A edição de hoje da CNN Travel mostra os clássicos do turismo em Manaus e o que está por vir na capital manauara, como o Juma Ópera Manaus. O hotel-butique, com previsão de abertura para 2018, pertence aos mesmos donos do Juma Amazon Lodge. Terá um restaurante de alta gastronomia, quartos luxuosos e ficará no Centro, a poucos passos do Teatro Amazonas.
Leia a reportagem completa da CNN sobre Manaus, assinada por Karen Catchpole, em:
[:en] Woolly Monkey (Photo: Akinori K) e Sunset at Rio Juma (Foto: Stefan Aerni)
Canoeing through igapós (flooded forest) and overnights in the forest are some of the attractions offered by the jungle hotels in the region, such as Juma Amazon Lodge, during the rivers’ flooding period
Days are never the same in the Amazon Jungle, Brazil, South America. Between February and May, the region becames a unique show for tourists. The level of the river climbs up to 15 meters (about 50 feet), allowing for more areas inside the jungle to be reached by boat.
During this time, crossing the jungle in wooden canoes provides memorable experiences, such as seeing the tree tops reflected clearly on the water and watching the birds closely than in other seasons.
From the USA, American Airlines flies daily non-stop from Miami to Manaus, the entry-gate to the Amazon Jungle by five hours.
Immersed in the jungle, three hours away from Manaus by boat and land, Juma Amazon Lodgeoffers the ideal location for deeply getting to know the region’s, with amazing rides:
Canoe ride (Photo: Juma Amazon Lodge)
Canoe – Is done on paddling canoes through the igapós (flooded forest). It’s possible to swim and watch river dolphins.
Night in the forest – After dinner, guests spend a night in the forest, sleeping in hammocks, listening to the animals’ sounds.
Picnic – After walking through the many trails in the forest, the food is roasted on woodenspits over red coals.
Sumaúma – The sumaúma is a giant Amazonian tree, reaching up to 130 feet (40 meters). During the ride, visitors can reach one of these trees.
Tree climbing – This ride explores the Amazon’s tallest tree tops.
Juma Bungalow (Photo: Juma Amazon Lodge)
JUMA AMAZON LODGE
The hotel is by Juma River in Autazes city, Amazonas, Brazil. In a preserved forest area of around 17,300 acres, it has 21 bungalows (built from wood and thatched with straw) with private bathrooms and hot showers. Juma is located in a black-watered region, so there are almost no mosquitoes there. It is recommended to be vaccinated for yellow fever ten days before traveling.
Packages price: Start from U$S 900 for three nights (January to May 2016, including all meals, English speaking guides, transfer between the hotel and Manaus and rides, except Tree Climbing). Children from 0 to 5 years old are free of charge.
More than 12 years ago, Daniel Santos and his wife, Daniela Bonora, exchanged their hectic city life in São Paulo for the calm Trancoso, in the south of Bahia State, one of the most paradisiac places in Brazil. There, 400 meters (1300 ft) away from the sea, the couple has put together a pousada. Passionate about nature, they’ve planted hundreds of native species to the local rain forest, the Mata Atlântica (a rich vegetation that covers part of the country along the coast), and over the years formed an enormous garden. There are heliconias, bromelias, fern and orchids, besides endangered species such as mahogany and jacaranda.
In the mist of this 5 000 m² (5500 yards) garden, the 12 rooms of Mata N´ativa Pousada are distributed. The area’s flora attracts many native birds, such as tié-sangue (Ramphocelus bresilius), sanhaço (Tangara sayaca), japira (Cacicus haemorrhous) and corrupião (Icterus jamacaii), besides wild animals, such as macacos-prego (a type of monkey), micos (calitrix geoffroi), bichos-preguiça (sloths) and others. “Every day we see these animals and we have a selection of books in the reception area to help guests identify the plants”, says Daniel.
Guests can see this natural richness from the balconies of their rooms, which are also equipped with natural essence amenities and solar heating system. Brazilian art and freshly picked hibiscus are part of the décor. Two units also have a hot tub, one has two stories and a kitchen, and eight can accommodate up to four people.
Running alongside the garden with the rooms is the river Trancoso, clear and calm. It’s the starting point of kayak rides guests can take in order to further see the vegetation and more native birds. On the margin of the river there is also a spa (services paid separately) and the swimming pool, which has a shallow area for children. It’s also possible to go on horseback rides, rent kayaks or bicycles, which can be used for a visit to the beach, to a bull ranch and to city’s historical center, called Quadrado, 300 meters (980 ft) away.
Gastronomy – Besides dishes exclusive for children, the menu of Mata N´ativa Pousada offers homely recipes made from natural ingredients. Almost all types of bread available for breakfast – such as kümmel, wholewheat, potato bread, carrot bread and pumpkin bread – are produced in the kitchen of pousada. The same is true for the yogurt, cakes, chutneys and jellies, such as the hibiscus jelly. If the guest prefers, there are also scrambled eggs and tapioca, freshly made.
Carbon free – Following its sustainable policy, Mata N´ativa Pousada allows guests to neutralize their carbon emission footprint from the plane ride, offering a tool that calculates, from the distance traveled, how many trees are necessary to be planted in order to offset the damage. The pousada also offers saplings for guests to plant in the region. “We want guests to understand the importance of preserving the environment even before they arrive”, explains Daniel.