Traditional Amazon riverboat on the dark Rio Negro at sunset

River Expedition

Your Own Boat, Deep Into the Rio Negro

For travelers who want to go deeper, see more, and be on the move. A traditional riverboat with the comfort of the 21st century, slipping into side-channels the day tours never reach.

Plan My Trip See trip options

Duration

3 to 8 days

Start / End

Manaus

Lodging

Air-conditioned river suite

Physical level

Easy, on the move

Style

Private charter available

The Experience

Untouched rainforest, uncompromising comfort

Your journey pairs a traditional, colonial-style riverboat with the comfort of the 21st century. The shallow draft lets it slip into the narrowest side-channels, reaching forest that is still wild and untouched. On board you find air-conditioned suites and two viewing decks, with canoes carried along for excursions into the remotest corners.

Because you are always moving, you see more of the river than any single lodge can offer, the Anavilhanas Archipelago, dolphin waters, quiet igarapés, and communities far from the day-tour routes. For travelers who want the top tier, the same expedition can run as a fully private charter, your boat, your route, your pace, with a crew and naturalist dedicated to your group alone.

Trip options

Choose your reach, from a long weekend to a full expedition

Longer routes go further from Manaus and deeper into wild water. All can run as a private charter.

3 to 4 days

Rio Negro Escape

The classic taste of river life. Anavilhanas, a night safari, pink dolphins, and the Meeting of the Waters on the way back.

Anavilhanas
Night safari
Meeting of the Waters

Plan My Trip

5 to 6 days

Dolphin and Archipelago Voyage

More time on the water and further upriver. Longer stretches of untouched channel, more wildlife, and unhurried days on deck.

Deeper channels
More wildlife
Days on deck

Plan My Trip

8 days

Jaú Frontier Expedition

The full expedition toward the Jaú frontier, for travelers who want the wildest, most remote river Brazil can offer.

Remote frontier
Jaú route
Full expedition

Plan My Trip

Any length

Private Charter, Your Route

The top tier. The whole boat is yours, with a dedicated crew and naturalist. We design the route entirely around your group.

Private boat
Your route
Dedicated crew

Plan My Trip

Day-by-day

One example of a river expedition

One example, every trip is tailored.

Day 1
Embark in Manaus and first sail

Welcome at the port and embarkation in the early afternoon. As the boat slips onto the Rio Negro, a welcome drink on deck, your first sunset over the water, then an evening canoe trip into the still channels.
- Embarkation
- Sunset on deck
Day 2
Anavilhanas and night safari

Explore the Anavilhanas, the largest freshwater island archipelago on Earth, by canoe and on a guided walk. After dark, a night safari to spot caiman and the forest’s secret nocturnal life.
- Anavilhanas
- Jungle walk
- Night safari
Day 3
River dolphins and local life

A day of encounters. Try piranha fishing, visit a caboclo community for an honest glimpse of river life, then swim with the pink dolphins in the warm Amazon water.
- Piranha fishing
- Caboclo community
- Pink dolphins
Day 4 · Finale
The Meeting of the Waters and return

Witness the famous Meeting of the Waters, where the dark Rio Negro and pale Rio Solimões run side by side for kilometers without mixing. After a last look at the Janauari eco-park, return to Manaus around midday.
- Meeting of the Waters
- Janauari eco-park
- Return Manaus

What's included

Included on every expedition

Air-conditioned suites

Stylish suites with double or twin beds and individually controlled air conditioning.

Private bath, hot water

Every suite has its own bathroom with a warm shower, in the middle of the rainforest.

Two viewing decks

Wide panoramic views over the river, ideal for sunrise and sunset.

Naturalist guide

Experienced guides interpret the flora, fauna, and the life of the river peoples.

Full board and galley

All meals on board, freshly prepared, including regional specialities.

Canoes carried along

Canoes travel with the boat for excursions into the narrowest channels.

Gallery

Life aboard the expedition

Honest expectations

What life aboard is really like

A riverboat is intimate by design, cabins are cozy and days follow the river rather than a rigid clock. It is warm and humid, and some excursions mean climbing in and out of canoes. In exchange you wake somewhere new each morning, reach water most visitors never see, and trade a fixed base for the freedom of the whole river. For travelers who like to keep moving, nothing else compares.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the shared and private charter? +

On a private charter the entire boat, crew, and naturalist are yours, and we design the route around your group alone. It is the top-tier way to travel the river, ideal for families and small groups who want full flexibility.

How much time is spent on the boat versus off it? +

You sleep and dine aboard, and sail between areas, but the highlights happen off the boat by canoe and on foot. Expect a rhythm of excursions morning and evening, with time on deck in between.

Is it a smooth ride? +

The Rio Negro is calm black water, so it is a gentle experience rather than open-sea sailing. The boat moves slowly and steadily through the channels.

Which route is best for wildlife? +

Longer routes reach wilder, less-visited water and generally mean more wildlife. Season matters too, and we match the route and timing to what you most want to see.

Part of bigger trips