Manaus Travel Forum

I only have time for one. Which place is the best for seeing the most animals/jungle?

I do have a time constraint of only three days before I have to travel from one of these to Rio de Janeiro...

You do not say where you will be coming from. Is it New York? If so you will find it very difficult (and/or expensive) or impossible to find a flight to Manaus that does not go through Sao Paolo or Rio both ways. (One possiblility --Check the Bolivain airlines for a flight to Santa Cruz that might stop in Manaus and then for a flight from Santa Cruz to Rio.) If you do not find such a set of flights, I can say by experience that it would be a long detour particularly with connection times included. You are also restricted for visit time that will make it difficult to have enough time to travel far enough away from the large city to get to un-hunted forest. Since there is no zoo in Manaus(You can see a few enclosed animals in the Bosque de Ciencia), I would not recommend Manaus as the place of choice for a brief visit to jungle and to see animals.

I have no experience upon which to base a recommendation of Iquitos or Maldonado. I just know that they are both much smaller and in less developed areas. I think that you would have to fly from Lima and return to Lima to continue on to Rio, but you might just find a flight from Maldonado to Argentina. I have a friend who went to Iquitos for a brief jungle visit. He had reservations for a jungle excursion as part of his total package and did enjoy the visit, unfortunately I can not get to him to ask him who he went with and whether he would use them again.
Good luck. bob


Flights to Iquitos orginate

You won't see many animals in or near Manaus, though there is a fair-sized zoo at the Tropical Manaus Hotel. The jungle is so heavy that what animals there are rarely appear to human eyes. In and near the various jungle lodges -- notably Ariau Jungle Towers -- you'll see a lot of birds and have a chance to see crocodiles, fish (including pirahna), and possibly river dolphins.

The best place in Brazil for viewing wild life is the Pantanal, north or south.

As they already said, in and around Manaus, you will not see animals or birds.
The only change you have to see animals and birds is in the Pantanal region on the border with Bolivia. There are (low budget) companies which will taka you for three days in the Pantanal.
It is the only way you will an animal in the jungle.
I made already amny trips (25) in the Pantanal and Amazon forest. To see animals in the Amazon forest, you have to make real expeditions long away from Manaus and for several days or even weeks.
If you want, Ican give you the adresses of companies which will lead you into the Panatal for almost 40,- euro a day, mealsand transport included.
I don't have any commission of them. I only know they go in a region that I know it is very good to see animals.
Good luck
Ericos

Thank you very much to all of you for your replies. I apologize for not giving enough information. I will be going to South America for three weeks and I do not have anything booked yet, thus I am very flexible in terms of the best way to go about my trip. My thinking is to either fly from NYC into Lima and return from Rio de Janeiro three weeks later, or the reverse. I would like to spend 4 days and up to a week in some part of the Amazon so I could either do this at the beginning or end of my trip, and coming from either Lima or Rio de Janeiro.

Yes, I would be very grateful for any links you have for tours that are cheap. :)

I know I will return from my trip very tired as the better way is to spend three weeks in only one place, but I don't have more time than that and I want to see more of South America than only the Amazon.

Many thanks in advance for future suggestions!!

Ria :)

I can recommend the Explorama Lodge, near Iquitos.

TAM has daily flights from Miami to Manaus and if you are starting in NYC then you can fly American from JFK to Miami, then make a connection.

There is a nice zoo in Manaus, the CIGS zoo run by the military. It is quite a bit better than the zoo at the Tropical Hotel.

Haven't been to Iquitos yet but did go to Maldonado and will add Rurrenebaque in Bolivia to your list. Rurre is a hell of a lot cheaper and with the exception of Macaw clay licks you see plenty o animals. We loved both spots but you will pay more in Maldo. Your best bet is to arrive in Cusco with a couple days to search out a bargain either on flights or a package to Maldo (you can bus it but we hard it is a hell on wheels). With flights our 6 day package was $440 each included 3 nights in tent and two nights at a lodge at Sandoval. Manu packages were also available from Cusco as low as $500 the downside is a harsh bus ride to and from. Saw loads of wildlife and had a fantastic time at Maldonado! In comparison - Rurrenebaque we did 3 days in the Pamapas and a 10-day jungle trek for less than $230 each (flights to La Paz RT will cost about $100). I think you will enjoy whatever you choose - If you have time to wait I will report on Iquitos as well. Email me for a link to photos of Rurre and Maldo...

Scott

I went to Iquitos with my gf. We were there for only 3 days.
We loved it, it looked so tropical, like vietnam or the brazilian jungle from what i've seen on TV and pictures.The food was good near the main plaza. We ate "cecina" some sort of wild boar, crocodile, and piranas.

It was hot!!! like too hot almost, felt like you were stickin your head in a oven, it was almost unbearable i wanted to be naked but by the time i was going back to lima i could wear pants which seemed impossible at first.
We went pirana fishing it was amazing and we cooked them afterwards.

The only thing i regret is that i got lured at the airport when I first got there to take a cheap hotel from an elite agent there who was very nice, the place was worth the cheap money but when i got to the main area of iquitos there so many options places with pools...a pool is a must as it is extremely hot...38celsius tops but mostly 34.

One more thing, i know that there were tours to go see animals, i didnt see many since i dont really mind for that. I did however, see a variety of birds, monkeys, and alligators as we were on a canoe, pretty intimidating, then the bugs!!!! thats quite the nauseance when you get close too colse to the jungle, some flyes sting and they will sting right through your clothes, one got me in the scrotum!!! beware.

Iquitos was cool though

For a flight:
AA from LAG to MIA (not stop flight (about 2:55min flight)
TAM from MIA to MAO (not stop flight (about 4:45min flight)
COPA from MIA TO MAO 1 Stop in Panama (about 7:30min flight)
VARIG/TAM or GOL From MAO to SP-GRU not stop (takes about 3:30min flight)

To Do
May u can stay at jungle hotels & do a kind of ECO TUR! I am sure u will enjoy!
Good Luck;)
Sil