Half-Day Amazon Jungle Activity from Manaus: Dolphins & Piranhas

Swim with pink river dolphins and fish for piranhas in the flooded forest.

A half-day activity in the Amazon jungle near Manaus where you ride a motorized canoe through flooded forests, swim with wild pink river dolphins, fish for piranhas, and watch the sunset before searching for nocturnal wildlife and caimans after dark. The guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese, and pickup from your hotel is included. A moderate level of physical fitness is needed for the water activities and canoe work.

Step-by-step itinerary

Amazonian afternoon and evening activities

• Drive one hour west
• Take motorized canoe
• Swim with pink river dolphins
• Fish for piranhas
• Watch sunset
• Observe nocturnal fauna and flora
• Search for caymans at night
• Drive back to Manaus

The experience

You'll drive about an hour west from Manaus to reach the canoe launch point, then spend the afternoon and evening on the water and in the jungle. The motorized canoe takes you through the flooded forests (seasonal water levels mean the forest floor becomes navigable waterway), where you'll stop to fish for piranhas using hand lines, then slip into the river to swim alongside the pink river dolphins that live wild here. The water is warm and the dolphins are accustomed to swimmers, though the encounter depends on where they're feeding that day.

As daylight fades, you'll watch the sunset from the canoe before the guide switches to searching for nocturnal activity. Caimans, tree frogs, and night birds become visible with a flashlight once the forest goes dark. The sky can fill with stars depending on cloud cover and the moon phase. You'll return to the canoe and head back to Manaus by car, arriving after dark.

Bottled water is provided throughout the activity. You'll need to be comfortable in the water and able to move in and out of a canoe. Infants must sit on an adult's lap during the drive and boat portions. The full outing runs about seven hours from pickup to return.

What’s included

• Motorized canoe through the flooded forests.
• swimming with wild pink river dolphins.
• piranha fishing with hand lines.
• sunset viewing.
• nocturnal wildlife and caiman search.
• bottled water.
• hotel pickup and return drive to Manaus.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 13:00

Book up to12h before

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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 levelPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Amazon Private Tours by Milton Fernandes

Is this one for you?This activity puts you in the water doing the swimming and fishing yourself rather than watching from the boat, so it suits travelers who want hands-on contact with the jungle and its wildlife. The seven-hour span, afternoon into evening, means you catch both the sunset and the nocturnal forest, but it requires a moderate fitness level and comfort in the river.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can I really swim with the pink river dolphins, or do I just watch them from the canoe?

You enter the water to swim alongside them. The dolphins are wild and free-living in the Amazon, so encounters happen where they're feeding. The guide positions the canoe and you swim in the river with them rather than observing from the boat.

What's the water temperature like, and how long do you spend swimming?

The Amazon river water is warm year-round. The guide stops at multiple points during the afternoon to swim with dolphins and fish for piranhas, so you'll be in the water several times across the outing, not in one long session.

Do I need to bring my own fishing rod to catch piranhas?

No. Hand lines are provided for piranha fishing. You don't need your own equipment or prior fishing experience.

What happens if it's cloudy at sunset or the stars don't show up?

The sunset is part of the activity regardless of cloud cover, though visibility varies. Stars depend on the moon phase and weather. The guide searches for nocturnal wildlife and caimans after dark whether or not the sky is clear.

How far is the drive from Manaus, and what time does the activity start?

The drive to the canoe launch is about one hour west of Manaus. Hotel pickup is included. Your guide will confirm the exact departure time when you book.