3-day Amazon tour Manaus: Caves, waterfalls, communities

Caves and waterfalls by day, forest camping or lodge nights in the Amazon

A 3-day tour from Manaus to Presidente Figueiredo pairs a jungle B&B on Lake Balbina with guided exploration of caves, waterfalls, lagoons and river settlements. You hike to Maroaga and Judea caves on day one, spend nights either camping in a forest shelter or in lodge chalets, take boat tours to meet river communities, and swim in Cristalina Lagoon and at Iracema Waterfall. Hotel pickup from downtown Manaus is included, along with lunch and guide commentary on Amazon flora, fauna and local life.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Knowing the land of the waterfalls

• Pickup at Manaus hotel early morning
• Stop at regional cafe on the road
• Travel to Presidente Figueiredo
• Walk to Cave Maroaga and Cave of Judea
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Visit Lagoa Cristalina and Red River
• Travel to jungle B&B at Lake Balbina
• Settle in and enjoy lake activities
• Camping experience or stay in B&B chalet

Day 2: Exploring the Amazon Experience

• Breakfast at the B&B
• Eco Trail of Amazonian Knowledge hike
• Lunch at the B&B
• Boat tour on Lake Balbina
• Visit caboclos ribeirinhos house
• Optional fishing break
• Night tour focusing on animals

Day 3: Immersion continues

• Breakfast at the B&B
• Return to Presidente Figueiredo town
• Visit Blue Lagoon and Fervedouro of Maranhão
• Lunch at restaurant in town
• Visit Iracema Waterfall and optional Araras Waterfall
• Optional visit to nearby caves
• Return to Manaus hotels

The experience

Presidente Figueiredo sits deep enough in the forest that the itinerary avoids the long drives that eat up most single-day tours from Manaus. Day one starts with a 6:30 pickup from your hotel, a stop at a regional café on the road, and arrival by 9:00 at the caves. A two-hour guided walk takes you through Maroaga Cave and the Cave of Judea, the main attractions here, where the guide explains the forest canopy and wildlife. From January to July, water cascades at Maroaga's entrance. After lunch, you swim and rest at Cristalina Lagoon and the Red River before heading to the B&B on Lake Balbina for the evening.

The nights are the core of the experience. You can stay in a lodge chalet or choose the camping option: a straw shelter deep in the forest where you learn to string a hammock and cook your own dinner, then sleep surrounded by the Amazon soundscape. Day two begins with breakfast and a 1.5-kilometer forest trail focused on interpretation (medicinal plants, centuries-old trees, animal sightings) that stretches to two and a half hours because the guide stops to explain. Lunch follows at the B&B. In the afternoon, a boat tour on Lake Balbina takes you to the homes of river communities, where you can taste seasonal fruits and learn how they live with the forest. Fishing for piranha or tucunaré may happen depending on time. At dusk, a night tour focuses on spotting caimans, rays, night birds and the starry sky above the canopy.

Day three moves to the region's waterfall circuit. Around 10:00, you visit the Blue Lagoon of Maranhão and the Fervedouro of Maranhão for swimming in clear water. (August through mid-January, the Fervedouro is replaced by Mutum Waterfall depending on seasonal conditions.) Lunch happens in town. By early afternoon you're at Iracema Waterfall, one of Presidente Figueiredo's largest, with time to swim and rest. Depending on weather, nearby caves are also accessible. The return to Manaus begins around 16:00, with arrival at your hotel by 18:00.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from downtown Manaus.
• round-trip transfer to all attractions in Presidente Figueiredo.
• three days of guided exploration with a live guide.
• access fees to caves, lagoons and waterfalls.
• three lunches.
• mineral water during travel.
• assistance with photos.
• overnight accommodation either in a forest camping shelter or B&B chalet on Lake Balbina.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:30

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 to 62 years) · Youth (9 to 17 years) · Child (2 to 8 years) · Infant (under 2)

GroupUp to 9

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Aventurei Turismo

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese, so choose the language that lets you follow the forest interpretation comfortably: the guide's knowledge of medicinal plants, animal behavior and river community life is what transforms the stops from sightseeing into learning.

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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 (9 to 17 years); Child (2 to 8 years); Infant (under 2).

What's the difference between camping in the forest shelter and staying in the lodge chalets?

The camping option places you in a straw shelter built in the forest where you learn basic survival skills like stringing hammocks and preparing your own dinner, sleeping in direct contact with the Amazon. The lodge chalets offer comfort at the same B&B on Lake Balbina. Both options are part of the same tour. You choose which suits you when you book.

Will I see wildlife on the trails and boat tours?

The guide interprets the forest specifically to point out fauna and flora, medicinal plants and animal sightings during the day trail. The night tour focuses on spotting caimans, rays and night birds. Sightings depend on the season and conditions, but the guide's knowledge of where to look is built into every outing.

How much walking is involved each day?

Day one includes a two-hour guided walk through the caves. Day two's forest trail is short, about 1.5 kilometers, but the pace is slow because the guide stops frequently to explain the forest. Day three involves walking to and around the waterfalls and lagoons. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels.

What happens if I want to swim at the waterfalls and lagoons?

Swimming is built into the itinerary at Cristalina Lagoon and the Red River on day one, at the Blue Lagoon and Fervedouro (or Mutum Waterfall) on day three, and at Iracema Waterfall. Bring swimwear. Closed shoes are needed for the cave trails, with galochas available to rent on site.

What's included in the meals?

Lunch is included on all three days. On day two, when you camp, you prepare your own dinner in the forest as part of the survival skills experience. Breakfast is served at the B&B on days two and three. A regional café stop on the drive to Figueiredo on day one is at your own cost.