This 14-day Amazon Rainforest itinerary has all the pieces for a well-rounded, adventurous, and unforgettable trip to the Amazon. While it is packed with activities and fun, there are also moments of peace and relaxation.
With this itinerary in hand, you don’t need to spend hours researching a location the size of two Indias that is spread across eight countries.
I created and followed this precise itinerary for an unforgettable trip to the Amazon in 2024 and now I am sharing it with you!
Following this itinerary, travelers will start in the largest city in the Amazon – Manaus, stay in a remote river lodge, spend a couple of days traveling 450 miles down the Amazon River on a ferry, swim in the clear blue waters of the Tapajós River in Alter do Chão, and experience the culture and cuisine of northern Brazil in Belém – the best city in the Amazon.
At the end, I include a packing list, my favorite books about the Amazon, and discuss the best time of year to visit the Amazon in Brazil – an important aspect of your trip planning.
Amazon Rainforest Itinerary
14 days & 13 nights
___________
DAYS 1-2: Manaus | 1 night
DAYS 2-5: Dolphin Lodge on the Moramí River | 3 nights
DAYS 5-6: Manaus | 1 night
DAYS 6-7: Amazon River Ferry from Manaus to Santarém | 1 night
DAYS 7-12: Alter do Chão | 5 nights
DAYS 12-14: Belém | 2 nights
DAY 1: Manaus, Brazil
Your 2-week Ultimate Amazon adventure begins in Manaus, Brazil. Manaus is the largest city in northern Brazil and serves as the gateway to the Amazon – for both tourism and industry.
Following this, Itinerary, you won’t be in Manaus long. Think of the city as the launching point for your trip.
Arriving to Manaus
The Manaus International Airport has direct flights between many major cities in Brazil like São Paulo*, Recife*, Belém*, Belo Horizonte, Brasília*, and Fortaleza.
*Direct flights between these Brazilian cities and the US.
Fort Lauderdale and Miami airports are the best option for direct flights from the US to Manaus.
Where to stay in Manaus
I suggest staying in the historic city center or the Adrianópolis neighborhood in Manaus.
Hotels in Manaus’ city center:
*We chose to stay at the charming and very affordable Seringal Hotel. The Seringal Hotel is a no-frills type of place but serves a great hot breakfast and is conveniently located near many of Manuas’ historic sights.
In the newer Adrianópolis neighborhood, check out hotels like Mercure Manaus, Blue Tree Premium Manaus, and Intercity Manaus.
What to do in Manaus
If your flight arrives early enough, check in to your hotel and head to one of these main sites in Manaus:
- See a show or tour the Teatro Amazonas
- Visit the Museum of the Amazon
- With more time, explore the Presidente Figueiredo’s waterfalls just outside of Manaus
Where to eat in Manaus:
I recommend one of the following restaurants for authentic Amazon cuisine for dinner on your first night. They are spread across the historic city center and Adrianópolis neighborhoods.
- Restaurante Banzeiro Manaus
- Tambaqui de Banda
- Restaurante Caxiri Manaus
- Bistro Fitz Carraldo (in the Villa Amazonia)
- Choupana Cozinha Regional
- Moquém do Banzeiro (in the Manauara Shopping Center)
If you’re traveling with a big group who want options, the Manauara Shopping Center has several restaurants and a food court.
DAYS 2-5: Dolphin Lodge
For travelers looking for an immersive experience as part of their Brazilian Amazon itinerary, I highly recommend the all-inclusive Dolphin Lodge.
Four hours away from urban Manaus, the Dolphin Lodge is a remote yet comfortable accommodation that offers daily, educational tours in the Amazon.
On the morning of DAY 2, the Dolphin Lodge will pick you up from your hotel in Manaus. From here you travel 3 hours by van, boat, van, and boat again, to reach the lodge on the peaceful Moramí River.
What to expect at the Dolphin Lodge
The Dolphin Lodge describes itself as a “rustic and eco-friendly hotel.”
Guests feel they are staying in an isolated area of the Amazon Rainforest but can access modern services like wifi, delicious hot meals, refreshing caipirinhas and cold beer, and comfortable beds.
The lodge has fantastic value.
While it isn’t the fanciest in the Amazon, the package rates are affordable considering the quality of amenities, meals, and structured tours.
The Dolphin Lodge does a wonderful job organizing daily excursions and activities for its guests.
There is always a morning (8 am to 11:30 am) and afternoon (3 pm to 6 pm) excursion. What each excursion entails depends on the package you buy. The package you buy depends on the number of nights you stay at the Dolphin Lodge.
This 14-day Amazon Itinerary calls for 4 days, and 3 nights at the Dolphin Lodge. This is the lodge’s Tucunaré Package. As part of this package, you can participate in over 10 guided excursions across the 4-day stay.
Guided excursions at the Dolphin Lodge
My favorite excursions at the Dolphin Lodge include hiking through the rainforest and learning about all the incredible plants, trees, and animals, swimming in Lake Juma, seeing first-hand how rubber used to be tapped from trees and heated into a usable material, hugging the enormous Kapok trees, and seeing the sun rise and set over the Moramí River.
There is also plenty of time for relaxing by the Moramí River and the Dolphin Lodge’s natural pool or shaded hammock area.
For more information about what you can expect at the Dolphin Lodge including specific details about the amenities, meals, rooms, and tours, check out my blog post – How to Visit the Brazilian Amazon: 4 Nights in the Jungle at the Dolphin Lodge.
DAYS 5-6: Manaus, Brazil
On DAY 5, you wrap up your stay at the Dolphin Lodge and return to Manaus.
The Dolphin Lodge is flexible with return times so you can either leave first thing in the morning or squeeze in one more excursion before saying goodbye.
Following this specific itinerary, you have time for a morning tour and lunch at the lodge and return to Manaus by late afternoon.
Back in Manaus, stay in the same hotel from Night 1 or mix it up and choose a different one. For dinner, revisit this list of authentic Amazon cuisine in Manaus:
- Restaurante Banzeiro Manaus
- Tambaqui de Banda
- Restaurante Caxiri Manaus
- Bistro Fitz Carraldo (in the Villa Amazonia)
- Choupana Cozinha Regional
- Moquém do Banzeiro (in the Manauara Shopping Center)
Prepare for your Amazon River Ferry
DAY 6 starts early so use the rest of DAY 5 to prepare for the 31-hour journey on the Amazon River Ferry. I recommend buying snacks at a local market to help supplement the food on the ferry.
If you need to shorten this itinerary, this is the spot. I recommend skipping night 5 in Manaus along with night 6 on the Amazon River Ferry.
Instead, on DAY 5 you will fly from Manaus to Santarém and transfer to Alter do Chão for the next segment of the 14-day Amazon Itinerary.
DAYS 6-7: Amazon River Ferry
Get ready for an adventure with a sprinkle of chaos and a lot of hammock time as you cruise the Amazon River aboard a river ferry.
Traveling on an Amazon River ferry from Manaus to Santarém is a unique experience.
It is 31 hours of slow boat travel on the world’s 2nd longest river and along its largest rainforest. But it is not for the weary traveler.
There are close to zero luxuries afforded on the Amazon River ferry. Passengers sleep in hammocks on deck and there is little personal space between them.
However, if you have the time and interest, traveling 450 miles down the Amazon River is a memorable experience during your time in Brazil.
What to expect taking the ferry
Tickets cost around R$200 and should be purchased online in advance.
The ferry departs from Manaus to Santarém on specific days of the week. Therefore you will want to pay close attention to departure dates and plan the other parts of the itinerary around this date if taking the ferry is something you definitely want to do.
The primary sleep arrangement on the ferry is a hammock but they are not provided by the ferry. Travelers should pack a small camping hammock or buy a traditional woven hammock in Manaus at the port.
Many of the Amazon River ferries have small cabins for rent if you don’t want to sleep in a hammock but these cost substantially more.
A small cafeteria serves three meals daily and a top deck snack bar that sells chips, candy, sandwiches, soda, water, and beer. You are strongly encouraged to bring heavy snacks to help supplement the food options onboard.
Typically the ferry will depart Manaus around 10 am and arrive by 6 pm the next day to Santarém’s port. It is a 40-minute taxi ride from the port to the small town of Alter do Chão, Pará.
I detail our entire experience, from buying tickets to arriving at the port, finding a good hammock spot, and everything else to expect on the Amazon River Ferry in my article – How to Travel from Manaus to Santarém: 31 Hours on the Amazon River Ferry.
DAYS 7-12: Alter do Chão, Brazil
Alter do Chão is one of my favorite places in Brazil. Its clear river waters, white sandy beaches, and tropical rainforests combine to create the perfect balance of relaxation and adventure during a visit to the Brazilian Amazon.
Once coined the “Caribbean of the Amazon” and voted the best beach in Brazil, Alter do Chão is the Amazon’s little slice of paradise.
This itinerary calls for 6 days and 5 nights in Alter do Chão. However, only 4 of the 6 days are “full days”, where you can do boat tours and visit the most beautiful river beaches and rainforests.
What to do in Alter do Chão
The most popular activity in Alter do Chão is boat tours that explore hidden gems along the Tapajós River.
The best day tour is a visit to the Tapajós National Forest (FLONA). During this tour, visitors immerse themselves in the Amazon rainforest, learn about its different plants and species, meet members of local Indigenous communities, and swim in the mesmerizing waters of an igarapé.
Other popular activities to do in Alter do Chão:
- Visiting the best Tapajós River beaches in Alter do Chão
- Hiking to Serra da Piraoca for panoramic views of Alter do Chão
- Visiting the Jari Canal (Canal do Jari) and the Sloth Trail (Trilha das Preguiças)
- Spending the day at Alter do Chão’s postcard – Love Island (Ilha do Amor)
- Visiting the Enchanted Forest
Scheduling tours in Alter do Chão
Before you arrive, work with a local tour company like Selvagem Tours or Serenature to schedule tours.
The boat tours are typically all day, departing at 9 am and returning to Alter do Chão after sunset. So you can only do 1 tour per day, and only on your “full days” in Alter do Chão.
To help with planning your day-to-day time in Alter do Chão, see my article 10 Amazing Things to do in Alter do Chão.
To help with planning your day-to-day time in Alter do Chão, see my article 10 Amazing Things to do in Alter do Chão.
Where to Stay in Alter do Chão
My #1 hotel recommendation in Alter do Chão is Casa Saimiri.
Casa Saimiri is the most inviting, comfortable, and loveliest pousada in Alter do Chão. After 31 hours on the Amazon River Ferry, the rooms and beds at Casa Samiri feel like heaven.
Alter do Chão’s urban area is small. Most hotels or pousadas are within walking town’s main square or praça.
Lodging options range from inexpensive, basic hotels to boutique, treehouse-style hotels. The latter is usually further from the town center.
Other hotels to check out in Alter do Chão:
Where to eat in Alter do Chão
Alter do Chão’s cuisine is sometimes called “Tapajônica” – a fusion of Amazonic and Paraense (from Pará). It uses methods, ingredients, and traditions derived from the Tapajós River region.
The best restaurant in Alter do Chão is Casa do Saulo. It is often included as a lunch stop during boat tours.
At Casa do Saulo I recommend the Tucunaré (Peacock Bass) or Tambaqui fish, Caboco breaded shrimp, pastels (a pastel is like an empanada) local Marajó cheese, braised duck with Tucupi and Jambu, and to drink, a Cupuaçu Moscow mule.
More restaurants to try in Alter do Chão:
Traveling from Santarém to Belém
The closest airport to Alter do Chão is in Santarém.
Leaving Santarém, schedule a direct flight for Belém that leaves first thing in the morning. When booking for the airlines, Azul and Gol. They offer direct flights daily at the best times.
Check out my ultimate travel guide to Alter do Chão for more of the best tips while visiting the Amazon’s paradise.
DAYS 12-14: Belém, Brazil
Arrive bright and early on DAY 12 to the last city on this Amazon Itinerary – Belém.
Belém is unassumingly the best city in the Brazilian Amazon. At least in my opinion! It has a different vibe than most cities in Brazil. The city’s identity is tied tightly to the Guamá River, the Bay of Guajará, and the surrounding estuaries.
With centuries-old markets and churches, a grand theater, art and natural history museums, tropical river islands, and unique cuisine, Belém has much to offer the open-minded, adventurous traveler.
This itinerary calls for 3 days and 2 nights in Belém.
To make the most of your short time here, I recommend taking an early flight from Santarém on DAY 12 and booking a late flight on DAY 14.
How to spend your days in Belém
Day 1 in Belém:
Arrive in the morning and cab to your hotel to drop your bags.
From the hotel, cab to the Old City and work your way north starting at Mangal das Garças to Castle Fort, Casa das Onze Janelas Cultural Space, Metropolitan Cathedral of Belém, Museum of Art of Belém, the markets including Ver-O-Peso, and wrap the day up at Estação das Docas.
Day 2 in Belém:
Do an all-day tour of Combú Island or take the ferry to Cotijuba Island for a beach day.
Day 3 in Belém:
Before you bid farewell to the Amazon, tour or visit Theatro da Paz, check out the Emilio Goeldi Museum of Pará and Zoological Park or Bosque Rodrigues Alves – Amazon Zoo Botanical Garden, and visit Belém’s other famous church – Basilica of Our Lady of Nazareth.
For more ideas and information on what to do and see in Belém, see – Belém, Brazil: The best 10 things to do and see.
Where to stay in Belém
Belém is a sprawling city. I recommend travelers stay in the Nazaré or Umarizal neighborhoods.
Good hotel options here include:
- Ôvibe Party Hostel & Arts – Great restaurant and clothing store attached
- Radisson Hotel Belém – Extremely comfortable hotel with a large breakfast buffet
- Mercure Belém Boulevard
Where to eat in Belém
The food in Belém is delicious but should be approached with an open mind as it is quite different from most food in Brazil.
The most popular dishes lean on the region’s European and Indigenous origins while showcasing the unique and bold flavors sourced from the Amazon.
The City of Belém has a helpful webpage with English descriptions and images featuring the most popular plates and ingredients you encounter on menus in Belém.
The state of Pará is one of the only places in Brazil where you find foods like duck in Tucupi, Maniçoba, and Tacacá.
Suggested restaurants:
Looking for more information about visiting Belém? Check out my detailed city guide and the 10 best things to do in Belém.
Where to go from Belém
Belém is the last stop on this 14-day Brazilian Amazon Itinerary. But there is still SO much to see in Northern Brazil!
If you have more time, continue east towards the cities of São Luis, Lençois Maranhenses, Parníaba, or Jericoacoara along Brazil’s rugged, northern coast.
Here you will find endlessly mesmerizing sand dunes, scarlet red herons that put on a show every sunset, enticing freshwater blue lagoons, the best wind and kite surfing conditions in Brazil, and charming towns.
What else to know about planning a trip to the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil
Best time of the year to visit the Brazilian Amazon
The Amazon can be visited and enjoyed year-round. However, travelers should pay attention to the Amazon’s unique 2 seasons when deciding what time of year to visit.
In cities like Manaus, Alter do Chão, and Belém, the Amazon’s summer is from June to November. The summer months are also the driest in this part of Brazil.
The Amazon’s winter is from December to May and this is typically the rainiest time to visit the Amazon.
Another climate aspect to consider when planning your visit is the water levels of the rivers and lakes in the Amazon. The rivers and lakes are fuller between April and September and drier between October and March.
Important note about water levels: Alter do Chão’s famous river beaches are not present all year. If you want to be able to enjoy the Tapajós River beaches, it is important to visit between August and January. After the rains begin, the river beaches are nonexistent for the rest of the year.
However at river lodges like the Dolphin Lodge, which have villas over the river, water is only present under these villas between April and September.
There isn’t much temperature change during the year – it is just humid and hot every day.
Disappearing river beaches in Alter do Chão & dry areas of the Mormaí river under Dolphin Lodge villas.
Amazon Essential Packing List
Non-clothing items:
- Bug spray
- Sunscreen
- Camping hammock for River Ferry
- Neck pillow for travel and hammock
- Binos
- Camera and/or GoPro
- Amazon wildlife book
- Nalgene
- Sunhat
- Sunglasses
- Book
- Headlamp
- Quick dry towel
- Dry bag
- Bug Bite anti-itch cream
Clothing items:
- Hiking boots or sneakers
- Casual sandals like Havaianas (you can buy some in Brazil)
- Sun Shirts or lightweight long-sleeves
- Hiking or athletic shorts and/or pants based on preference
- Tank tops
- Bathing suits
- Lightweight rain jacket (It will be hot even if it is pouring so bring something light)
- A couple of casual outfits for sightseeing in the cities and dinners
Dressing in the Amazon is all about staying cool and dry in the harsh weather.
Luckily, Manaus, Alter do Chão, and Belém are all very casual cities. Don’t pack your fancy clothes for this trip. An exception may be if you hope to attend a show at the theater in Manaus or Belém.
Do You Need the Yellow Fever Vaccine if Going to the Amazon?
Yellow Fever is a virus transmitted by mosquitoes. Per the CDC, in Brazil, it is mostly found in the Amazon Basin and heavily forested areas near rivers.
While Brazil doesn’t require proof of the Yellow Fever vaccine to enter the country, it is currently recommended by the CDC for all people 9 months and older traveling to Brazil.
Also, if you plan to travel to Colombia from Brazil, you will be required to show proof of Yellow Fever vaccination before boarding a plane.
What to Read Before Visiting the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil
I highly encourage visitors to the Brazilian or Peruvian Amazon to check out one of the following books before, during, or even after their trip.
This list of suggested Books for Travel to the Amazon has something for everyone.
Can only read one? My favorite is The Unconquered by Scott Wallace, quickly followed by River of Doubt by Candice Millard.
Related Posts…
Belém, Brazil: Your Guide to the Amazon’s Best City
Alter do Chão: Your Ultimate Guide to the Amazon’s Paradise
10 Amazing Things to Do in Alter do Chão, Brazil
How to Travel from Manaus to Santarém: 31 hours on an Amazon River Ferry
How to visit the Brazilian Amazon: 4-nights in the Jungle at the Dolphin Lodge
More places in Brazil to love
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