5-day Amazon jungle tour from Manaus: Pink river dolphins

Two nights sleeping in a jungle hammock with a mosquito net, not at the lodge.

A 5-day guided Amazon jungle tour from Manaus based at Amazon Peacock Paradise Ecolodge, with two nights camped in the forest, speedboat and canoe trips along the Rio Negro and flooded Várzea forest, piranha fishing, pink river dolphin spotting, and visits to local villages and a turtle conservation project. Small groups of no more than six travelers per guide keep the noise low and wildlife sightings more likely. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Manaus are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and river exploration

• Pick up in Manaus
• Board speedboat at Ceasa Port
• Visit meeting of the waters
• Explore floating village of Catalão
• Visit fish farm and see Arapaima Gigas
• Travel to Careiro village
• Boat ride to Maçarico Lake
• Arrive at lodge and have lunch
• Afternoon canoe trip to see dolphins and birds

Day 2: Morning trek and fishing

• Early morning motorized boat trip
• Return to lodge for breakfast
• Morning jungle trek with guide
• Return to lodge for lunch
• Afternoon motorized boat fishing for piranhas
• Return to lodge for dinner
• Night boat trip to spot caimans
• Return to lodge for overnight

Day 3: Várzea forest and paddling

• Breakfast at lodge
• Visit Várzea forest by foot or boat
• Return to lodge for lunch
• Afternoon paddling in small boat among channels
• Return to lodge for dinner

Day 4: Local village and night safari

• Breakfast at lodge
• Visit local family by river and taste fruits
• Swim in the river
• Visit PÉ DE PINCHA Project
• Return to lodge for dinner
• Night boat safari with spotlight
• Return to lodge for overnight

Day 5: Indigenous village and dolphin interaction

• Breakfast at lodge
• Travel to small village by car
• Boat trip to Indigenous Tatuyos village
• Learn about Tatuyos culture
• Stop at floating deck to swim with pink dolphins
• Lunch at local floating restaurant
• Return to Manaus and drop off at hotel or airport

The experience

The tour starts with a speedboat ride from Ceasa Port along the Rio Negro to the meeting of the waters, where the black Rio Negro and brown Solimões river run side by side without mixing. You stop at the floating village of Catalão to see a fish farm and the Giant Arapaima Gigas, then continue to Maçarico Lake and arrive at the lodge by mid-morning. After lunch, a canoe trip in the afternoon gives you a chance to spot pink river dolphins and colorful birds.

Days two and three split between the lodge and the jungle. Early morning motorized boat trips start at 5:30 a.m. to watch the forest wake up, followed by guided treks where your guide points out medicinal plants and insects. Afternoon activities include piranha fishing from a motorized boat and a night safari with a spotlight to search for caimans along the riverbanks. On day three, you explore the Várzea forest (a flooded area with small channels and waterways where monkeys and sloths are often spotted), then paddle through narrow igarapés in a small regional boat. That night you sleep in a hammock with a mosquito net in the jungle itself, not at the lodge.

Day four takes you to a local family's riverside home where you taste fruits they grow, swim in the river, and visit the Pé de Pincha Project, a turtle preservation and reintroduction effort run by local communities. A night safari follows, and from July to January, spearfishing is an option. On the final day, you travel by car and boat to the Indigenous village of the Tatuyos to learn about their culture, stop at a floating deck to interact with pink river dolphins, have lunch at a floating restaurant, and return to Manaus by mid-afternoon with drop-off at your hotel or the airport. Your guide speaks English and travels with the group throughout.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Manaus.
• speedboat and canoe transport.
• all meals at the lodge and a lunch stop at a floating restaurant on day five.
• guided treks and night safaris with spotlight.
• visits to Catalão floating village, Várzea forest, local family home, Pé de Pincha turtle project, and Tatuyos Indigenous village.
• piranha fishing.
• hammock with mosquito net for the jungle night.
• mineral water throughout.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (12 to 85 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 18 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Joshua's Amazon Expeditions

Is this one for you?Your guide speaks English, so commentary and explanations travel with you throughout the five days. The small group size, no more than six per guide, means you hear the guide clearly over the boat engines and wildlife sounds, which makes spotting animals and learning about the forest more likely than on larger tours.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the meeting of the waters I've heard about in the Amazon?

The meeting of the waters is where the Rio Negro and the Solimões river flow side by side without mixing, creating a visible line between black and brown water. You see it on the first day during the speedboat ride from Ceasa Port.

Will I really see pink river dolphins on this tour?

Pink river dolphins appear on canoe trips in the afternoon of day one and at the floating deck on day five. Spotting them is not guaranteed, but the tour is designed around the waterways where they live, and your guide will watch for them throughout.

Where do I sleep on the nights in the jungle?

On day three, you sleep in a hammock with a mosquito net in the jungle itself, away from the lodge. The other three nights are in private suites at Amazon Peacock Paradise Ecolodge, with air conditioning, private bathrooms, and hot showers.

How many people travel together on this tour?

Groups stay small, with a maximum of six travelers per guide. The operator says small groups mean less noise and better chances to hear the guide's explanations and spot wildlife.

What happens if I want to fish for piranha?

Piranha fishing happens on the afternoon of day two. You travel by motorized boat to a fishing spot along the riverbanks, fish for several different piranha species, and may spot birds and insects during the trip.

Can I interact with the Indigenous Tatuyos village on the last day?

Yes. On day five, you visit the Indigenous village of the Tatuyos by boat and learn about their culture. After that visit, you stop at a floating deck where you can enter the water and interact with pink river dolphins before lunch at a floating restaurant.