Amazon & Atlantic

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Caracas

Arrive in Caracas at anytime. There are no planned activities, so check into our hotel and enjoy the city.This overland journey through the lesser-known areas of South America is an adventure of extremes, including the world’s highest waterfall, the largest rainforest, the fantastic beaches of Brazil’s coastline, and the world’s longest river. Venezuela and Brazil represent South America’s vast northeast and are filled with natural wonders. If you are ready for the excitement of adventurous travel through remote areas then you will be rewarded with spectacular scenery and a familiarity with the ways of life of Eastern South America that few travellers ever experience! Contemporary Venezuela has been strongly influenced by oil money, which has turned the country into one of the wealthiest nations in South America. As a result, Venezuela has a good road network, spectacular new architecture and a developed tourism infrastructure. Yet deep in the countryside, people still live traditional lives. A number of Indian groups remain unconquered by encroaching civilization, including the mysterious Yanomami along the Venezuelan-Brazil border, whose Stone-Age culture seems lost in time.Venezuela’s capital Caracas grew at a relatively slow pace for most of its history. Then came the oil boom, and everything began to change at the speed of light. During the last 50 years, the city’s population grew from about 350,000 to nearly five million. The oil money being pumped into the economy has successfully transformed Caracas into a modern city. Due to the dramatic contrasts between wealth and poverty, however, one should not carry any valuables while exploring the city. Also, only official taxis should be taken from the airport.Caracas is set in a spectacular valley amid rolling hills. Its relative altitude of 900m (2952 feet) gives the city an agreeable, relatively dry and sunny climate with a mean temperature of about 22C (72F).

Day 2-10 Mochima / Canaima National Park / Sta Elena

From Caracas travel east towards Puerto La Cruz to enjoy the beautiful Caribbean beaches and snorkelling of Mochima National Park, made up of many small, idyllic Caribbean Islands just off the north coast of Venezuela. The islands and their surrounding waters offer excellent opportunities for snorkelling and swimming, or take a boat cruise to further explore this beautiful region of the Caribbean.Head south to Ciudad Bolivar, from where we can take an optional excursion into Canaima National Park. From here, enjoy an optional flight over Angel Falls, within the boundaries of the spectacular park and, at 979m, the highest waterfall in the world. In the wet season (July to December), an optional three-day boat and hiking excursion to the foot of the falls is possible. In the dry season (December to May), the waterfall is more readily seen, although it is not possible to take a boat in to the base of the falls.Next wander through Venezuela's famous La Gran Sabana, filled with scenic views and waterfalls. La Gran Sabana is a vast, rolling, grassy region in southeast Venezuela. The Sabana covers 35 000 square km, and is the traditional homeland area for the Pemón people. This area was isolated from the rest of the country until the road connecting El Dorado and Santa Elena (320 km) was finished in 1990. The area’s table mountains (tepuis) are all that remains of the original sandstone that covered the region millions of years ago. Each mountain has developed its own characteristic plant life, and consequently the area has highest percentage of endemic flora to be found in the world...

Day 11-15 Manaus / Amazonas

Entering the vast Amazon Basin, we arrive in Manaus. Situated at the confluence of the Amazon and Negro Rivers, 3° south of the Equator, Manaus is a bustling port and important northern Amazon trading city. With a population of over one million people, it is the capital of Brazil’s largest state, Amazonas, and has many interesting markets, museums and parks. In 1669 Portuguese colonizers built the fortress of Sao José de Barra here and named the place ‘Manaus’ after the indigenous group that inhabited the region. The fort grew to become a village, and later a major city, due to its importance as the principal port for the Amazon and Negro rivers. Points of interest in Manaus include the Mercado Municipal, the floating docks, the customs house, the Museum of Science, the Jungle Park and the opera house, an impressive example of the city’s opulent past. A 3-day optional excursion into the depths of the rainforest promises unique tropical flora and wildlife.

Day 16-20 Pará (Amazon River) (4B,3L,3D)

A 4-day river trip takes us from the depths of the Amazon, and the city of Belém near the Amazon Delta, to Atlantic Ocean. Cruise the river that carries 20 per cent of the world’s fresh water.Belém sits near the mouth of the Amazon, where this mighty river meets the Atlantic Ocean. The Portuguese first settled this area in 1616, and its wealth was primarily derived from the exportation of spices from the Amazon forest to Portugal and Europe. Later, rubber from the forest led to the further decimation of the local indigenous populations as well as their forest homelands. The tremendous wealth of the Amazon rubber boom can be witnessed in the town’s grand mansions, built at the turn of the 19th century. The Amazon Basin is the world’s largest river basin in terms of volume and drainage area. It is made up of six million square km of river and jungle. The region contains the world’s largest tropical rainforest (30% of the remaining forest on the earth), the world’s largest river, and perhaps the greatest wildlife diversity to be found anywhere. In the Amazon layers of exotic vegetation block the sky, and brown waters sweep beneath gargantuan foliage. Hundreds of species of exotic birds and equally brilliant butterflies provide constant bursts of colour. Over 500 species of trees per acre have been recorded in the jungles of the upper Amazon—ten times greater than Europe or North America. The area is home to more than 4,000 species of birds, 2,000 species of fish (a greater variety than the Atlantic Ocean), 60 species of reptiles, including the caiman and anaconda, the world's largest non-venomous snake, and a great variety of mammals such as jaguar, peccary, anteater, tapir, capybara and Pink Dolphin. The rainforest is also the traditional home of many indigenous communities, whose traditional homelands and way of life are threatened by the encroachment of 21st century industries such as mining, agribusiness and petroleum exploitation. The Amazon River is magnificent, with over 80 000 km of navigable waterways, including over 1000 tributaries. 12 billion litres of fresh water flow down the river every minute—12 times the volume of the Mississippi River. The river itself is 6275 km long, 64 km across at its widest point and 120 m at its deepest. The distance between Belem and Manaus along the Amazon is 1500 km.In the 16th century, Spanish conqueror Francisco de Orellana ventured from Quito (in modern day Ecuador) into the eastern jungle in search of El Dorado, a mythical stash of gold hidden away in the jungle. While he didn't find gold, he did discover Ecuador's Rio Napo, which along with Peru’s Marañón combine to create the mighty Amazon River. He followed the Napo into the Amazon mainstream and travelled all the way through the dense jungle to the Atlantic Ocean on Brazil’s coast.

Day 21-32 Maranhão / Piaui / Ceará

The state of Ceará boasts over 500 km of fabulous beaches along its coastline. Travel to São Luis, a historic city covered in hand-painted Portuguese tiles, drive through the drought-plagued sertao, and enjoy the laid back lifestyle and the unique folklore of the local people. A boat trip through the beautiful Parnaiba Delta—the only delta to open to the Atlantic Ocean—offers the chance to visits one of the biggest mangroves in the world, home to equally big mangrove crabs.Travel south along the Brazilian coastline, through small fishing villages and beach towns. Pass through secluded oases, mangrove clad rivers, and beautiful remote beaches piled with giant sand dunes. This is a stunning part of Brazil that few visitors have the opportunity to see. In Jericoacoara you can hire a horse to ride along the desolate beaches as far as the eye can see, go for a ride in a jangada, or climb the sand dunes and try sandboarding. For those with energy left at the end of the day, the nights are yours to dance away to forró and reggae.

Day 33-38 Pernambuco / Bahía

Continue south, stopping in for some rest and relaxation at one of the area’s superb beaches such as Praia da Pipa - great for dolphin spotting. Visit the city of Olinda, a beautiful enclave of colonial buildings filled with artists, students and assorted bohemians. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Olinda is the cultural centre of the state of Pernambuco. Discover the city’s interesting architecture, visit art galleries and museums and listen to the street musicians. There is often the opportunity to watch Capoeira a dance-like martial art native to the area.

Day 39-40 Salvador

Travel south to the state of Bahía and its capital Salvador, the epicentre of Afro-Brazilian culture. Famous for its music, folklore and colonial architecture, Brazilians refer to the country’s first capital as the “land of happiness and song.” Salvador’s history and culture are heavily influenced by African slaves, brought here by the Portuguese to work on the sugar plantations. Their traditions, dances and religion are as prominent in Salvador’s culture today as it has been in Bahía’s history. Founded in 1549, Amerigo Vespucci first sailed into Salvador de Bahía’s Bay of Todos Santos (All Saints) on the November 1, 1501. A walled mud-brick city was soon erected to protect its inhabitants from native attacks. The production of sugar cane and tobacco, combined with gold and diamond mining, soon brought prosperity; over the next three centuries many splendid churches and luxurious colonial mansions were built. Salvador was for many years the second most important city in the growing Portuguese empire, famous equally for its wealth and its licentiousness. The first African slaves were taken to Bahía in the late 1830s, eventually accounting for half the city’s population. There were several slave uprisings throughout the city’s history, and run-away slave communities were not unheard of. Early in the 19th century the Bahía’s out of date, agricultural-based economy went into decline, and only recently has the region begun to tap into other resource areas such as petrochemicals and tourism. Home to many hungry and marginalized citizens, the city is also well known for its hybrid Candomble religion, and lively capoeira rhythms. Growing in popularity are the nearby beaches: more beautiful and less frequented than Rio’s Copacabana or Ipanema, Bahia’s Pituba, Piata, Armacao, Placaford and Itapoa beaches are ideal places to people watch, sunbathe and relax. Bahíans have been mixing and celebrating religious occasions with an everyday zest for life for nearly 500 years. Bahíans love to celebrate life, which shows in their festivals, especially Carnival. Explore the city and enjoy the Samba rhythms or take an optional excursion to a sea turtle sanctuary or boat trip to Itaparica Island. A short flight takes us to Rio.

Day 41 Rio de Janeiro

Arrive in Rio - enjoy the city and one last night out on the town."God made the world in six days, the seventh he devoted to Rio," so say the Cariocas, residents of this beautiful city. This is a densely packed city of over 9 million inhabitants, whose economic foundations lie in the cultivation of sugar cane and gold mining. Referred to as the “cidade maravilhosa” (Marvellous City), few cities enjoy such a dramatic setting as Rio. Brilliant, white beaches at Copacabana and Ipanema, deep blue waters of the Atlantic, the luminescent green of Guanabara Bay, the bare blue slopes of the Sugar Loaf combine to make Rio unique. Standing over it all, atop Corcovado, is the huge statue of Christ the Redeemer, the best place from which to appreciate the city. Superb panoramic views of the city and area can also be found from the top of the Pao do Açucar (Sugar Loaf), reached by cable car. Head to some of the famous beaches, and prepare yourself for an experience unlike anything else on Earth.Although the Portuguese first sailed and entered the bay, it was the French who first established a settlement in the area, logging Brazil wood along the coast. Their first permanent settlement lasted a brief five years, when they were attacked and driven from the area by the encroaching Portuguese. A series of skirmishes ensued, with the Tomaio people allied with the French against the Portuguese. In 1567 the Portuguese began construction of a fortified town to repel any invaders, naming it Sao Sebastiao do Rio de Janeiro. Amassing wealth with the gold rush of Minas Gerais, in the early 18th century Rio became Brazil’s most important city and a great temptation to the French who, in 1710, waged war against the Portuguese and held the city for a sizeable gold ransom. Again in the 19th century, under threat of Napoleon’s invasion, what remained of the Portuguese monarchy fled to Brazil where they set up court in grand style; many of today’s older structures date from this period. The gold rush was followed by a coffee boom in the mid-1800s and the wealth generated led to the city’s initial modernization. Replacing Salvador de Bahía as the colonial capital in 1763, the city remained the capital until 1960, when it was replaced by Brasilia. Today, the city is a magnet for tourists who come to walk the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana, and generally partake in the Carioca zest for life. Many ascend the Sugarloaf Mountain (Pao do Açucar), whose image is nearly synonymous with Rio and Carnival. Modern Rio is perhaps best known for the contrasting images offered by the favelhas (shanty towns), and the glitz and glamour preferred by the Samba schools and their Carnival celebrations.

Trip Details

Accommodation	Simple hotels (31 nts), riverboat (4 nts), buses (6 nts). Note: Accommodation can be quite basic / multi-share at times.
Combination	This trip is a component of our Great South American Journey - see code JCF.
Departure	Departures vary
Group Size	Max 15, Avg 10
Included Highlights	4 to 5-day river trip along the Amazon, 1 day 4-wheel drive excursion on the Gran Sabana, Boat through the Paranaiba Delta, Several 4-wheel drive transfers through remote northeastern Brazil
Local Payment	USD400
Meals Included	All meals while on Amazon River Boat.
Recommendation	The Amazon & Atlantic tour is a component of our Great South American Journey JEV.
Reverse Itinerary	This trip also runs in reverse - see trip code JAR.
StartFinish	Caracas to Rio de Janeiro
Testimonial	"The trip was exceptionally good. Both Venezuela and Brazil are beautiful countries and have such a wonderful vibe about them. G.A.P Adventures chose the most amazing places to visit; places I would have never of thought of going." - James Slater travelled on Amazon & Atlantic
Transport	Public bus, 4x4, Amazon River boat, walking, internal flight.
Brochure Intro	An epic 42-day exploration of lesser-known areas of Brazil and Venezuela that few travellers will ever experience. From Afro-Brazilian Bahia to the mighty Amazon and the world's tallest waterfall, visit the legendary steamy side of South America on a jungle adventure straight out of a movie.

When can I go?

Start Date	Finish Date	Places Available
2008-09-30	2008-11-10	7+
2008-10-23	2008-12-03	7+
2008-11-27	2009-01-07	7+
2009-01-10	2009-02-20	7+
2009-02-12	2009-03-25	7+
2009-03-19	2009-04-29	7+
2009-05-29	2009-07-09	7+
2009-06-09	2009-07-20	7+
2009-07-07	2009-08-17	7+
2009-08-10	2009-09-20	7+
2009-09-21	2009-11-01	7+
2009-11-01	2009-12-12	7+
2009-11-29	2010-01-09	7+

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