Shortly before we’d left for this trip we found out that Princess had cancelled a large number of their shore excursions on the Amazon. This included a couple that we’d really been interested in, such as a night trip into the flooded forests looking for caymen, and a trip the next day that did the meeting of the waters and Lake January with the large lily pads. (In hind sight it was probably good that we weren’t stuck with that night trip after having dealt with that overnight flight we had). However, one of the people from our cruise critic group had put together an excursion with a local guide and still had room for us.
This turned out to be an absolutely tremendous excursion, easily one of the best we’ve taken on a cruise. Rudolpho was our guide, and he picked us up at the pier and took us to a speed boat that we used to travel upriver for an hour. After all the heat walking around town the day before, it was amazing just how different the experience was to be on a speed boat on the river. Very comfortable and relaxing. Our first stop this morning was to be at a spot where we could get in the water and swim with and feed the pink dolphins. A little before we got to this, we ran into what I think was a flock of cormorants on the river’s edge. Easily a couple hundred of birds in this flock, and at one end they’d be taking off from the water, and landing at the other end. When in the water all you could see was their long necks sticking out of the water, so when I first saw them I though they looked like some kind of odd reed. Was really kinda neat.
We stopped at a place first that was supposed to have some restrooms and to pick up our guide. Water hadn’t been working there so the restrooms had all been nailed shut. Since I still needed to change into a swim suit, turned out the only spot available was the open end of the floating houseboat we had stopped at, which was definitely a different experience. Especially when all of a sudden I could hear a boat motor coming up the river towards where they could see me.
From the house boat thing we went to a platform a ways out and sure enough there were several dolphins swimming in the area. When the guide got in the water, the dolphins started congregating around. We were able to get in the water, and then hold fish up over the water, and the dolphins would stick their heads up out of the water and take the fish from your hands. The dolphins would also constantly be bumping into you under the water, and you can’t really see them until they’re within a foot or so of the surface, because the Rio Negro has really dark colored water, with very little visibility.
We then went to a nice sandy beach fr a little while, where we could walk around, get in the water, and just relax for a while. Very soft sand, and the bottom just sloped very gradually out from shore so you could walk a ways out into the water.
From there we headed to a local house for lunch. This was a local family house, some people that actually now do have electricity, but only for the last year or so. Lunch was barbequed chicken and fish, plus some things like Piranah soup, watermelon, and Mango juiceOne of our party also took some time to try some fishing. Never did catch anything, but he was definitely getting bites, you could see the fish pulling the line. As we were finishing up, it did absolutely start to pour rain. I have to admit, I was pretty impressed with the palm frond awning we were under, I didn’t see a single leak.
After the rain let off, we headed back to the boat and headed downstream some more to a village that was set up by a tribe that used to live upriver. It’s now a preserve of some kind, which allows them to continue to practice their heritage, and yet be closer to the city if they needed anything from there. Rudolpho likes to bring groups here if there’s time to get a taste for something fairly authentic.
Then it was hurry back to the speedboat before yet another rainstorm swept in, and we headed off back to the ship through some of that rain.
All in all, I’d have to say that this was an incredible trip, easily one of the best excursions we’ve taken on cruise ships. It more than made up for the other excursions that we’d looked at being canceled, and I can leave knowing that at least we really did get a chance to get out and get a taste of what’s here. If you ever happen to be in Manaus, I can highly recommend getting ahold of Rudolpho to see what he can put together for you.
Sailing today was right at 6pm, which also happens to be when first seating dining is.
That’s the one thing I do truly dislike about the small Princess ships, traditional dining. I like to watch us sail from ports, and the fixed seating dining often seems to get in the way of that. I don’t know if we would have gotten to the meeting of the waters early enough that it was still light, but wouldn’t have minded trying to see it.