Amazon jungle tour Manaus: Dolphins & cayman wildlife

Pink river dolphins, giant arapaima, and a cayman pulled from the water at night

A 3-day Amazon jungle tour from Manaus based at Amazon Tapiri Floating Lodge, with native guides leading speedboat trips to the Meeting of Waters, jungle treks, canoe explorations of Várzea forest, and visits to riverside villages. Pickup from your Manaus hotel is included. The guide speaks English and Portuguese.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Manaus to Jungle Lodge

• Pick up from hotel in Manaus
• Travel to Ceasa Port and board speedboat
• Visit floating village of Catalão and fish farm
• See Giant Arapaima Gigas and feed them
• Visit Meeting of the Waters
• Travel to Careiro village by speedboat
• Drive to Maçarico lake by road
• Arrive at Amazon Tapiri Floating Lodge
• Enjoy local cuisine lunch at lodge
• Afternoon canoe trip to see pink river dolphin and birds
• Try piranha fishing
• Watch sunset on the water
• Dinner at the lodge
• Night boat trip to spot Cayman

Day 2: Jungle Exploration

• Early departure at 5:30 am by motorized boat
• Watch sunrise in the jungle
• Return to lodge for breakfast
• Morning jungle trek with guide
• Learn about medicinal plants and wildlife
• Return to lodge for lunch
• Afternoon canoe trip to Várzea forest
• Explore flora and fauna of flooded forest
• Return to lodge for dinner

Day 3: Local Life and Return

• Breakfast at 7 am
• Visit local family along the river
• Learn about local lifestyle and food cultivation
• Taste local fruits
• Swim in the river
• Depart lodge at 1 pm for Manaus
• Arrive at Manaus airport or hotel around 4 pm

The experience

The tour starts at 7:30 am with pickup from your hotel in Manaus. A speedboat takes you down the Rio Negro to Catalão floating village, where a fish farm lets you feed Giant Arapaima Gigas: the largest scaled fish in the world and strong enough to feel the difference when they take food from your hand. From there you continue to the Meeting of Waters, where the Rio Negro and Solimões River flow side by side without mixing, a visible line of two colors running parallel down the river. The route then cuts inland by road for about an hour to Maçarico lake, where a final speedboat leg brings you to the lodge by midday and lunch.

The second day begins at 5 am with a motorized boat to watch the jungle wake at sunrise, followed by a guided trek where your guide points out medicinal plants, insects, and wildlife like monkeys. After breakfast and lunch at the lodge, an afternoon canoe trip into Várzea forest (a maze of small channels and waterways), puts you in range of sloths, more monkeys, and birds. The third morning includes a visit to a local family living along the river, where you see how they grow food and taste local fruits, then swim in the river before the speedboat returns you to Manaus by 4 pm. Breakfast is served each day. Dinner and lunch are included at the lodge.

Evenings bring a separate canoe expedition in search of cayman. Your guide will catch one from the water so you can see it up close before it's returned to its habitat. The lodge provides air-conditioned private rooms with mosquito nets and private bathrooms. All transport (speedboat, motorized boat, canoe, and the road leg to the lake) is included in the booking.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Manaus.
• all speedboat, motorized boat, and canoe transport.
• breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the lodge.
• three nights in a private air-conditioned room with mosquito net.
• guided jungle trek.
• piranha fishing.
• pink river dolphin spotting.
• cayman expedition.
• visit to Catalão fish farm.
• Meeting of Waters stop.
• Várzea forest canoe exploration.
• visit to a local riverside family.
• return transport to your Manaus hotel or airport.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 to 75 years) · Child (6 to 11 years): free · Infant (under 6)

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Joshua's Amazon Expeditions

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English and Portuguese, so you'll follow the commentary comfortably in either language. The tour moves early and stays active (5 am starts, multiple boat trips, a jungle trek, and evening expeditions), so it suits travelers who want immersion in the Amazon rather than a relaxed pace.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Portuguese.

Can children come?

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

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

The Meeting of Waters is where the Rio Negro and Solimões River converge but do not mix, creating a visible boundary of two different colored water flowing side by side down the river. It's the signature stop on day one and one of the most photographed natural phenomena in the Amazon.

Will I actually see pink river dolphins on this tour?

Yes. The afternoon canoe trip on day one is specifically timed to spot Amazon pink river dolphins, which are active in the waters around the lodge. Your guide will navigate to where they feed and surface.

What happens during the nighttime cayman expedition?

At 8:30 pm on day one, you return to the water by canoe to search for cayman. When one is spotted, your jungle guide will carefully remove it from the water so you can observe it up close and learn about the species before it's returned to the river unharmed.

Is the jungle trek on day two difficult, and what will I see?

The trek is a guided walk through the jungle starting at 5:30 am after sunrise viewing. Your guide teaches you about medicinal plants, insects, and native wildlife like monkeys. It's suitable for all fitness levels, though it begins very early in the morning.

How do I get back to Manaus on the final day?

On day three, after visiting a local riverside family and swimming in the river, you board a speedboat at 1 pm for the return to Manaus. Arrival at your hotel or the airport is expected around 4 pm, and pickup is included in the tour price.

What are the rooms like at Amazon Tapiri Floating Lodge?

Rooms are private, air-conditioned, and include a private bathroom and mosquito net. The lodge floats on the Rio Negro and serves as your base for all three nights, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided each day.