Amazon rainforest from Manaus: a complete guide to planning your trip

Manaus is the gateway to the largest tropical rainforest on the planet. A few hours by speedboat and road take you from the capital of Amazonas state to a lodge surrounded by forest, where the day starts with sunrise on the river and ends with caiman spotting in the dark.

This guide answers what travelers ask most before they go: when to travel, how many days to stay, what you can do, what it costs and how to pick the right tour. Everything here is based on the expeditions Kyle Travels runs from Manaus.

When to go: high water or dry season

The Amazon welcomes visitors all year. What changes is the river, and the landscape with it.

High water (February to August). The river rises several meters and floods the forest. This is the season of the igapós, the flooded forest where canoes glide between tree trunks. It is also when the Survival Tour runs, since its fishing activities need high water.

Dry season (September to January). The river drops, white sand beaches appear and walking trails get longer. In Presidente Figueiredo, the day tour itinerary changes with the season.

It is hot and humid all year, usually between 24 and 33 °C, and rain can come at any time. Your guide adapts each day to the river, the weather and the wildlife.

How many days to stay in the jungle

The most common question. The answer depends on how much time you have in Manaus.

Days	Best for	What you do
2 days / 1 night	Short on time	Meeting of the Waters, canoeing in the flooded forest, caiman spotting, sunrise with river dolphins and a jungle trek
3 days / 2 nights	A first Amazon trip	All of the above, plus a night camping in the jungle and survival skills with your guide
4 days / 3 nights	Going deeper	All of the above, plus piranha fishing, a swim in the dolphins' lake and riverside communities
5 days / 4 nights	Total immersion	All of the above, plus the deepest trek, a night with a riverside family and arrow fishing

For most people, three days is the right balance. You get time to settle into the rhythm of the forest and to spend a night in the jungle, which is often the moment travelers remember most.

Things to do in the Amazon

Meeting of the Waters

This is where the dark Rio Negro meets the muddy Solimões. The two rivers run side by side for kilometers without mixing. On the packages you cross it on the way to the lodge. You can also see it on a day tour.

Canoeing in the flooded forest and jungle treks

With your guide, you paddle narrow channels inside the forest and walk trails learning to recognize plants, fruits and animal tracks.

Caiman spotting

After dinner, the canoe heads out in the dark with a flashlight. Your guide finds caimans by the shine of their eyes along the riverbank.

River dolphins, piranha fishing and riverside communities

Pink river dolphins show up early in the morning. The 4 and 5 day tours add piranha fishing with bamboo rods, a swim in the dolphins' lake and visits to riverside communities, to see up close how people live along the river.

Day tours from Manaus

If you have a free day before or after the jungle, add one of these:

• Meeting of the Waters and Indigenous Village: speedboat to the Meeting of the Waters, giant water lilies at Janauari Park, handicrafts, lunch and an indigenous village. From US$ 63 per person.
• Presidente Figueiredo: the land of waterfalls, 2 hours from Manaus, with a cave, rapids and waterfall swimming. From US$ 102 per person.
• Presidente Figueiredo Full Day: three highlights in one day, which change between high water and dry season. From US$ 157 per person.

How much an Amazon trip costs

Kyle Travels packages from Manaus include pick-up at your hotel or the airport, transport to the lodge and back, an air-conditioned room at the Amazon Ipanema Lodge, all meals, the activities and bilingual local guides.

Tour	Length	From (per person)
Amazônia Express	2 days / 1 night	US$ 236
Amazônia Meu Amor	3 days / 2 nights	US$ 354
Tour Araçá	4 days / 3 nights	US$ 472
Expedição Aventura	5 days / 4 nights	US$ 590
Survival Tour (private)	3 days / 2 nights	US$ 472

Reference prices as of November 2026, subject to dates and availability.

Not included: flights to Manaus, your hotel in the city before and after the jungle, bar drinks at the lodge and travel insurance, which is mandatory. The lodge has optional Wi-Fi, paid on site: US$ 2 per day.

You can book online with a 30% deposit by card or bank transfer and pay the rest on arrival in Manaus, or pay 100% online by card before the trip.

How to choose your tour

• First time in the Amazon with 3 free days: Amazônia Meu Amor. It is the most popular choice.
• Only a weekend: Amazônia Express, for a good taste of the forest.
• Want to see how people live in the region: Tour Araçá or Expedição Aventura, which visit riverside communities.
• Up for real adventure and traveling between February and August: the private Survival Tour, with two nights in a shelter you build yourself in the jungle.

Getting there and what to pack

You only need to get to Manaus. Pick-up is at your hotel (Manaus metropolitan area) or the airport, between 7:00 and 7:30 AM, and from there we head to the speedboat. Travel with a small backpack: most hotels in Manaus store larger luggage while you are in the jungle.

Pack:

• light long-sleeve shirts and long trousers that dry fast;
• swimwear, a light rain jacket and a hat;
• closed trekking shoes and sandals;
• insect repellent, sunscreen and personal medication;
• a flashlight, a water bottle and a power bank;
• your passport and some cash in Brazilian reais for the bar and tips.

The yellow fever vaccine is recommended at least 10 days before the trip. Check with your doctor or a travel clinic.

Before you book

Kyle Travels is a Brazilian travel agency registered with CADASTUR, the Ministry of Tourism's official registry, with more than 10 years in business and a 5.0 rating on Google. Tours are led by local guides who know the region, and every photo in this guide comes from a real expedition.

On the tours page you can see each day-by-day itinerary, download the PDF and pick your date. Booking takes a few minutes.