Brazil River Cruises: the 14 to Book First

1.One-Day Amazon Jungle Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 408 reviews · 12 hours · from $100Our pick

From Manaus, you will travel by air-conditioned car and open wooden canoe for a full day in the Amazon. Guides such as Fabio, Fabinho, Dennis, and Milton lead jungle walks, dolphin swims, piranha fishing, local lunch, sunset rides, and nighttime caiman searches.

“Our trip into the Amazon rainforest was truly unforgettable — a real showcase of Mother Nature at her best. Walking through the dense forest was incredible (and easy to see how someone could get lost in there!). Lunch on the floating house was delicious, and gliding by boat through the trees was surreal. We were even caught in a storm while on the river, which only added to the adventure. Swimming with the dolphins was a highlight — they were so playful and friendly. As the sun set, the storm moved off into the distance, and the sky filled with stars. Being on the river in complete darkness was such…”

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2.Full-Day Tour on the Amazon River

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 362 reviews · 1 day · from $55

From Manaus, cruise to Lake January and the Meeting of the Waters, paddle by canoe among Victoria Regia lilies, look for pink dolphins, enjoy a regional buffet, and visit Dessanos and Tucanos communities. English guidance is provided, though much of the group may speak Portuguese.

“where should I start? All I can say is that I was completely thrilled by this tour and that my expectations were by far exceeded!! That started at the lecture with the appointment the day before. Even though I didn't live in the defined area, they offered to pick me up there anyway! I found that very friendly. The next morning the driver contacted me to confirm the pickup and pickup time, which meant I didn’t have to wait unnecessarily on the street. When we arrived at the port, we were able to check in quickly for the tour and we set off soon. The guide showed up and explained…”

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3.3 Days Amazon Jungle Adventure Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 145 reviews · 3 days (approx.) · from $360

Travel from Manaus to a basic Amazon lodge by boat, car, and motorized canoe. With guides such as Fabio or Joseph, you will fish for piranhas, spot caimans, walk among medicinal plants, paddle flooded channels, visit a caboclo family, and return to Manaus around 5:00 pm on day three.

“Jungle James and Carlos provided us with an incredible experience and the staff at the lodge was kind and accommodating. Would definitely recommend the rainy season and lots of bug spray.”

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4.Amazing Waterfalls of the Amazon – Presidente Figueiredo

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 141 reviews · 6 hours (approx.)

Travel from Manaus to Presidente Figueiredo with a local guide such as Miguel, then walk through rainforest to swim at Iracema and Santuário waterfalls. Expect caves, wet trails, a small-group setting, hotel transfers, and a long day that may take 10 to 11 hours.

“We had an amazing day at Presidente Figueredo waterfalls . The guide was very friendly and took care of all our needs . The place itself is astonishingly beautiful and speaks for itself . The company is responsible and they’ll make sure you will have a perfect experience. Highly recommend”

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5.From Manuas: Full-Day River Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 102 reviews · 9 hours · from $100

Travel from Manaus by air-conditioned vehicle and speedboat with a small group of up to 12. Meet an Indigenous community, enter the river near pink dolphins, lunch at a floating restaurant, see water lilies and stilt homes, fish for pirarucu, and visit the Meeting of the Waters.

“One of the best tours we’ve ever had! Totally recommend. Our guide Denis told us so many interesting things and spotted so many animals in the jungles, we even saw couple of sloths. His English is perfect! We also didn’t imagine that the program is so rich and fun! We swam with pink dolphins, danced with native people, tried their food, swam in Amazon river, had tasty lunch (included!), visited floating village, fed huge pirarucu fish. Also we were super lucky that it was only two of us on the tour, so it was real private tour”

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6.Manaus to Santarém: 36-Hour Ferry on the Amazon

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 55 reviews · 36 hours · from $140

Travel from Manaus to Santarém on a working Amazon ferry used by local residents. Your booking includes hotel pickup, a hammock or private air-conditioned cabin, and an optional transfer to Alter do Chão. Expect simple facilities, limited signal, onboard meals for purchase, and river travel on its own schedule.

“Bestilte turen på basis af billeder af en lille hyggelig båd. Endte op på en åd med over 1000 passagerer hængekøjer overalt. Øverste dæk, hvor man kunne opholde sig og få lidt mad og drikke, var med meget høj musik, så man ikke kunne snakke sammen. Havde bestilt og betalt for kahyt til tre personer men fik kun en lille kahyt med to senge. Ved henvendelse til Amazingtours blev der svaret, at vi bare selv kunne sætte en hængekøje op udenfor kahytten. Ikke acceptabelt. Et krav om delvis tilbagebetaling blev ikke besvaret. Amazingtours har bare scoret forskellen mellem en stor kahyt og den lille vi fik. Overordnet set, en tur…”

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7.2-Day River Tour With Overnight Stay

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 53 reviews · 2 days · from $301

Join guides Fabio and Denis for a two-day Amazon adventure from Manaus. Travel by canoe and speedboat, walk through the jungle, swim with pink dolphins, fish for piranhas, search for caymans at night, visit an Indigenous community, and sleep in a simple room with a mosquito net.

“Deux jours magiques en Amazonie aux côtés de Fabio et Denis. Des guides adorables, passionnés et passionnants, qui nous ont fait découvrir la forêt comme si elle s’ouvrait rien que pour nous. C’était une parenthèse hors du temps, remplie de beauté et de sérénité, en vraie connexion avec la nature. Si vous passez par Manaus, foncez vivre cette expérience incroyable, vous repartirez le cœur rempli de souvenirs uniques!!”

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8.Snorkel in the Sucuri River

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 39 reviews · from $105

From central Bonito, you’ll ride 1,300 meters by boat to Fazenda São Geraldo, then float gently through the Sucuri River in a mask and suit. Expect striking visibility, Piraputanga, Pacu, and Corimba fish, trained guides, and a maximum group size of 20.

“Clearest waters I've ever seen in my life. Forget the Brazilian Northeast; this is what Tahiti may look like. I loved the experience and I am usually afraid of very adventurous thing. The river is very calm; almost like a pool. Guides will help you and you can get a full-face mask that makes breathing much easier. Definitely go! Top attraction.”

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9.Multi-Day Amazon Trip at Tapiri Floating Lodge

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 38 reviews · 3 - 5 days · from $1,100

Travel from Manaus to Tapiri Floating Lodge by speedboat, van, and canoe for 3 to 5 days of Amazon activities. With English or Portuguese guides such as Tony, Kennedy, or Emilson, you will hike with native guides, fish for piranha, spot caiman, visit a local family, and sleep in a hammock camp.

“Very good. We went fishing and fish some piranhas. The guide also captured a small alligator and explained about it. Then, we took a walk into the florest and saw many animals. The last night we made a camp a slept in the florest.”

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10.3 or 4-Day Rio Negro & Anavilhanas River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 32 reviews · 3 - 4 days · from $600

Cruise from Manaus through the Rio Negro and Anavilhanas Archipelago in a traditional 50-foot boat. You’ll hike in Janauri, swim with pink and gray dolphins, fish for piranha, visit a native family, and sleep in a cabin or hammock. Guides speak English, Portuguese, or Spanish.

“Descrizione attività molto interessante, ma invito get your Guide ad andare a sperimentarla per valutarla di persona. La barca era fatiscente e con un livello di igene molto basso. Il programma continuava a cambiare secondo le esigenze della guida e capitano -non necessariamente secondo quanto descritto nella descritzione dell'attività stessa- senza spiegare un granchè a noi utenti (Per esempio la crociera doveva arrivare a toccare dei luoghi che invece non ha fatto. Il trekking nella Giungla da 3h è stato ridotto a 40 min etc). L'Amazzonia è affascinante, ma abbiamo perso molto poichè le guide - forse abituate a fare questo lavoro e forse annoiate- non avevano alcuna cura di…”

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11.Negro River Half-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 20 reviews · 4 hours · from $90

Travel upstream from Manaus by boat to meet an indigenous community, watch traditional rituals, visit a freshwater pink dolphin project, and swim in the Negro River. This small-group tour includes hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, entrance fees, and water. Allow extra time if your schedule is tight.

“My friend and I want to experience swimming with river dolphins, and we booked this private half day tour before we fly out of Manaus. While we were about 5 minutes away from the platform, the boat made a turn to pick up more passengers, which actually took one hour. 4 hour tour become 5 hour, waste 1 hour. That made our following scheudle super tight, barely made back to hour hotel to catch our pre-booked taxi to airport. I would not blame boat driver or the guide, but the tour organizor is doing a poor work for this. on that day, swimming platform was moved to a new location.…”

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12.Amazon Waterfalls Day Trip with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 16 reviews · 10 hours · from $130

Leave Manaus for Presidente Figueiredo, known for jungle trails, caves, and waterfalls. You’ll visit Maroaga and Judéia caves, stop for lunch at Urubuí Park, and bathe at Asframa or Iracema Falls. Guides such as Bob and Hudson have led well-organized trips, though group size can vary.

“it was cool seeing the grottos and the litt hike was nice. did see a couple of birds. the lunch was very nice. i would rather take a swim in the town then in the last stop. it was a long drive, approx 4 hours all in all.”

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13.Amazon Jungle Half-Day Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 14 reviews · 4 hours · from $150

Leave your Manaus hotel at 07:30 for a motorized canoe ride into the Amazon. A bilingual guide leads a three-hour forest walk focused on medicinal plants, trees, survival, and wildlife. Guides such as Francis, Paulo, Daniel, and Francisco have received praise for clear explanations and friendly service.

“Amazing tour. This tour has everything, indigenous tribes, monkeys(feeding), dolphins, piranha fishing, jungle walking, boating, abandoned hotel, bullet ants, everything. Also the new tour guide speaks the best English in Manaus and even went to university to learn it.”

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14.Preguicas River Speedboat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 14 reviews · 5 hours · from $35Best value

Set out from Barreirinhas by 4x4 and speedboat with a Portuguese-speaking guide. Stop at the Pequenos Lençóis, Vassouras, Mandacaru Lighthouse, and Caburé, where the river meets the Atlantic. The five-hour trip includes hotel pickup and port transfer, but lunch is not listed as included.

“Unfortunately i can not judge the tour because they never picked up... From my understanding, "tour by foot" is a proxy to locals guides We did another activity with them which went very well, this one did not. It all depends on the local guide managing the activity i guess. I ve add a star anyway, because "tour by foot" was reactive and proposed us 2 activities as compensation.”

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