3-day Amazon River tour from Manaus: Meeting of the Waters

Float down the Amazon for three days, camping in the jungle and spotting wildlife after dark

A 3-day Amazon River boat tour from Manaus that travels to the Meeting of the Waters, January Lake and the Anavilhanas Archipelago, with nights spent in hammocks aboard the boat and one night camping in the jungle. The tour includes hotel pickup, a professional guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese, all activities, meals and bottled water. Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or during pregnancy. Moderate fitness required.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: From Manaus to Negro River

• Begin journey to Meeting of the Waters
• Observe Rio Negro and Solimões rivers
• Visit January Lake and floating houses
• Visit local crafts fair
• Canoe ride in Igapós lake
• See wild animals and water lilies
• Fish for piranhas and other species
• Observe sunset from the boat
• Night tour to capture alligators
• Return alligators to natural habitat
• Dinner and overnight on the boat

Day 2: Solimoes River Sailing

• Wake up at 5:30 AM
• Enjoy birds and local flora
• Breakfast on board
• Visit Paraiso village and rubber tree demonstration
• Stop at beach for swimming
• Lunch on board
• Visit indigenous community and participate in ritual
• Sail to jungle property for camping
• Walk on jungle trail
• Assemble campfire and prepare barbecue dinner

Day 3: Anavilhanas Archipelago and Return to Manaus

• Wake up at 6:00 AM
• Jungle trail walk
• Return to boat for breakfast
• Explore Anavilhanas archipelago by canoe
• Lunch while navigating Rio Negro
• Optional interaction with Tucuxi dolphins
• Return to Manaus by 6:00 PM

The experience

The tour departs Manaus and heads to the Meeting of the Waters on the first day, where the dark Rio Negro and the lighter Solimões River flow together before forming the Amazon. From there you visit January Lake to see the floating houses built in the inundated areas during the river's flood season. A local crafts fair comes next, then canoe rides into the Igapós: flooded forest areas where you watch for monkeys, sloths, anacondas, birds and water lilies. After fishing for piranhas, you return to the boat to watch the sunset, then set out on a night tour where the guide uses flashlights to spot and capture alligators, explains their behavior, and releases them back into the river. Dinner and overnight happen in a hammock aboard the boat.

Day two starts at 5:30 AM to observe the birds and local flora along the Solimões River. After breakfast you visit Paraiso village to see how rubber is extracted from rubber trees and processed for sale. A beach stop lets you swim before lunch. In the afternoon you reach an indigenous community where you can participate in rituals and folk dancing (optional), then continue upriver to a jungle property where you set up camp for the night. The guide helps you build a campfire and prepare an improvised barbecue dinner: your first night sleeping in the forest itself.

On the final day you wake at 6:00 AM for a jungle trail walk, return to the boat for breakfast, then explore the Igapós of the Anavilhanas Archipelago by canoe. Lunch happens while navigating back across the Rio Negro, where you can interact with Tucuxi dolphins (optional). The boat returns to Manaus around 6:00 PM. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with a professional guide, all activities, meals, coffee and tea, bottled water and fuel surcharge.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Manaus.
• professional guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• all activities including canoe rides, fishing, night alligator spotting, jungle camping and dolphin interaction.
• meals and improvised barbecue dinner.
• coffee, tea and bottled water.
• fuel surcharge.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 to 40 years) · Senior (41 to 60 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (2 to 4 years)

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Amazing Tours Agency

Is this one for you?Book this if you're staying in Manaus without a rental car: hotel pickup gets you to the dock, leaving you to focus on the river and wildlife rather than navigation.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (2 to 4 years).

What exactly happens during the night alligator tour on the first day?

The guide uses flashlights to spot alligators in the water, then carefully captures them to show you up close. After explaining their behavior and answering questions, the guide releases each animal back into the river unharmed.

Where do I sleep on this 3-day tour?

You sleep in hammocks inside the boat for the first and third nights. On the second night you camp in the jungle itself, sleeping in a hammock after building a campfire and preparing dinner together.

What is the Meeting of the Waters and why does it matter?

The Meeting of the Waters is where the Rio Negro and the Solimões River converge to form the Amazon River. The two rivers flow side by side for a stretch without immediately mixing because of differences in temperature, density and speed, creating a visible line where they meet.

Can I swim or fish during the tour?

Yes. On day two there is a beach stop where you can swim before lunch. On day one you fish for piranhas and other species from the boat as part of the day's activities.