Amazon full-day tour Manaus: Meeting Waters & dolphins

Two rivers meet and don't mix: the black waters of the Rio Negro and the brown Solimões stay separate where they collide.

A full-day tour from Manaus takes you by speedboat and car through the Amazon to the Meeting of Waters, where you swim with pink river dolphins, visit the Tatuyos Indigenous Village, and return by 4 p.m. Hotel pickup, a bilingual guide, and lunch at a floating restaurant are included. The tour runs nine hours and covers the most recognizable sights of the region in one day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Amazon River and Indigenous Village

• Hotel pickup at 8 a.m.
• Boat to Catalao floating village
• See and feed Giant Arapaima fish
• Visit meeting of Rio Negro and Solimões rivers
• Drive 1 hour crossing Rio Negro bridge
• Boat to floating house for dolphin swim
• Lunch at floating restaurant with local fish
• Boat to Tatuyos Indigenous Village
• Learn about village life and join welcome dance
• Return by boat and car to Manaus by 4 p.m.

The experience

The day starts with pickup at your hotel at 8 a.m., then a drive to the Ceasa port where you board a speedboat. The first stop is Catalao, a floating village where you can touch and feed the Giant Arapaima Gigas: the largest scaled fish in the world, harmless despite their size. From there, the boat takes you to the Meeting of Waters, the striking point where the Rio Negro's dark water and the Solimões River's brown water flow side by side without mixing. The contrast comes from the Rio Negro's dissolved minerals and decaying plants versus the Solimões' sediment load, and the effect is immediate and worth the photographs.

After the Meeting of Waters, you drive an hour across the Rio Negro bridge to Cachoeira Village, then board a boat to a floating house where you swim with pink river dolphins in their natural habitat. The dolphins are active in these waters, and the swim happens in the open river rather than in a tank or enclosure. Following the swim, lunch is served at a floating restaurant: a local fish called tambaqui, prepared in the Amazonian style.

The final leg takes you upriver by boat to the Tatuyos Indigenous Village, where residents maintain their traditional way of life. You'll learn about their culture and participate in a welcome dance before heading back to the port. The return drive to Manaus takes you back by car, arriving around 4 p.m. The air-conditioned vehicle keeps you comfortable during the road portions, and your bilingual guide handles both the boat and car segments of the day.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• speedboat access to Catalao floating village, the Meeting of Waters, and the dolphin swimming site.
• lunch at a floating restaurant.
• visit to the Tatuyos Indigenous Village with cultural participation.
• bilingual guide throughout the day.

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 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 16 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 or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Joshua's Amazon Expeditions

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you speak English or Portuguese and want to follow commentary directly without waiting for translation, or if you prefer a single full-day outing that covers the Meeting of Waters, river dolphins, and indigenous community in one trip rather than booking multiple excursions.

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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 exactly is the Meeting of Waters, and why don't the two rivers mix?

The Meeting of Waters is where the Rio Negro, a tributary originating in Colombia, meets the Solimões River. The Rio Negro's dark color comes from dissolved minerals and decaying plants, while the Solimões carries light brown sediment. When they flow together, the two colors remain visibly separate due to differences in density and temperature, creating a striking contrast you can see from the boat.

Will I actually swim with the river dolphins, or just watch them from the boat?

You swim with the pink river dolphins in their natural habitat at a floating house on the river. The swim is in the open water, not in an enclosed area, and happens after you leave the Meeting of Waters on the return journey.

What time does the tour end, and will I be back at my hotel by evening?

The tour arrives back in Manaus at 4 p.m. The return to your hotel depends on where you're staying in the city. The tour includes the drive back from the port but not a final hotel drop-off after arrival in town.

Is the Tatuyos Indigenous Village visit respectful, or is it set up as a tourist attraction?

The Tatuyos Indigenous Village is home to residents who maintain their traditional way of life. The visit includes a welcome dance and cultural exchange, and you'll learn about their daily life and customs in the Amazon. The village is an active community rather than a museum recreation.

What's included in the lunch, and are there options for dietary restrictions?

Lunch is served at a floating restaurant and features tambaqui, a local Amazonian fish. Dietary restrictions or preferences are not detailed in the tour information. Contact the operator directly if you have specific meal needs.