Whilst in Manaus, Brazil we couldn’t miss the chance to visit the Amazon Rainforest. We have just got back from a 3 day and 2 night tour and it was absolutely incredible. What I write and the pictures I will show will not do it justice, you have to visit yourself to really appreciate it.
We had received an itinerary before we left and were very excited by it. Though the schedule didn’t run to plan (don’t expect anything to in Brazil), everything we did was a completely new and amazing experience.
Day 1
After a bus, boat, bus and another boat we arrived at our little village in the Amazon rainforest with lunch ready waiting for us. After a buffet lunch of rice, beans, fish, chicken, salad and lots of fruit (one of many to come!) we were given our rooms. Basic accommodation but surprisingly insect free and the mosquito net kept the damn mossies out.
The afternoons activity was Piranha fishing and pink river dolphin spotting. We unfortunately didn’t see any river dolphins so carried on to do some fishing! Within 5 minutes of setting off a thunderstorm started and I have literally never seen rain like it, let alone sit through it. We thought it might be time to head back but we carried on and I’m so glad we did. It never actually stopped raining for the few hours we were on the boat. After a while a guy in our boat caught a Piranha and then not too much longer I caught one too! Mine was just a little one so we let it back in. The competitive side in Kyle obviously came out then and he caught one too. A much bigger one that we would later eat for tea! Up close GoPro videos to come, once I’ve figured how to upload them!
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- Before
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- After
Despite being p*ss wet through and very cold it was such a good experience. Catching Piranha in the Amazon river – tick!
After a tea of more rice, beans and chicken (which was amazing by the way) it was time for a bit of nigh time alligator spotting! It was pretty scary to be on a pretty flimsy boat in the dark not knowing how close the alligators were. One got pretty close to the boat but was luckily swimming in the other direction. The local guys have an incredible eyesight for spotting them in the distance. The guide stopped and pulled out this little guy…
I don’t have a photo of me holding it, as it started to wriggle, I panicked and dropped the baby gator onto the boat right in front of another couple and about 8 other people whoops! We did find it again and put it back in the water. After that I didn’t hold the next two bigger gators in fear of everyone’s safety! They were much bigger…
Day 2
We got up at about 5.30 to see the sunrise which was amazing. No more words needed… These photos speak for themselves.
After breakfast (which didn’t include rice woo) we headed into the jungle for a hike. It was pretty cool to go deep into the jungle, but it was so hot. 33 degree heat + 90% humidity + a 2 hour hike whilst getting bitten to death isn’t a great mix, but was a great experience.
In the afternoon it was the start of the World Cup with Brazil playing their first game. In a pre match game the English took on the Brazilian locals… I think we all know how that ended! Kyle scored a brilliant back heeled goal… Shame it was in the wrong net!
The guides told us there would be a TV for us all to watch it on…there still wasn’t one there half an hour before kick off but in true laid back Brazilian fashion they had everything under control and a big plasma TV was delivered from a speed boat a few minutes before kick off! So we watched the game at the lodge with all the Brazilian locals…another experience we won’t forget!
Day 3
We had one last activity before heading back to Manaus in the afternoon. We had a choice of either Pirhana fishing again or to go paddling on the canoes into the jungle. We choose the latter. The boys who went fishing ended up spotting pink river dolphins and went swimming with them, we were pretty gutted about that until we heard the had to quickly get out as there was an alligator lurking around them!
The paddling through the jungle was great, though a bit sketchy going through some very close trees and plants and then getting lost (not that the guides admitted it!) we spotted a couple of monkeys high up in the trees and luckily didn’t bump into any gators or snakes on the way through. We did get eaten alive by all sorts of insects… I have 30 bites just on one leg!
After dinner it was back to Manaus via boat, bus, boat and bus again (I’ll never complain about my commutes to work again!).
An incredible experience that I’d recommend to anyone. Not bad for a bit of time killing before the England games anyway!
Our Big Fat North America Travel Adventure! 