I didn’t want to believe it until living it. When I heard the word Amazonas, despite feeling a deep call to discover its mysteries, I thought about humidity, mosquitoes, and the need for a total disposition to face uncomfortable and perhaps unexpected situations for days and without rest..

Although I had a time in my life when I had given everything to live it, (and I did in other destinations, but I did not reach the mythical Amazon), now in my travels I like to know that I a good bath and a comfortable bed are waiting for me at the end of the day’s adventures.So when I learned that there was a luxury adventure in the Amazon, curiosity won over me and I had to see what it was about, since it was a dream yet to fulfill, getting to know planet’s lung, the most famous and longed for geographical center due to its enormous size and biodiversity.

A treasure hidden in the jungle

It all started in Manaus. Everything always starts in Manaus, the capital of the Brazilian Amazon. A mysterious and strategically located city in the middle of many kilometers of tropical jungle, which is also a cultural center and keeps its history in its architecture, its gastronomy, its people and basically in the air that you breath. I must confess that I did not expect to find so much cultural wealth in this city, but everything became clear to me after José, my personal guide, took me to visit its neighborhoods, the fish market, the Rio Negro and Justice Palace and the dazzling Theater Amazonas: yes, a great theater!

And, the welcome dinner in one of the best typical Amazonian food restaurants also helped impressing me as well as spending the night at Hotel Villa Amazonia; the jungle adventure had not yet begun, but the luxury had in the form of internal gardens with a natural stone pool, impeccable rooms with all the comforts and excellent service.

Private boat expedition

The next day we started the excursion in one of the luxury boats that sail along the Negro River towards the heart of the jungle. I was greeted by Bruno, captain of the ship, who introduced me to who would be my personal guide in this expedition, Zacharias. Among exotic fruit juices, ecology, nature and preservation lectures and a good dinner on board, we penetrate the forest and so does the night, which invites us to explore in canoes to feel the jungle, listen to its symphony and observe its nocturnal animals. I could see the red eyes of the alligators lit by our flashlights, we saw and heard lots of toads and I am sure that more than one snake slithered as we passed by.

First day of true adventure, and I could not wait for the next day to continue exploring with daylight and set foot on the ground for an intimate and personal encounter with the Amazon. So after dinner, with a smile on my face I retired to my cabin, a room with private bathroom, hot water and very comfortable, where I could rest wonderfully.

When I think of the following days that I stayed on the ship and navigated the river, an exotic mixture of colors, aromas and flavors comes to my mind. There were hikes in the jungle and encounters with plants, fruits, and many birds such as parrots and toucans. The Anavilhanas National Park was a strong point of the ride in terms of biodiversity, as it is one of the largest navigable freshwater archipelagos in the world with around 400 islands. In the rainy season, half of them submerge forming floating forests, a million inlets and canals giving refuge to a wide variety of birds, butterflies, iguanas, monkeys and reptiles, as well as the pink botos, piranhas and alligators that inhabit the waters. With the accompaniment and expertise of Zacharías, I was able to identify the different species, understand their habitat, their risks and the projects for their preservation.

I was very happy to have the opportunity to visit a native community. Here we talked with Benedita and Sergio, local family members who explained to me about health and education, and taught me the process and use of the versatile cassava flour, so characteristic of the entire Amazon region. I also celebrate having tasted a lot of fruits that I had never seen or imagined in my life, such as cupuaçu, taperabá, açaí, tucumán and pupunha. Gods’ delights! And if we speak of gods, I have to mention the Vitoria Regia, giant water lilies that make the landscape a true earthly paradise called Lake Janauary Ecological Park.

We close the boat expedition sailing towards the “Encontro das Aguas“, where the two largest rivers, the Negro and the Amazon, meet without mixing their waters for several kilometers. One more amazing phenomenon of this nature that embraces, imposes and reveals infinity of magical secrets that surpass the imagination.

In the air and on the ground

“I prepare myself for another experience without equal and I think about the experience so far. I evaluate if this has been a luxury adventure or an adventure luxury and I decide that it is both.”

Being able to live what I have lived so closely in the Amazon is really a luxury, and doing it this way, with privacy, excellent accommodation, gastronomy, care and professional accompaniment, is an added value for travelers like me. So, satisfied, I get on the hydroplane for the second part of this trip and the only thing I can hope for is more excitement and learning. Being able to have an aerial view of this ecosystem, getting out of it to understand its magnitude and the reason of its importance at a planetary level was another essential turning point in this experience.

There were two days left and this time the turn to shine was for the Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge. It was not a difficult task with its bungalows and wooden cabins built in the middle of lush forests, a pool overlooking the river and its islands, observation decks and in general the lodge offers perfect spaces to relax in the middle of a wonderful nature reserve. I was also warmly greeted by Mrs. Lúcia, who showed me every corner of the hotel and took me to my private cabin while she told me a little about the conservation projects of the natural park.

The afternoon I arrived at the lodge and the next days were incredible. An immersion deep in the Anavilhanas National Park, with Raúl, the expert guide who accompanied me in the canoe trips through the igarapés and through the walks in the forest to discover medicinal plants and survival techniques. We met the pink dolphins!

In addition to these adventures I took a river bath, I swam in the pool, I relaxed taking a caipirinha in the hotel lounge and had time to go to bed and read a good book.

At the end of the trip…

Humidity? Of course, it is what makes this ecosystem exactly what it is. Insects? less than what I imagined, especially in the lodge where the water PH does not favor their reproduction. Adventure? many transformative and memorable adventures. Luxury? I definitely had everything I needed to feel comfortable and calm during the course of this trip.

On the last day my private transfer took me to the airport to fly back home. I left satisfied, full of emotions and to my surprise, rested. If time permits, I will return with friends or invite my children on university vacations. I will do it now with absolute certainty that we will live an amazing Amazon adventure with luxury comfort, privacy, service and accompaniment in each of our steps.