Ariau Amazon Towers is a fully-equipped complex located roughly two hours upriver from Manaus. It is meant who wish to combine a rewarding Amazon jungle experience with the comforts one would expect in a five-star hotel. Ariau's expert staff are very well-trained and will make your stay a very memorable one.

Day 1 - Departure from Miami International Airport on a VARIG or TAM airlines flight to Manaus.

Day 2- Arrival in Manaus and transfer to hotel. In the morning, we'll go on a private city tour of Manaus to see the Teatro Amazonas opera house, the Old Town, Mercado Central, local zoo, and the government palace. Afternoon free. Overnight Hotel Tropical.

Day 3 - Amazon - This morning we will awake to have breakfast at the hotel. We'll board our vessel at the docks on the banks of the Rio Negro in Manaus at 8:00 am to start the two-hour journey upriver. We may spot Amazon river dolphins, a species of pink dolphin found in the Orinoco and Amazon River basins, known locally as botos. Ariau is located near the base of the Anavilhanas Archipelago, the largest freshwater grouping of islands in the world. At Ariau, we'll enjoy a welcome cocktail and have a tour of the impressive facilities, with over three miles of catwalks leading up to 70 feet above the jungle floor. Observation towers provide 360 degree views of the surrounding jungle. The structure is supported by pilons and is furnished with beautiful polished hardwoods. Afterwards we'll have a reconnaissance tour by motorized canoe. At 3:00 pm we will visit native houses, seeing how residents of the Amazon adapt to its challenging environment. Overnight at the Ariau Amazon Towers.

Day 4 - Amazon - Our first foray into the Amazon jungle will involve trekking on trails leading from the complex. Our guide, expert in the flora and fauna of the jungle, will enlighten our understanding of the rainforest ecosystem. The guide will also demonstrate jungle survival techniques. At the lodge, we can visit the lodge's animal rehabilitation center. In the afternoon try your hand at piranha fishing. Although they are carnivorous, Piranhas are not as fierce as depicted. After dark, we'll go on an unforgettable alligator-spotting trip with an expert guide from the lodge.

Day 5 - Amazon - Today we will focus on Amazonian anthropology, as we will visit Acajuba village, a small river settlement typical of Amazonian river dwellers. Return to Ariau for lunch. The lodge hosts a large museum of woodcarvings and paintings relating to Amazonian culture. This afternoon we will tour igarapes (small creeks) and igapos (flooded forests) as our guide explains the carefully balanced system of flooding that has a profound effect on the Amazon ecosystem. Overnight at Ariau Amazon Towers.

Day 6 - Manaus-Departure - We will go on an early morning sunrise tour, where we'll see the jungle teeming a multitude of birds. We will check out in the early morning and board our vessel to return to "civilization." Say goodbye to your captain and crew as we disembark at the pier in Manaus. Time permitting, we will have a city tour of this great jungle port. We'll transfer to the Manaus airport for our flight out.