(Shabono in Yanomami means “our house” in the forest).
Day 1 - Manaus
We arrived in Manaus late afternoon and a driver was waiting for us to take us to our 1 night in the city, at the Juma Opera Hotel, located in the center of Manaus, right in front of the Teatro Amazonas, a strong point of tourism in the city.
Late afternoon, we went to dinner at a local restaurant, accompanied by Belo Shabono.
We were offered a tasting dinner at Iron Chef Felipe Schaedler's Banzeiro restaurant. It was a typical Amazonian gastronomy. The food is very good, the restaurant is charming, it’s a nice option. It is located about a 20min drive from the hotel. But worth the drive.
Day 2 - Manaus / Belo Shabono
After breakfast took a mini city tour of the city, and had the opportunity to visit the historic center, the Teatro Amazonas, Porto Manaus Moderna, Mercado Municipal Adolpho Lisboa, and Feira Manaus Moderna (fish market).
Soon after, we went to the long-awaited departure on Belo Shabono, in Marina Tauá (Iguarapé Tarumã-Açú).
Soon after, we went to the long-awaited departure on Belo Shabono, in Marina Tauá (Iguarapé Tarumã-Açú).
The first Belo Shabono boat was built in 2017 by naval artisans from the region and was inspired by regular transport boats in the Amazon.
Considered floating glamping, it has 02 decks, 26m long x 7m wide, 1 DBL Twin cabin, 8 sofa beds, and 20 typical pure organic cotton hammocks, with a maximum capacity of up to 22 passengers (in the case of student groups). For our receptive market, the private cruise comfortably holds up to 12 people.
During the day, the upper deck (lounge) of Belo Shabono is a large and airy living room with several floor fans available. At night, this lounge turns into glamping, where we sleep on very comfortable sofa beds.
The navigation experience takes place on the Rio Negro, from Manaus to the Anavilhanas archipelago.
At Pier Tauá we boarded a vintage regional-style motorized canoe to go to the Belo. We arrived at the boat and were welcomed by the owner and his crew on board (a captain and two collaborators).
As soon as we settled in, the beautifully decorated lunch table was ready.
With regard to our installation on the boat, it is important to emphasize that when we enter, we are immediately asked to be barefoot. Our carry-on bag is displayed on a small platform close to the floor.
After lunch, we headed (on motorized vintage regional-style canoes) to the Cipiá Indigenous Community for a performance of indigenous rituals, such as dancing, singing, and music with instruments built by the community from forest materials, commanded by Cacique Francis. There, we have the opportunity to get to know up close the life, customs, and culture of indigenous peoples as well. It is tourism that generates income for the villages. Experiences available: storytelling of indigenous stories with the Cacique, face painting with natural pigments from the forest, visit a typical residence (maloca), indigenous art exhibition, visit to the forest medicine house, and indigenous handicraft stalls.
Back on board, there was always fresh fruit, coffee, water, tea, soda, and beer available.
Late afternoons were always dedicated to contemplating the sunset, the beauty of the Rio Negro, music, and a relaxed chat.
Dinner on board. Meals were a separate event. Every day a different type of crockery, all very sophisticated, and a large variety of food of excellent quality.
After dinner, we left by motorized canoe for nocturnal observation of wildlife along the Ariaú River. Available experiences: Games, storytelling, stargazing, caipirinha class/drinks, regional fruits and spices with additional cost.
Overnight in the region of Lake Acajatuba.
For reasons of comfort and safety. The boat always spends the night in streams outside the main course of the Rio Negro.
Day 3 - Belo Shabono
Navigation on the Rio Negro. Breakfast on board. During the morning, we had the opportunity to observe wildlife and sunrise, and do water sports like swimming and stand-up paddling. After breakfast, we left in a speedboat for an experience with Boto Cor-de-Rosa on the Boto Float on Lake Acajatuba.
Before going down to the platform to contemplate the dolphins, we watched a presentation on the Boto Rosa da Amazônia Environmental Education project. This is a project monitored by IBAMA/ICMBio (Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources).
We left the Boto Floating Boat and took a speedboat to the Flour House to learn about the cassava planting process and the artisanal production of its by-products such as flour, tapioca, and tucupi.
Experiences available: workshop and tasting of tapioca, workshop, and tasting of açaí cream produced by the Belo Shabono team.
Lunch on board, as always, was very well prepared, and the table was very well laid out, always with different and sophisticated crockery.
After lunch, we traveled in a motorized vintage-style canoe to the Riverside Community Vila Nossa Senhora do Perpétuo Socorro, on Lake Acajatuba, in the municipality of Iranduba, RDS Rio Negro.
RDS: Sustainable Development Reserve. “It is a natural area that is home to traditional populations that live in a system of sustainable exploitation of natural resources. By protecting the use of the environment developed over generations and adapted to local ecological conditions, this category of sustainable use conservation unit contributes to the protection of nature and to the reproduction and improvement of the ways of life of the traditional populations that inhabit it, including the exploitation of natural resources. In addition, it aims to value, conserve and improve the knowledge and techniques for managing the environment developed by these populations.”
The strong point was the visit to the Projeto Tartarugas da Amazônia with the release of chelonians that were available on the day.
At the end of the day, we returned to Belo Shabono for an overnight stay on the Rio Negro, still in the region of Lake Acajatuba.
Day 4 - Belo Shabono
Waking up at dawn contemplating wildlife, and watching a breathtaking sunrise, in addition to taking that dip in Rio Negro, are some advantages of waking up on the boat.
Breakfast on board is always surprising, with a lot of sophistication and good taste.
Right after breakfast, we were free to have fun with water sports (swimming in the river, stand-up paddle, and kayaking). One experience available that day was sport fishing for piranhas where people can catch and release them or they can even be taken on board for cooking and tasting.
Already sailing towards the Anavilhanas Archipelago, considered the second largest freshwater archipelago on the planet, we made a stop at Praia Grande, an isolated beach located in the Anavilhanas Archipelago. We took advantage of everything that the local nature can offer us, from kayaking, floating with macaroni buoys, and options with the support of a speed boat – banana boat and buoy-cross (additional cost).
A beach structure was set up with every comfort, from towels, sunbeds, umbrellas, drinks, and snacks.
We returned to Belo Shabono for lunch on board.
Afternoon/Night in the Forest: Trekking at an easy level. It was an expedition carried out by experienced jungle guides, Márcio, Manoel, and Kapiro who were with us the whole time!
During the trekking we had the opportunity to learn more about the Amazon rainforest, its trees, medicinal plants, tips for survival in the jungle, and the importance of the Amazon for communities and also for the planet.
The part that moved me a lot, making me very emotional was the invitation to plant a tree in the forest, symbolizing the contribution to the preservation of the forest and carbon compensation.
Return to Belo Shabono.
Dinner on board.
After dinner, while we chatted in the group, we prepared ourselves for the mega experience of spending a night camping in the forest! Of course, it was a safe experience, accompanied by jungle guides (Manoel and Kapiro). The camp is in the middle of the forest, in a regional-style hut with organic cotton hammocks (where we slept).
The interesting thing is that it is not allowed to bring any type of food or drink, except water. It's all very safe, as there are support boats (canoe and speedboat) that monitor the experience at a distance of 5 minutes of access.
The overnight stay in the forest is in the Janauary region (RDS Puranga Conquista).
The displacement from Belo Shabono to the camp area is done in a motorized vintage regional-style canoe. Everything is very different because we go into the forest, passing through several corridors until we reach an alley with limited space that only fits the canoe. The duration of the walk from the riverbank to the campsite inside the jungle is approximately 8 minutes.
The night was surprisingly quiet.
Day 5 - Belo Shabono / Manaus
Return on board, and travel in a motorized vintage regional-style canoe.
Breakfast on board.
Navigation experience on the Rio Negro returning to Manaus (lasting approximately 4 hours).
Arrived in Manaus at 11:45 am.
Disembark at Marina Tauá.
Private transfer to Manaus Airport.
When to travel?
I traveled in May and found Rio full of water practically in the treetops and I thought it was beautiful! The truth is that, unlike other places that have specific periods to visit, the Amazon can be visited throughout the year, what changes is the type of tour you want to take and the landscape you will find.
January, February, and March: It is the Amazonian “winter”, with intense but short rains.
April, May, and June: With the accumulation of rainwater, the flooded forests of the Amazon are formed, when the river level rises and the water practically reaches the treetops.
July, August, and September: At the end of the rainy season, the water recedes and the temperature rises. It is the Amazonian summer season. The sandbanks are visible again, with the emergence of freshwater beaches.
October, November, and December: The water level in the river is much lower, and with that, the paths to the riverside communities are more difficult because many channels dry up. The advantage is that at this time the beaches are bigger and more beautiful.
At the end of November, the rains start again and the river level rises again.
More About
The Belo Shabono is a private trip. Perfect for families and small groups. Price-wise, if you have a family of 5 or 6 people the charter rate is already similar to the price of a jungle lodge or another boat per person.
Sleeping on the deck can be a great experience. There are no mosquitos as we navigate on the Rio Negro, and there are no mosquitos there. There are fans on the deck that works through a generator, and the noise of the generator bothers me a little bit. We opted to turn off the generator when we were there, but during summer months the fans will be really important as it is really hot.
The beds they make for us on the deck are really comfortable. Premium top-quality bed linen (300 thread count Egyptian cotton), blankets, and bath towels.
Hammocks are 100% organic cotton handmade. Pillows are Goose feathers, anatomical and hypoallergenic
Full board meals – breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including non-alcoholic beverages (soft drinks, juice, and water); coffee and tea always available (on the boat); snacks (fruits, pastries, and regional delicacies) in between meals (on the boat)
Regional cuisine, including a selection of fresh fish from the Amazon (tucunaré, pirarucu, tambaqui, surubim, jaraqui), typical fruit, and other delicacies selected by an Amazonian chef. Consult us!
Special dietary requirements - vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free (upon request and subject to prior booking)
100% single-use plastic-free – ceramic, metal, glass cups, crystal glasses, handcrafted straw & cotton placemats, and tableware
The boat requires a min of 5 people for the charter, and the price per person would be equivalent to Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge for example…
I hope you enjoyed my report, Thank you for reading it!
