Andetur Brazilian Travel Club, as one of our main objectives, promotes responsible tourism and has a selected our associate operators and lodges to fit this criteria.

"Just a short mail to let you know we returned well to Munich and to say a big, big "THANK YOU!!!" for the well organized stay in Rio and the most excellently prepared Amazon tour. Particularly our jungle experience turned out to be something really special thanks to Mark´s professional preparation work and probably the best guide (Walter) we could get for such tour. Also in Rio, everything had been planned with careful dedication so that a special memory from our side will be kept for those days, too.

Mario and I are sure that this was not our last trip to the Amazon (and also not to Rio).

Receive a big hug from rainy Munich:

Bettina + Mario"

The Amazon Rainforest (what is normally called "Amazonia") is found mainly in Peru and northern Brazil, but it also extends into Ecuador, Columbia, and Venezuela. The Earth's tropical forests contain nearly 50% of all species of flora and fauna found on the planet, and it is estimated that nearly two million species of plants and animals live in the Amazon. There are medicinal plants like copaiba and guarana. Animals include howler monkeys, three-toed sloths, and nemerous types of birds. Various indigenous peoples also inhabit the rain-forest; the largest group is the Yanomani who live in an area straddling the Brazil-Venezuela border.

There are four types of rainforest - igapo, terre firme, varzea, and catinga.

Igapo, which is permanently flooded rainforest, has seasonal variations in water depth of as much as 40 feet. To adapt to this enormous fluctuation, plants and animals have evolved into some bizarre shapes and developed unusual behaviors. Due to these seasonal floods, the wildlife along the rivers is constantly changing.

Above the high water mark lies the terra firme forest, which is 'solid ground'. Terra firme is the forest most people have in mind when they think of rainforest. On the hills and stretching for thousands of miles away from the river banks, terra firme is dominated by giant forest trees and buttresses like the fins of rocket ships. Along the shaded forest floor there are wonderfully adapted plants, and you might see the trails of wild pigs, agoutis, paca, jaguar, armadillo, and other large animals that live in the rainforest. Most animals stay well hidden, but one terra firma resident that insists on being heard is the largest primate in South America, the howler monkey. At dusk different howler monkey tribes call to one another, and their howls echo across the forest from stream to river to hill.

The third major type of forest is the varzea forest. This is a seasonally flooded forest, but the water thast rushes through the trees is cafe au lait in color and is heavy with minerals and nutrients eroded from the Andes Mountains. In this tremendously rich system are large concentrations of birds, mammals, and a collection of plants entirely different from the plants in the igapo or terra firme forests.

Finally, catinga forest is found in the highland areas along the Rio Negro. Its vegetation is different from all other types found in the rainforest.

Principle areas of the Amazon Basin

The rivers that consitute the Amazon Basin contain one-fifth of the world's reserve of fresh water. Of the twenty largest rivers in the world, ten are in the Amazon. These include the Amazon itself (the largest), the Rio Negro (the second largest), the Madeira, the Ucayali, the Maranon, the Orinoco, and the Yarapa.

The rivers of the Rio Negro are dark in color. Almost completely devoid of nutrients, the Negro water is dark due to tannins leached from the leaves. The water is acidic and clean. This has resulted in the evolution of an extremely diverse collection of plants and animalsm unique in all of the Amazon.

In contrast, the Amazon River is white-brown in color. This is not because of rapids, but due to suspended soils eroded from the Andes. One of the world's youngest and fastest growing mountain ranges, the Andes are subject to future erosion. Along with unimaginable volumes of rich nutrients, the Amazon carries uprooted trees and entire islands of floating vegetation. The water is muddy, thick, and has a swift current. This rich water supports a great density of wildlife.

At the confluence of the world's two greats rivers, the warm black water of the Negro collides with the dense liguid earth of the Amazon and the surface 'boils upward' in whirlpools stretching for many miles. At the "Meeting of the Waters", the black water and the white water flow side by side for miles without mixing. Along this stark division dolphins often leap in the air and dive, snatching up fish.

Andetur Brazilian Travel Club arranges tours to accomodate any interest and any budget. This site contains only a few of our tours. We recommend certain tours .. but actually we can sell any tour in the marketplace. We specialize in customizing your trip to meet YOUR needs. CONTACT US! We'll work with you to make your dream a reality!

Cruises, Expeditions and Lodges --- each offers a unique way to experience Amazonia.

Cruises offer an opportunity to explore the Amazon River and its tributaries, experiencing a variety of unique people, animals and plants.

Expeditions involving camping, canoeing, kayaking, hiking or special activities like photography or film-making allow the traveler to visit remote areas and experience first-hand the Amazon's unique eco-systems.

Lodges and Camps offer the opportunity to spend time exploring the rainforest with naturalist guides and to have the unique feeling of living in the jungle.

Amazon National Park - This huge national park can best be seen by hiring a guide locally for hikes through the dense rain forest (hiking without a guide is allowed only on certain trails). Be sure to take food and treated water with you on the trail. During the rainy season (February-April) you can tour the flooded rain forest by boat. Basic cabins are available in the park only if scientists are not using them; visitors can stay in hotels in the town of Itaituba.

Mark and Tania Aitchison have operated their own unique tour operation based in Manaus and principally in the Rio Negro river area since 1993. They have their own lodge, a type of camp located on the Rio Negro, and offer a vaiety of tour options, cruises, and expeditions.

TAKE A LOOK AT HIS OPERATION

Jungle Cruises and lodge

The Juma Hotel / Lodge offers ecological packages on the Juma River south of Manaus. Some good fishing is reported during low water times near the lodge.

The Ariau Amazon Towers is the 'luxury lodge' of the Brazilian Amazon. This is definitely a 'must see' and a visit or stay may be combined with any of Mark's tours above.

Ariau Amazon Towers

Another operation by the same owners is a floating fishing lodge.

Fishing Lodge

 

Andetur Brazilian Travel Club is trying to purchase a newly constructed lodge on the Rio Urubu, approximately 180 km east of Manaus. This is a new project and we should have some news shortly. Club members can buy shares in this lodge.

JUNGLE LODGE ON THE RIO URUBU

 

Expedition Tours

A dynamic project to create several television documentaries and education of the Amazon life and jungle. This project by DTVisions allows you to actually accompany the film crews while they are filming.

Andetur Brazilian Travel Club has applied to be a sponsor of this project.

Jungle Trekker Expeditions

AMAZON RIVER CRUISES M/V TUCANO

2001 - 2002

The M/V Tucano is a three-deck riverboat designed to maximize observation of the river and forest. Each of the 8 outside cabins has a large window, air conditioning, and a private bath. Four cabins have bunks with queen and double mattresses and four have two double mattresses. The top deck is open, with a large sun canopy, and there are forward balconies on the top and upper decks as well as a spacious, air conditioned salon forward on the upper deck.

The large port city of Belem (pop. 1,245,000) is a good base for half-day river cruises to get a closer look at jungle, birds, dugout canoes and Brazilian fishermen. (These short cruises are really intended for people who aren't headed farther up the Amazon on longer cruises.)

Belem itself has enough of interest to justify a two-day stay: the 18th-century Basilica de Nossa Senhora de Nazare; the Goeldi Museum (a combination of zoo, botanical gardens, aquarium and a good ethnology museum); some old French-style mansions in the Cidade Velha (Old Town); and the Teatro da Paz, which was graced by Anna Pavlova and other famous performers at the beginning of the 20th century. The Ver-o-Peso Market is special: Among the fruit and vegetable stalls, you'll find vendors selling crocodile teeth, dried boa constrictors and voodoo charms (go early in the morning to see the most action). If possible, attend a batuque ceremony (batuque is a religious sect known for its colorful costumes and interesting music). Not far from the city is the Ilha de Marajo, an island the size of Switzerland at the convergence of the Amazon and several smaller rivers. The island's ranches accept guests July-December.

SPECIAL FISHING TRIPS!

Fish for the famous Peacock Bass

ARACÁ FISH CAMP

Details coming soon - the fishing season starts in September each year through March or April.

SPECIALISTS INCLUDE: Mark Aitchison, Mike Bryant, Capt. Donald and others

VARIOUS ALTERNATIVES FROM LODGE BASED FISHING, HOUSE BOAT, OR EVEN A DELUXE YACHT