Anyone ever been to the Amazon River?

masraum · 02-26-2013, 07:28 PM

My wife and I are going planning to go on a trip to the Amazon this summer for two weeks. The trip is through the college where she got her BS and is working on her MS. It's open to students, faculty, alumni and anyone else that wants to go. Clearly, a bunch of the folks are tied to the school and go for research, so this is not your typical tourist trip, but it's also got some touristy stuff. This is going to be on the Amazon in Brazil between Manaus and Santarem (and back to Manaus). It'll be in July, so at the highest water level, but the beginning of the "dry" season (as dry as the Amazon ever gets, still 10 days of rain and 3.5" in July).

The teacher who organizes this trip has been doing it about twice a year since 1995, so there is a bunch of experience behind it.

I'm just curious to hear more about the experience. There is a short journal (it's a word doc) about one of the trips in 2002, but I'd like to hear more.

Seabear · 02-26-2013, 07:57 PM

My wife and I took a one week trip from Manaus up the Rio Negro a couple of years ago. Same size river boat, 14 passengers on board, 3 crew and 2 guides. Up the river 300 miles and back to Manaus, canoe trips morning and late afternoon (and sometimes after dark), jungle walks, a visit to a small village and a small town. We didn't see another tourist on the trip, lots of birds, critters, and the magnificent jungle where you learn that if you aren't a predator you are prey. The most fascinating part was meeting people that live on the river, their entire lives revolve around the river, food/transportation/climate.
The trip was one of our most favorite, and, in fact, I am heading back to Manaus in Oct with a buddy for some peacock bass fishing. I really enjoyed reading the journal in the link you provided and forwarded it to my wife. Thanks.

911_Dude · 02-27-2013, 03:25 AM

Ive been to Manaus on business. I live on the Ohio River, which is pretty big. But that river is huge. Wish I could have toured more.

masraum · 02-27-2013, 04:44 AM

Bjorne, cool. That sounds like a very similar trip to the one that I'll be taking.

How are the mosquitos? I assume pretty bad. Did you take malaria pills or is that even a concern? How wet is it. I've got a nice DSLR camera, and I'm not sure if i should take it or if I should get a cheaper point and shoot and take that.

We're very excited. I'm also into astronomy so I figure I may be able to get some amazing views of the sky with some binoculars from the boat at night, and the binoculars can pull double duty during the day for viewing wild life.

Seabear · 02-27-2013, 05:38 AM

Steve
Decent binoculars are absolutely necessary. Since we were on the Rio Negro the mosquitos weren't much of a bother, the river is more acidic than the Solimoes so, according to our guides, their breeding is limited. But we did take malaria pills as a precaution, and used repellent. You will have more 'squitos, and there are spiders/wasps/etc. The Ex Officio type of clothes with bug repellent built in are good to take.

Our trip was in March, warm during the day, cool in the evenings. Since we weren't harassed by bugs we were able to sit on the upper deck and enjoy a glass of wine each night before dinner. It rained a bit every day, and, of course, was rather humid, but not uncomfortably so. Nights were usually cloudy, we only had one decent sunset.
Most of us had SLR type cameras, you will need a telefoto lens to capture some of the birds, particularly if you come across a hoatxin, they're skittish but really cool.
Our meals were typically beans/rice/grilled fish. Good solid food, we traded sugar and rice along the way for fresh fish. If you like an adult beverage, bring a bottle or two with you from duty-free, it's way less expensive than buying one at the jump-off point. Same with cigars.
Expect an adventure, it's a very different world down there.

Rikao4 · 02-27-2013, 05:46 AM

those malaria pills will give you some nasty vapors...

not sure if still in place..
after taking them you will not be able to donate blood..

Rika

Seabear · 02-27-2013, 06:04 AM

Malarone can cause stomach distress, but we were lucky and had no side effects.

Allow a couple of weeks to get your visa to enter Brazil, and don't be surprised at the cost.

krystar · 02-27-2013, 06:12 AM

whatever u do, don't ****ing pee in the river!

LakeCleElum · 02-27-2013, 06:13 AM

Have a great trip. I'm jealous.

Good fiction read about the area:

The Testament by John Grishman.

masraum · 02-27-2013, 06:54 AM

Thanks for the info. I'm hoping that since your trip was still in the rainy season and mine will be in the dry season that we'll get a night or two of clear skies so I can do a little star gazing.

Seabear · 02-27-2013, 07:27 AM

Take a couple of the best small flashlights you can find, they are great for night time canoe trips. Lots of caiman/snakes/bats. But don't leave the lights on for too long, they attract wasps...ask me how I know.

Also, be sure to wear close-toed shoes when you go piranha fishing, if they wiggle off the hook and drop to the deck of the canoe, well...you see what I mean.
Here are a couple of fotos; sunset, a hoatxin, and dinner.

Have a great trip and pls share some fotos when you get back.

tevake · 02-27-2013, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krystar

whatever u do, don't ****ing pee in the river!

My son was just telling me yesterday about a critter in the Amazon that can swim up the stream of pee to invade that way, I silently dismissed the story as fantasy, any truth to the tale?

Cheers Richard

Seabear · 02-27-2013, 07:37 AM

Candiru - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

masraum · 02-27-2013, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seabear

Have a great trip and pls share some fotos when you get back.

Thanks for the photos and info. I will definitely be taking photos. I think I'm going to buy a longer, better lens for my camera and lots more memory cards since it seems unlikely that I'll be able to do much/anything with the pictures until I get back.