If you are wondering why I flew all the way to Manaos even if there is not much to see In the city - it simply was the nearest (and actually only) airport to reach my next destination - a remote lodge in the amazon rainforest where I would stay the next three days.

When planning the whole trip the most difficult decision was which lodge to choose - there are quite a few around, in every price range - and not much information available online for most of them (its a lot easier to book a hotel for a citytrip…)

You have a choice in every price range - from a few dollars to over 500 per night, every size up to whole hotels for 100 guests and of course also different distances from the city…

I finally decided for the dolphin lodge, one of the smaller and simpler ones, and not so far from the city that you need an expensive transfer by seaplane.

The transfer from Manaos to the Lodge was all included in the rate - and was even a little flexible to accommodate my flights (especially the flight out three days later)

I repacked my luggage, just took a small bag with clothes for a few days and of course my camera equipment with me, and stored my suitcase at the hotel.

Got picked up right on time by the car the lodge sent - two other guests - a couple from Italy - were already in the car and we were on our way through the whole city to the harbour in the south.

At the harbour we were already expected by our guide for the next days, could by a few snacks if we wanted to and soon where on the sppedboat for the next leg of the transfer.




You have to see it to realize how gigantic this river is. Manaos is about 1.200 Kilometers as the crow flies from the next ocean - and not even on the Amazon River itself but on one of its bigger tributaries - and you still can see huge oceangoing cargo ships here! (And as there is no continuous asphalted street that connects the city with the rest of Brasil most of the goods get here by ship.




Due to the size of the river - and the lack of roads there are of course no Bridges in the area - but a few ferrys instead










On our way we passed the „Meeting of the Waters“ a few minutes downstream from Manaos - its where the Rio Negro (the black one of course) and the Rio Solimoes (brown) meet and from the actually Amazon River. Due to the different temperature, speed, and density of the waters in both rivers they actually run alongside each other for a few kilometers before the waters mix.

It was interesting to see that - but to be honest, from the low viewpoint at the boat you couldn’t see much - its really one of the rare sights that’s more interesting on google maps then in real life.




The speedboat took us across and along the river to a small port - where we changed to a Minibus for the next leg of the trip along gravel road to another small jetty.




From where a smaller boat took as the rest of the way along one of the smaller tributaries to our lodge.




With a few shortcuts - as it was just the start of the dry season the water level was still really high - so we didn’t have to follow all the bends of the river but could just drive staight. through the flooded Forrest instead.




Of course a little slower in the Forrest - but a lot faster as soon as we reached the open river again.




And a few minutes later we arrived at the Dolphin Lodge. The Hut to the right of the jetty is the Main Building with the restaurant. To the left of it are four little bungalows on stilts over the water - and to the right (hidden behind the trees) a few more bungalows for the guests.







The whole transfer from Manaos took about three hours - so the camp is of course not in a totally remote and uninhabited part of the Rainforest - but still far enough from everything that it still feels like its just jungle out here. Only sign of civilization is the occasional Boat on the river and some small settlements on its banks.




As we are in Brazil here of course lets start with a Caipirinha as welcome Drink…




… bevore continuing to my home for the next days - the second bungalow (still with a view over the river) nothing fancy of course - but with my own bathroom.




By now it was already time for dinner - which was a pleasant surprise. To be honest in such a remote location, and with just 10 guests I didn’t expect much. But the food was good and varied from day to day!