You’ll take an approximately one-hour riverboat ride down the dark waters of the mysterious Rio Negro. Here you’ll see the huts of the ribeirinhos (river people) clustered on the riverbanks. The riverboat is equipped with restroom facilities, although these may be basic. Your Amazon River cruise takes you to Lake January. At a landing platform, board a motorized, ten-seater canoe for a close-up view of the local vegetation and trees. With luck, and river conditions permitting, you may be able to admire Victoria Regia water lilies, the leaves of which can measure up to three feet across. During your tour you will come to the Meeting of the Waters, where the muddy yellow water of the mighty Solimões and the clear, dark water of the Rio Negro meet and continue to flow together without intermingling, forming the Amazon River. Back at the landing stage, you’ll have a little free time to purchase local native arts and crafts, before re-boarding the riverboat.

Notes:

Minimum age is 5 years. There are 10 wooden steps to negotiate should you wish to be seated on the upper level of the riverboat. Only half of the upper level is covered. Wear lightweight clothing and comfortable walking shoes. Bring sunscreen and a hat. It takes approximately one hour (or more in certain water conditions) from the port to reach the Meeting of the Waters, another 60 minutes to reach the canoe station; then a further 60 minutes to return to the port. The river trip in the canoe will last approximately 60-75 minutes. Tour involves some effort during (dis)embarkation of the motorized canoes. Do not book "The Meeting of the Waters: A Jungle Cruise" in addition to "A Cruise through the Amazon Rain Forest" as the two tours are somewhat similar. The Meeting of the Waters can also be viewed from your cruise ship while approaching Manaus. The water level in the Amazon basin fluctuates seasonally. Occasionally, some tours that involve these waterways may be rescheduled or modified at very short notice.