Amazon River Cruise

01/17/25 @john8670.  That's on the IberoStar, right?  Our apartment overlooks the passenger port in Manaus, and the Iberostar generally returns from its excursions as I'm getting up, so I see it returning to port at least one morning a week.  It looks very luxurious!

It will be similar to an ocean cruise in terms of the accommodations, and in terms of their educational program:  you'll learn a lot about Amazonian flora and fauna.  As for "multiple port adventures", not really, because there are not multiple ports.  Half the population of the State of Amazonas lives in Manaus, and the rest is spread over an area a little bigger than Alaska, mostly in small, riverside villages.  The few small cities are probably farther than this cruise will reach.  You'll definitely be visiting at least one Indigenous village, but it appears to be mostly nature walks and boat rides.  In fact, the itinerary looks a lot like a number of day trips from Manaus scheduled one after another, plus five-star dining and luxury cabins between.  Two clear attractions that it would be hard for you to duplicate with day trips are the night excursions, and the Iberostar will take you farther from Manaus than the day boats can, so you'll probably see more unspoiled forest.

If you decide to do it, let me know:  maybe we can have dinner or something before or after, schedules permitting.

@abthree

Hey Boa Noite.

Yup it’s the Iberostar. We accidentally stumbled across it today through a instagram story. From  what you described I’m more excited about the cruise now. ^_^

How is the weather in Manaus and the Amazon during August? Also is this high or low season for the tourist?

If we go my wife and I would love to meet up!

01/17/25 How is the weather in Manaus and the Amazon during August? Also is this high or low season for the tourist?
If we go my wife and I would love to meet up! - @john8670

Manaus is hot, although it's far from being the hottest place I know in Brazil.  I generally describe the weather in Manaus as "twelve Julys a year".  July was always my favorite month so I love that, but it's not for everybody.  August is our sunniest month, the one in which you'll see the least rain, although this being Amazonia, you'll probably see some.  My husband thinks its our hottest month; I think that's October but he's the native Manauara, so we'll go with his call.  Average temperatures are in the low 80s F/high 20s C, highs are in the low 90s F/mid 30s C.  Confusingly because August is Winter in the Southern Hemisphere and we're two degrees south of the Equator, this season is called "Summer" here, as if we were in the Northern Hemisphere, probably because it's our hottest, driest time of year. 

There will be some tourists around but the rivers will have started going down, so there will be fewer oceangoing cruise ships than earlier in the year when the rivers are high -- we've had two this week, for example.  A lot of life here follows the  regular ebb and flow of the Negro and the Solimões.

It's important to be careful here of the Equatorial sun.  That's not limited to the Amazon, it's a question of being so much closer to the Equator than southeastern Brazil is.  Expats in Recife, João Pessoa, or Fortaleza can attest to the same thing where they are.  Around mid-day I feel it as not just heat, but almost as a physical weight pushing down on me.  I always wear a hat and use sunblock when I'm out in the sun, especially during the heat of the day, and recommend that to anyone.

Anything else I can tell you, feel free.  Please keep me posted as your plans come together.

@john8670,

I "cruised" the Amazon from Manaus to Belém in 1984 in what was called a "gaiola," an immense boat that carried 400+ passengers and the majority of the passengers traveled in their hammocks (each passenger required to bring their own). I think that there were a few cabins atop the "steerage" but I traveled as a common passenger. While it was an unforgettable memory. I'm sure that present day river travel holds more luxurious options.

I was on a year long trip that started in Lima, jumped to Cusco, train to Puno, boat/bus to La Paz, air over the mountains and  into the Bolivian Amazon at Guayaramerín, bus to Porto Velho then Manaus, "gaiola" to Belém and then some months of crisscrossing Brazil, north, south east and west mostly by bus.

It's a big country filled with beautiful sights!!! I'm sure that you'll love the trip.

mberigan

@john8670 how much is a trip like that roughly ?