We decided some time ago that as we are in Brazil (and this is most likely the only time we will be here) we really should take a trip up the Amazon and after speaking to a few others who had done the trip realised that the best way is to fly into or out of Manaus where we could start or finish this trip.
Looking into this I realised that it was not easy and much more expensive to get a non-stop flight to/from Joao Pessoa but there were a lot of quite reasonable flights that went via Rio de Janeiro – rather a long way round with lots of time in the air!! My mind started ticking and I thought well, why not spend a few days in Rio as well and see Sugar Loaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer etc.
One couple, who had taken the river trip, suggested that going up river is better as the current forces the boat to go slower & closer to shore so (hopefully)we can see more. Our initial hope had been to be on the river for Chris’s birthday but as the trip got longer we realised that this could make the timing for extending our visas (quite another story but OK now!) a bit tight and decide that it would be better to wait until we had our visas sorted out. So instead I just booked the trip on his birthday!!!
Well, our plans are just about complete now – just as well really as we leave on Tuesday (21st)!!
Looking into this I realised that it was not easy and much more expensive to get a non-stop flight to/from Joao Pessoa but there were a lot of quite reasonable flights that went via Rio de Janeiro – rather a long way round with lots of time in the air!! My mind started ticking and I thought well, why not spend a few days in Rio as well and see Sugar Loaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer etc.
One couple, who had taken the river trip, suggested that going up river is better as the current forces the boat to go slower & closer to shore so (hopefully)we can see more. Our initial hope had been to be on the river for Chris’s birthday but as the trip got longer we realised that this could make the timing for extending our visas (quite another story but OK now!) a bit tight and decide that it would be better to wait until we had our visas sorted out. So instead I just booked the trip on his birthday!!!
Well, our plans are just about complete now – just as well really as we leave on Tuesday (21st)!!
Just an idea of where the places I mention are! On the map Manaus is near the biggest patch of blue in the 'AM' region just south of the Guyana border and the 'RR' region and Rio de Janeiro in the 'RJ' region in the bottom right corner. Joao Pessoa is in the 'PB' region, Fortaleza the'CE' and Belemalso in 'AM' (for Amazonas) but really close to the 'AP' region. If that helps!!! |
The first leg is by bus to Fortaleza, town about 700 km further north along the coast. A 9 hour bus journey overnight and we have booked sleeper seats so they should be quite comfortable. We stay there for two days just looking around and then fly to Belem near the mouth of the Amazon River. I made a mistake and booked this flight 2/3 days earlier than I had intended and we actually stay there for 5 nights!! But everyone we have spoken to says it’s a great place to be and that the pousada I booked is good too so we are looking forward to having a holiday there. We work so hard otherwise, lol!
From Belem we take an Amazon Line boat and spend 3 days on board to Santarem where we spend 2 nights at a nearby resort with a river trip included. (More water!) Back on another boat for the trip up to Manaus – a city in the jungle!!! 4 nights there with a trip to see the area. You JUST see Manaus on the left bottom corner of the map - the best I could do, I'm afraid.
Another flight – this time to Rio de Janeiro, where we spend 3 nights and see the sights of Rio and then we fly back to Joao Pessoa arriving back very late on 12th August! Phew! Quite a trip but it really is the trip of a lifetime in a trip of a lifetime! Watch out though - if I can write this much on our plans just wait for the actual events! |