DATE: DECEMBER 02-15, 2025 | WHERE: STATES OF AMAPÁ AND PARÁ IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON | 13 NIGHTS/ 14 DAYS
WHAT TO EXPECT?
A 14-day, 13-night itinerary through the states of Amapá and Pará. An authentic experience in a little-known area of the Brazilian Amazon. We leave São Paulo for the city of Santarém, our first destination, where we will explore the Flona do Tapajós in search of rare species, especially the Brazil-nut Poison Frog (Adelphobates Castanaeoticus).
The place is known as the Amazonian Caribbean, because during the dry season several freshwater beaches appear on the Tapajós River. We’ll be staying in the Flona do Tapajós, where we’ll be hiking day and night in search of frogs, snakes, primates, reptiles and whatever else crosses our path. The highlights of this part of the expedition are the Brazil-nut Poison Frog (Adelphobates Castanaeoticus) and the endemic primate Silvery Marmoset (Mico argentatus).
To reach our second destination, we sail for approximately 32 hours down the Amazon River to the town of Breves, from where we have an exclusive speedboat that will take us to Caxiuanã Bay, where we will stay in a riverside community. Caxiuanã Bay has untouched forests, with a strong presence of centuries-old trees, such as the Brazil nut tree (Bertholletia excelsa) of impressive size. It is an exciting experience to spend a few days in a community so isolated and untouched by tourism, and to have the opportunity to learn more about its culture and way of life. The community is visited in the morning by groups of Giant otters (Pteronura brasiliensis) and has many endemic species (which only exist there), such as the Golden Parakeet (Guaruba guarouba) and the Splashback poison frog (Adelphobates galactonotus), which are the main focus of this section of the expedition. This species of frog is polymorphic, meaning that in each place where it occurs it has a different color and in Caxiuanã Bay, it has more than 8 color variations. The site is also home to the Crimson Topaz (Topaza pella), the largest hummingbird in Brazil and considered one of the most beautiful. During our hikes there, as well as enjoying the forest, we go in search of birds, primates, insects, amphibians and whatever else crosses our path, because we love all animals. As this is a very unspoiled area with little human activity, we expect many surprises along the way.
From Caxiuanã Bay we leave by ship for the city of Macapá, an approximately 16-hour journey along the mouth of the Amazon River. From Macapá we take a van to the town of Serra do Navio, the gateway to the Montanhas do Tumucumaque National Park, the largest rainforest reserve on the planet. In the Tumucumaque National Park, we’ll go hiking during the day and at night to observe wildlife and get to know the giant trees of the Amazon. The park is known for having the largest trees in the entire Amazon, which can reach an impressive 80 meters in height. One of the highlights of this part of the expedition are our night trails. It’s amazing to see how the forest comes alive during this time. You can see various species of arachnids, insects, amphibians and snakes. We are accompanied by researcher Rodrigo Tavares, whose eye is trained to find animals at night. On this tour we’ll go up the Amapari River, on an 80km journey to the Rustic Experience Center (CRV), located in the middle of the Park. The CRV was built in the middle of the forest using rustic artisanal techniques, with a basic kitchen, dry bathrooms and hammocks, giving maximum priority to contact with the natural environment. There we will sleep in hammocks or tents, according to the participant’s preference.
The main stars of this part of the expedition are the Dyeing poison dart frog (Dendrobates Tinctorius) and the Hoogmoed’s harlequinfrog (Atelopus hoogmoedi), which vary greatly in color according to where they are found.
After three days in the park we return to the town of Serra do Navio, where we will stay at the Hotel Serra Norte, which has suites with air conditioning, Wi-Fi, minibar, TV and all the comforts. The town is nestled in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, and the roads around our hotel are great for spotting birds and primates.
The team is made up of nature Photographer and Wildlife Filmmaker Rafael Guadeluppe, founder of the video production company Latin Wild Films and author of the documentary about the Atlantic Forest “The Pulse of the Atlantic Forest”, and Mexican naturalist and Wildlife Filmmaker Juan René Villanueva Maldonado, do canal Historia Natvrae.
IMAGES PRODUCED IN CAXIUANÃ BAY (OUR SECOND DESTINATION DURING THE TOUR), FOR A DOCUMENTARY SERIES ON FROGS
ITINERARY
Day 01 – We depart from the city of São Paulo towards the International Airport of Santarém by air, between 19:50 pm – the flight takes 06:30 hours, as there is a stopover in Brasilia. We arrived in Santarém at around 2:30 pm and from there we headed for the Tapajós Flona, approximately 1:30 hours away.
Day 02 to 4 – We’ll be staying in the village of Maguary, inside the Tapajós Flona, where we’ll explore the forest in search of animals, walking the trails during the day and at night. We’ll get to know the village of Alter do Chão and its beaches and also visit some interesting places in the city of Santarém, such as the fish market.
Day 04 to 06 – Ship trip on the Amazon River between the cities of Santarém and Breves. The trip lasts between 36 and 48 hours.
Day 06 to 09 – Arriving in Breves, we have an exclusive speedboat that will take us to the community of Santa Cruz, located in Caxiuanã Bay. We will spend three days exploring the region’s forests. During this part of the expedition we will sleep in hammocks.
Day 09 – We set off in the morning towards the city of Macapá. Once again, we’ll take a ship through the mouth of the Amazon River. The journey takes approximately 16 hours. We expect to arrive in Macapá at 07:00 am.
Day 10 to 13 – From Macapá we head to the town of Serra do Navio, from where we leave for the Tumucumaque National Park, where we will spend four days and three nights exploring the region’s forests.
Day 13 – We return from the Tumucumaque National Park to the town of Serra do Navio, approximately 3 hours down the Araguari River.
Day 14 – Closing the expedition. We set off early from Serra do Navio for Macapá International Airport.
WHATS INCLUDED?
Flight ticket from São Paulo x Santarém and Macapá x São Paulo
Land and river transportation throughout the expedition
Accommodation during the expedition
In the Caxiuanã Bay section and in the Montanhas do Tumucumaque National Park we will sleep in hammocks provided by us.
Exclusive boats on the Caxiuanã Bay stretch and in the Tumucumaque Mountains National Park
Full board meals (except alcoholic beverages)
Guide Rodrigo Tavares biologist and researcher at the University of Amapá, Rafael Guadeluppe Photographer and Wildlife Filmmaker and Juan René Villanueva Maldonado Mexican naturalist and Wildlife Filmmaker
NOT INCLUDED?
Travel Insurance
FOR ALL LEVELS:
You don’t need to be a photographer to join this tour, nature should be appreciated by everyone.
CHECK HERE GENERAL TIPS AND INSTRUCTIONS. WHAT TO BRING, BEST TIME TO GO, WEATHER AND ETC.
VALUES:
US$ 2,400.00 PER PERSON
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS:
GROUP OF MAXIMUM 8 PEOPLE
PAYMENT METHOD:
30% – ON RESERVATION CONFIRMATION = US$ 720.00
50% – 30 DAYS PRIOR YOUR TOUR START = US$ 1,680.00
OR
100% PAYMENT ON BOOKING WITH 10% DISCOUNT = US$ 2,160.00