Amazon Rain Forest

[tjungenberg]

Hi, I recently won an auction to visit the Ariau Towers in Brazil!! My wife and I are very excited but we have some questions. Since it's a 4 night/5 day trip does anyone have any suggestions on a good extension to tack onto this trip? I guess I could look at LL's other trips and see if I couldn't cobble something together but wanted to get everyone's opinions . . . you all have travelled so extensively!



As background, we're both athletic, love archeology and anything to do with animals, plantsand the like. We love good wine and I personally love the beach . . . not sure if that helps.



Thanks in advance! We're so excited!!

[omegaet]

tjungenberg....from what county will you be traveling on your way to Brazil? Will you be arriving in Rio?

[tjungenberg]

I will be flying from the States,we live in Chicago, Illinois. Thanks for your advice!

[travel2fun]

tjungenberg wrote:

I will be flying from the States,we live in Chicago, Illinois. Thanks for your advice!

tjungenberg,is Rio youarrival city in Brazil?

[sfriedheim]

My wife and I did this trip in November. A few things to know, you must have your Brasil visa before you get there otherwise you will be prevented from flying to Brasil.We flew to Manaus which is worth a day or so. The hotel isa little dated. Make sure you get a Tarzan room, they attempted to put us in a Tower, but since the package calls for a Tarzan room that's what you should get. The biggest tower room is where Bill Gates stayed when he was there but the Tarzan rooms have there own private pool in the trees. We preferred the privacy.



Rio and Sao Paulo are options and Iguassu Falls is another option if you want to stay in Brasil.



Don't expect too much luxury and you won't be dissappointed. We usually like to stay in five star hotels, but we enjoyed the trip and thought it was a great way to see the Amazon. If you drink make sure you get a capirihina.

[kyshel]

Hi--sorry for the late reply. I went on an LL safari and I'm still reeling from that trip--wow!!
I'm curious about how you're getting to Manaus? I would be interested in doing same auction and would want to go in combo w/Iguacu Falls to show my husband. May have to make 2 trips, since they are so far apart. I like Rio but do not prefer Sao Paolo. We fly with Delta which serves both, but it's standby, then connecting same with Brasilian airlines, so I'm just not sure what I'll do. We'd love to hear what you've cooked up for your itinerary.

When are you going? If you can go to Belem to see a tru colonial city of Brasil, that's worth a stop and it's not tooooo far. Recife is a very large comspolitan city on the far east coast--famous for major shark attacks. The sister city, Olinda is typical colonial type--tiny winding streets--very scenic. The Recife beaches are beautiful. If you can go to the "meeting of the waters" please don't miss it--unbelievable--the pink dolphins are there, too--all on the Rio Negro. I don't know if you can still do deeper interior tours--deet, deet, deet--50% bug repellant. Socks, long sleeves. Wonders abound!!
Iguacu Falls is the most amazing natural water wonder I have ever seen. It's way down by Argentina and the dam there at Itaipu is an engineering wonder, as well. I saw it being built and it blew my mind--huge is not the word for it! Gargantuan?

Hope this helps--if you've already gone, I apolgize for not being of assistance--there's so much to search for in the boards--some go right past me!@!

[bonniejoy03]

Hi sfriedheim. Thanks for the update. A few questions for you please. Do you need a visa to go to Brasil if you are a US citizen? I wasn't aware of this. Did you stay at Ariau Towers? (it is currently offered on LL and it looks great. Also, it was just featured on The Travel Channel with Samantha Brown.) I think the LL package uses the Tarzan room as part of the package. Did you do any of the neat activities such as seeing the pink dolphins, seeing the piranahas, etc. Have you ever gone further south in Brasil to Poncha Dos Gauchos (currently an LL offering.) I started investigating airfares and they seem reasonable. Where else do you visit. Thanks for sharing.

[kyshel]

Bonnie--I hope we'll hear from sfriedheim soon--it's hard to remember to go back to whichever thread you posted a tip, etc.
Yes--visas for Americans and they aren't cheap! There seems to be confusion about getting one for 5 years for the same $ amount as short-term ($100 I believe).
I keep looking at taking my husband to Iguacu Falls, but if you go to the Argentinian side, no visa costs--an Buenos Aires has great appeal due to $ exchange rates and sights. Tango, anyone? And that Fabulous Beef--YUMMMMMMM (no apologies, Omegaet--true carnivore here!)

I adored traveling all over Brasil as a young thing in my 20's. The Brasileiros are wonderful people--they really love life to the fullest!

maybe we'll get some more feedback here in the near future.

[bonniejoy03]

Hi Kyshel. Thanks for the update. Well, Brazil is out for January and Belize and Guatemala are in! We are going to both in January. I still want to go to Brazil. Would love to see the beautiful sights. I had my eye on the property Ponchas dos Gauchos. It looks lovely and it was up for auction. The only negative is the flights. We couldn't find anything that seemed half decent. (as we get older, my husband and I become a little more picky with long/overnight flights!)