunch of local food such as rice, beans, spaghetti, manioc flour and vinaigrette, prepared in the regional style. It is not a fancy menu, but it gives you a real taste of everyday Amazonian cooking, and your hosts share stories about life along the river. There is time to rest before the afternoon on the water begins.

Pink river dolphins of the Amazon

The afternoon highlight is a visit to a project working to protect pink river dolphins, known in Brazil as botos. They are the largest river dolphins in the world, with a long beak, a flexible neck that lets them weave between submerged tree trunks, and a pink colour that grows stronger with age. Many legends of the Amazon are told about them, and they are an important symbol of the river.

At the project you learn about the dolphins' behaviour and the conservation efforts under way, then you have the chance to enter the water and see these curious, friendly animals up close, following the rules of the project. Bring your swimwear and a towel. For many travellers this is the reason to book an Amazon pink dolphin tour from Manaus, and the moment they remember most.

Piranha fishing, sunset and night caiman spotting

Back in the canoe you glide through the flooded forest to try piranha fishing with simple rods and small pieces of bait. Catching one of these famous sharp-toothed fish is easier than you might think, and the guide shows you how to hold them safely. The canoe has no roof, so a hat and sunscreen are important for this part of the day.

As the sun goes down over the water you enjoy one of the most beautiful sights of the Amazon, the sky turning orange above a silhouette of trees. When night falls, the guide sweeps a torch along the banks to find caimans by the glow of their eyes, along with frogs, birds and other nocturnal wildlife. You then return to the car and drive back to Manaus, arriving at your hotel at about 20:00.