Brazil

For Theresa & Richard

January 2005.

Caribbean of the Amazon

Dear Theresa & Richard,

The French explorer, Jacques Cousteau, called this region the “Caribbean of the Amazon” thanks to its crystal clear rivers and white sandy beaches. The Tapajós region, in the state of Pará, is yet undiscovered by mass tourism and offers a remote destination for the adventurous traveler who wishes to explore the Amazon in style. This is the only region where the three kinds of Amazon eco-systems co-exist within a short distance from each other: 1) blue water rivers (Tapajós), 2) black/blue water rivers (Arapiuns), and 3) yellow water rivers (Jari and the Amazon).

Day 1: Santarém

Your guide for the journey, Ana, will meet you upon arrival in Brazil. Aboard the private 60-foot vessel Tupiau, begin your journey in Santarém, known as the Tapajós Pearl. Santarém is the first and best stage for seeing the meeting of the clear Tapajós with the muddy Amazon River.

Day 2: Tapajós National Forest

You will continue on into the 600,000 hectares which form the Tapajós National Forest and are home to 26 indigenous communities. The trees in the region reach an average of 30 to 50 meters and the castanheira, a nut tree, is sometimes larger.

Day 3: Jari Canal

Visit the Jari canal northwest of Santarém for bird watching, where the waters of the Amazon River flow into the Tapajós. Stretch your legs with a challenging but rewarding 45-minute hike up the Serra do Piroca—this spot offers fantastic views of the region, giving you a sense of what you have seen and what is to come.

Day 4: Alter do Cháo

Enjoy some of the most beautiful beaches in the region at Alter do Cháo. Here, clear waters and fine white sands have earned the region the nickname “Caribbean of the Amazon.” You will also be able to explore branches of the Amazon, the Maica and Tapar Lakes. Meandering along these narrower veins is the best way to immerse oneself in the Amazon and to spot several native species, such as pink dolphins and sloths. More than anywhere else, this is where you feel that you are treading where no man has been before. In fact, this feeling won’t be very far from the truth: the crystal Arapiuns river and its beach, Ponta Grande, are a well-kept secret.

Your treks in virgin jungle will allow close observation of the jungle’s flora and fauna, encounters with indigenous Amazonian peoples, and an understanding of the region’s challenges and the many projects for sustainable development that address them.

Day 6: Departure

Your time in the Amazon concludes today. You will leave reminded that there are still regions in the world that dwarf the individual—it is important to immerse oneself, from time to time, in such environments. You will carry with you the sights and sounds of the Brazilian jungle, as you continue on your life’s journey.

Theresa and Richard, it has been my pleasure to plan this itinerary for your Adventure in the Amazon. Please feel free to contact me at any time, should the need arise.