A long and very demanding expedition with paddling, trekking and several nights in remote rainforest camps
This is Amazon Turtle Lodge’s most extensive expedition and is intended for fit travellers who already know they are comfortable with basic conditions and long days outdoors.
Participants paddle, trek between different habitats and help with camp, hammocks and parts of the daily logistics. The guide covers navigation, water, fire, food preparation and building shelter from locally available materials.
The supplier material contains some inconsistencies about the exact number of lodge and camp nights. This page follows the coherent itinerary, but the final overnight split and every stage must be reconfirmed in writing before sale.
Day 1
Leave Manaus in the morning and travel via the CEASA port, the Meeting of the Waters and Careiro to the Mamori area.
After arrival, have lunch and check the expedition equipment. The guide reviews kayaks, hammocks, mosquito nets, paddles and safety routines.
In the afternoon, make a first canoe outing focused on birds and river dolphins. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 2
After breakfast, leave the lodge by kayak and spend the day paddling through lakes and river sections with observation and rest stops.
Fishing may be included and meals are prepared at a simple riverside stop.
Set up the expedition’s first camp in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight in a hammock with mosquito net.
Day 3
Continue on foot after breakfast. The guide explains navigation and how water, edible resources and useful materials are identified.
Practical work around food preparation and camp may be included. Carried provisions and safety equipment remain the basis of the programme.
Continue walking in the afternoon and prepare camp before dark.
Day 4
Start early with birdwatching and trekking. The route may cross small waterways and wet terrain to reach the next river or camp area.
The guide chooses the route according to water level and group capacity, with additional attention to navigation and animal tracks.
Overnight in a rainforest camp.
Day 5
Continue by paddle canoe through smaller channels, looking for birds, monkeys, sloths and other animals along the forest edge.
Fishing and food preparation may form part of the day. After dark, take a shorter outing to listen for and search for nocturnal species.
Overnight in camp.
Day 6
Paddle through igarapés and, when water levels allow, flooded forest. The quiet mode of travel gives a close experience of the rainforest soundscape.
In the afternoon, fish for species such as tucunaré, piranha or catfish depending on area and season.
Dinner and overnight far from permanent settlements.
Day 7
Head out before breakfast in search of howler monkeys, capuchins, macaws and other species active at dawn.
The rest of the day is adapted with the guide according to weather, group energy and accessible areas, and may include more trekking, paddling, fishing or natural-history observation.
Overnight in the expedition’s final rainforest camp.
Day 8
After breakfast, begin the return towards the Amazon Turtle Lodge base area. Boat travel may include observation of pink and grey river dolphins.
On arrival, there is time for a shower, rest and a review of the expedition’s final days.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge or base camp according to the finally confirmed programme.
Day 9
When local conditions allow, visit manioc and rubber cultivation after breakfast. The guide explains the production of manioc flour and how latex is tapped and processed.
The afternoon is for rest or a short nature activity. Finish the expedition with dinner together at the lodge.
Overnight at Amazon Turtle Lodge.
Day 10
After breakfast, leave the lodge. Depending on the confirmed transfer, the return may depart in the morning or after lunch.
Drop-off is at your Manaus hotel or airport.
Camps consist of hammocks with mosquito nets beneath simple rain shelters and have no fixed hotel facilities. Participants help with practical camp tasks.
The number of camp nights is provisional and must be reconfirmed because the supplier’s inclusion text does not fully match the detailed itinerary.
The lodge is used for equipment checks, recovery and the end of the expedition. The exact overnight split must appear in the final confirmation.
Extremely demanding
This programme requires very good fitness, previous outdoor experience and the ability to cope with heat, humidity, rain, insects, basic hygiene and repeated hammock nights.
Participants carry personal equipment, paddle for several hours and walk on wet and uneven terrain. It is not suitable for significant mobility limitations or medical conditions that could become problematic far from care.
This is the most demanding Amazon Turtle programme and should be booked only after reviewing fitness, experience and expectations with SambaTravel.
The exact lodge/camp split must be reconfirmed in writing because the supplier source material is not fully consistent.
Routes and camps change according to water level, weather, group capacity and safety.
Comprehensive travel insurance explicitly covering trekking, paddling, rainforest camping and evacuation from remote areas is required.
Medical conditions, allergies and medication requirements must be disclosed before booking.
Luggage should be light and able to cope with moisture. Use a medium-sized backpack and pack clothing and electronics in separate waterproof bags. Cotton dries slowly in rainforest conditions; quick-drying synthetic fabrics are usually more practical.
Participants carry some of their own personal equipment and need closed, well broken-in walking shoes. The final equipment list and exactly what the operator supplies must be confirmed before departure.
We review fitness, outdoor experience, equipment and the final confirmed route before booking.