Consider the following factors when choosing a lodge for your holiday in the Brazilian Amazon:
- Location and how to get there (i.e. nearest airport, road only, road and boat)
- Comfort level and structure, i.e. including mosquito nets, a/c, hot water, electricity
- Activities and guides: usually the activities are similar at all lodges
- Quality of food: all the remote lodges include a full board, therefore it is good to know more about their ability to cater to your food preferences
When to go
In the Amazon it is hot and humid year-round, with temperatures hovering around 35-39 °C. The dry season lasts from June to December, when it is hot and sunny. As the rivers recedes, beaches and islands re-appear. The wet season typically runs from December to May. The humidity is higher, building up over the course of the day to produce a heavy downfall almost every afternoon. Even then, mornings and early afternoons can be clear and sunny. The best time to visit the Amazon is between July to October, when it is dry. There are some advantages of seeing the Amazon at high water, when the forest is flooded and one can navigate between the branches of the trees in a canoe – this is possible during the rainy season. There is also a chance to spot the jaguar climbing the trees during the rainy season.
Manaus: skip or stay
Is Manaus only a gateway to the jungle lodges or should you stay for a few days? We recommend staying 2-3 extra days in the old town, at Villa Amazonia (29 exclusive apartments) or at Juma Opera Hotel (great views of the Opera House) and visit some of the sites below:
Manaus offers a few unique cultural experience, as well as interesting natural sites:
- Teatro Amazonas, a beautiful opera house built during the rubber boom era
- Adolpho Lisboa Municipal Market, where you can try local cuisine and purchase handicrafts
- Meeting of the Waters, a natural phenomenon where the dark waters of the Rio Negro meet the light waters of the Rio Solimões
- Tuiuka community, experience the rich culture and traditions of Brazil’s indigenous peoples
- Janauari Lake to see the giant water lilies
- Catalão, a floating community where the houses, churches and even the school are floating, enabling these structures to follow the river level, going up during the rainy season and going down during the summer. Visit the floating base where they have tanks with pirarucu, the biggest fresh water fish.
- Museu do Seringal
- Day trip to Presidente Figueiredo
Best boutique Amazon jungle lodges in Brazil
This article is about the best boutique Amazon jungle lodges in Brazil. The Amazon rainforest is one of the most diverse places on Earth, home to countless species of animals, plants, and insects. It’s also a popular destination to experience the natural beauty of the jungle and learn about the local culture. In this article, we’ll highlight some of the best boutique lodges in the Brazilian Amazon of a small scale, that offer comfort, intimacy and spectacular opportunity to experience the Brazilian Amazon. From luxury accommodations to rustic eco-lodges, there’s something for everyone in this list. So, get ready to explore the Amazon jungle and discover the perfect boutique lodge for your next adventure!
Kendjam Lodge
Location: Menkragnoti Indigenous Territory
How to get here: Fly to Manaus (MAO) and take a private charter flight to Kendjam Lodge which takes around 3,5 hours of flying. On arrival you will be taken to the lodge by boat (45 km away).
Structure: 5 wooden cabins with spring box beds, private bathroom, hot water and electric light.
Why staying here: small luxury lodge, comfort, pristine and intact Amazon Forest, amazing wildlife, preserved Kayapó territory and Kayapo culture
Xingu Lodge
Location: Xingu river area, inside the Kayapo Indigenous Land
How to get here: Fly to Manaus (MAO) in the state of Amazonas and take a private charter flight to Xingu River for 3,5 hours followed by a 20-min boat ride to the lodge.
Structure: There are 4 double rooms with private bathroom with a maximum capacity for 8 people. The Xingu Lodge has comfortable rooms with with spring box beds, bathroom, hot water, electricity and satellite wifi internet.
Why staying here: small intimate lodge, great comfort, pristine nature and wildlife, fly-fishing, cultural encounter with the Kayapos
Juma Amazon Lodge
Location: remote and untouched region 100 km (62 miles) southeast of Manaus, in the area of Autazes, Brazil. Situated on a peninsula surrounded by the Juma River, it has a fully preserved area of 7,000 hectares.
How to get here: Fly to Manaus (MAO) and take a 3 hours road + boats transfer to the lodge. The famous Meeting of the Waters is on the way. The trip can also be made by hydroplane upon request and takes 30 minutes.
Structure: 19 intimate bungalows seamlessly nestled into the lush surroundings of the Amazon Rainforest. All bungalows have private bathrooms with hot water solar systems, porches with hammocks and ceiling fans ideal for the Amazonian night, which tends to be far cooler than Manaus.
Why staying here: For architecture and beautiful nature. Also, Juma is located in a black water region, so there are almost no mosquitoes there. The proximity to the Equator ensures year-round warm weather.
Manati Lodge
Location: hidden on one of the countless twisting inlets to the Acajatuba lagoon along the Rio Negro river, about 70 km from Manaus.
How to get here: To reach Manati Lodge it takes 1 hour by car, crossing the bridge over the Rio Negro and then along a tar road in a north-westerly direction, followed by a 30 min speedboat ride.
Structure: Manati Lodge has only a few beautiful rooms and 2 chalets. The chalets are located further away, immersed in the forest, quite intimate and comfortable in the middle of the Amazon jungle. They are equipped with air conditioning, ceiling fan, minibar, safe, hairdryer, hot shower, balcony with two hammocks and a view of the forest. The forest around the lodge is completely submerged for much of the year.
Why staying here: for intimacy and a true riverside Amazon experience with typical architecture from the region, built on stilts, This area is close to Solimões River, through the Paraná and boreholes, having an exuberant nature and a great diversity of Amazon fauna and flora.
Uacari Lodge
Location: Mamirauá Reserve, a World Heritage of Nature placed in the state of Amazonas in Brazil.
How to get here: Fly to Manaus (MAO) and take a short 1-hour connecting flight to Tefe (TFF). There are also 12-hour and slow 48-hour boats to Tefe from Manaus.
Structure: Uakari Lodge is a rustic and comfortable hotel with 7 rooms, fully integrated with the landscape, that floats on the waters of the River Japurá.
Why staying here: For immersion in a unique jungle environment, to speak with scientists, to stay in a floating hotel and to support environmental friendly tourism. Mamirauá has one of the highest densities of jaguars in the world.
Cristalino Lodge
Location: Alta Floresta in the state of Mato Grosso, southern Amazon
How to get here: The only flight connection to Alta Floresta (AFL) is from Cuiaba (CGB). From Alta Floresta take a boar ride to the lodge. The transfer to Cristalino Lodge involves a 1 hour drive, followed by a 30 minute boat ride. Arrival at AFL is recommended before 2:30 pm, and on your departure day you leave the lodge at 9:30 am.
Structure: 18 stand-alone wooden bungalows offer modern high-quality facilities. They all have high ceilings, ceramic tiled floors, ceiling fans and large windows which provide natural ventilation and offer beautiful views of the forest. The floating deck is situated on the river.
Why staying here: One of the best luxury hotels in Brazil and one of the nicest jungle lodges in the Amazon. Cristalino Lodge is located in an elevated part of the Amazon, so the river does not flood the forest, allowing walks along jungle trails at any time of the year and increasing the chance of spotting animals.
Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge
Location: on the margins of Negro River in Novo Airao, 180 km from Manaus, placed just in front of the world’s largest river archipelago, Anavilhanas.
How to get here: Fly to Manaus (MAO). Take a ground shuttle from Manaus (10 seat vans or 3 seat cars). The trip takes about 2 hours 30 min. There are two departure options: 8am and 9am and 1pm and 2:30pm. Alternatively, a scenic seaplane transfer (35 min) overlooking Anavilhanas Archipelago can be arranged.
Structure: There are 16 chalets, four bungalows and two panoramic suites with air-conditioning, safe, mini-fridge, hairdryer and balcony with a hammock overlooking the forest. There is a 13m high gazebo overlooking the river and the archipelago.
Why staying here: one of the most luxurious jungle lodges with easy access from Manaus
Mirante do Gaviao
Location: Novo Airão, 180km northwest of Manaus, in the state of Amazonas, facing Anavilhanas National Park
How to get here: It takes around 3 hours to get to the lodge from Manaus. The transfer is done by land. You can also fly (45 min) with unforgettable views over the Anavilhanas Archipelago and the Meeting of the Waters. Truly magnificent and totally worth it.
Structure: 12 suites and spacious social areas with a living room, hammocks and games, a wellness space, viewpoints to the Rio Negro, a swimming pool and the restaurant lounge. The entire structure was conceived, planned, designed as a ship upside down. The suites are large and have a shower with hot tub, air conditioning, minibar and large balconies with hammocks. The gastronomic restaurant is top notch, with mouth-watering recipes.
Why staying here: one of the most luxurious jungle lodges in Brazil
Amazon Emotions Lodge
Location: located on a very large private property in the middle of a pristine rainforest, in the region of Presidente Figueredo, about 140 km north of Manaus.
Getting there: It usually takes around 2 hours to get to the lodge by road from Manaus.
Structure: perched on a ridge overlooking a valley, accommodating up to 8 people in 2 traditional wooden cabins. There are several rooms with panoramic views. The rooms are Wi-Fi free, but are equipped with private bathrooms and flush toilets. The rooms are naturally ventilated and the spacious balconies offer panoramic views over the forest canopy below. Meals are prepared with local produce in an open-air kitchen with wood stove.
Why stay here: for privacy, nature, wildlife and culture
Pousada Bawary
Location: Sao Gabriel da Cachoeira in the state of Amazonas, Brazil.
How to get here: To get here you will have to fly to Manaus (MAO) and then take a connecting flight to Sao Gabriel da Cachoeira (SJL) which usually takes around 1 hour 45 min and depart in the morning.
Structure: 1 superior bungalow and 5 standard rooms. The bungalow can accommodate up to 4 people and is built of wood, surrounded by tropical fruits. Each one of the five standard rooms are harmoniously incorporated into its natural surroundings and give a sensory pleasing experience maximum comfort.
Why staying here: bets place to stay in town, for before and after hikes to Pico da Neblina
Vila de Alter
Location: Alter de Chao in the state of Para, 15 min walk to the town center and the beach.
How to get here: To get here, you need to fly to Santarem (STM) and then take a 30 min transfer to Alter de Chao.
Structure: Vila de Alter has six bungalows built with reforested wood, a hammock on the veranda and a unique touch in the decoration that mixes modern elements and the local touch. The lodge is surrounded by trees where you can see an abundance of birds and monkeys.
Why staying here: for white-sand Amazon beaches
Casa da Arvore
Location: Alter de Chao in the state of Para, Brazil. The location is within an environmentally preserved area of the Amazon rainforest and very close to the beach of Lago Verde (only 2 minutes on foot).
How to get here: Getting to Alter de Chao is relatively easy. The nearest airport is Santarém (STM) which is 30 minutes by car.
Structure: private unique two floor wooden tree house which can accommodates up to 8 guests. There are two kitchens, two bathrooms and open rooms. The kitchens are equipped with all the utensils so you can buy your food and make it at home in complete privacy. There are autonomous entrances, which allows full privacy.
Why staying here: direct contact with nature, lush views! Without leaving the house you will see monkeys, colorful birds, iguanas and butterflies.
Villa Arapiuns
Location: on a private beach, 10-min boat ride from Alter de Chao and 1,5 hours boar ride from Santarem, in the state of Para, Brazil.
How to get here: Fly to Santarém (STM) in the state of Para. Take a 30-min road transfer to Alter de Chao and then a short 10-min ride to the private beach where the village is.
Structure: Villa Arapiuns is a very special place, an entire eco-village, build in the Norwegian style, in the middle of the Amazon forest in Brazil. The cabins were inspired by Tapajonic architecture and with an extreme care for sustainability: there is composting, photovoltaic energy and natural ventilation from the forest and the river. The Villa has 16 bungalows with bathrooms, with a total capacity to host up to 35 people. There are 2 kitchens, 2 lounges, a local cuisine restaurant, and a large room for events and meetings. There is a medicinal garden with more than 100 species of plants with medicinal properties for fresh tea. The kitchen is open and fully equipped and there is also a large yoga deck for a big group of people.
Why staying here: private beach, great for family reunions and groups, celebrations
Bonus: Cruises
You can also consider staying in a luxury eco boat and move along the river. This is also a great way to explore the Amazon rainforest. Here is a selection of the nicest Amazon river boats in Brazil:
Untamed
This eco boat runs 100% on solar power electricity & state-of-the-art water treatment. A true feat of green engineering to guarantee that its ecological footprint is kept to the minimum.
The boat has 3 floors. There are eight comfortable and spacious (18 sqm) suites, located in the middle area of the ship, each one with private bathrooms and air conditioning. Each room can be configured into a double or a twin. There are satellite phones and panoramic windows with extraordinary views of the Amazon. The upper floor has a spacious living and dining room and an open lounge.
Jacare Acu Boat
Jacaré-Açu has 8 private cabins with a maximum capacity of 16 pax. There are 4 double and 4 twin bed (bunk beds) cabins. All cabins have a private bathroom and air conditioning.
The boat is cruising in the most protected areas of the Brazilian Amazon with lush green vegetation, beautiful water trails in canoes.
Tapajos River Cruise
The closest airport is Santarem, followed by a 30 min transfer to the village and the port of embarkation in Alter de Chao
There are three boats with a capacity of 8, 16 and 22 people. The suites are spacious, made of noble wood and equipped with cupboards, benches, coat racks and a bunk bed made up of a double bed and a single bed or a king size double bed. A specialized team of sailors, speedboat pilots, team kitchen staff, bartender, maids and host are accompanying the journeys.
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