Hi Luciana,
We just got back to Belo Horizonte this morning at 2: 30am as our flights from Manaus to Sao Paulo Guarulhos and then to Belo were delayed. We were and still are totally exhausted, but that had nothing to do with the wonderful time we had in Mamirauá and in Manaus.
Thanks for arranging the Amazon Explorer Tour`Encontro das Aguas´ for us. It was good to do before Mamiraua as it caters for masses of tourists and gives them some `excitement´. What we did not like about that tour was that at one point the children of the people living on the river met our motorboats to offer captured animals like sucuri, macacos, preguicas and baby jacares for photos in return for money. In our opinion children should go to school and not be depended on to supplement the families`income. But in that we are most likely very European. The rest of the tour and the explanations given were very good. - Thank you for the information about the Eliana Pirtes concert. We managed to get some tickets for the Friday concert and it was wonderful. She is a very talented singer and her music appield very much to us. Thanks again for your help as we could experience the acustics of the Theatro Amazonas at this life show. - The trip with Rico Airlines was uneventful. Only the journey to Tefe was quite long as we first had to make a stop in Tabatinga. - Mamirauá was a dream. This program of ecotourism is well organized and worth every penny. The combination of motor boat and canoe tours through the `varzea´, the flooded forest together with visits to local communities and presentations from scientists is a fantastic mixture of activities and brings to one`s attention many aspects of life in the rainforest.
Accommodation and meals at Pousada Uacari are very good and the staff is extremely friendly and helpful. We enjoyed every minute we spent there.
Thank you again for helping us arrange all that. I felt very comfortable conversing with you via e mail and was impressed by your professionalism and care that you took in answering all my questions beforehand. I normally do not like to arrange trips over the internet, but after all our communications felt reassured to do so.
Thanks for all your help and be sure that I will definitively recommand you to all my friends here.
Viola
24 de Julho de 2007 às 06:41
admin
Ricardo, voltamos apenas ontem pois ficamos uma semana em Manaus.
Hotel Saint Paul: muito bem localizado e bom serviço, além de bastante simpático. Gostamos do café da manhã.
Quanto ao apto…digamos médio. sem problemas mas bem simples.
Juma Lodge: Local lindíssimo, guias muito experientes e agradáveis, boa comida, embora poucos pratos regionais.
Atendimento muito agradável pois são todos muito simpáticos, porém o serviço em si é bem pouco profissional, mas quando eu solocitei , por exemplo que me trocassem as toalhas após 3 dias (muito pequenas e com odor desagradável)a camareira atendeu de imediato e pediu desculpas pelo “esquecimento”.
Os passeios pelos Igarapés e igapós foram maravilhosos, no entanto 4 dias é muito tempo.
O atendimento da Viverde foi muito profissional. Respostas rápidas aos meus e-mails, informações precisas e todo o combinado foi cumprido sem nenhum senão.
De modo geral a viajem foi muito boa.
Até a próxima viagem a Manaus…quem sabe Anavilhanas!!??
Um abraço e obrigada!
Rita
às 06:37
admin
Ricardo,
Só tenho elogios quanto à minha estadia no Amazonas… Primeiro, em relação ao atendimento de vcs (via Internet) que foi muito bom e as excelentes informações que constam no site. Também minha estadia o Tiwa e o passeio no Cruzeiro Amazon Clipper foram inesquecíveis e partir ontem já com vontade de retornar em breve.
Um abraço,
Rosangela
20 de Julho de 2007 às 16:03
admin
Thoughts about the cruise on the Negro River aboard the Iberostar Grand Amazon, June 24-28, 2007
Robert and Jean Johnson
The cruise was everything we had hoped for, and more.
The Iberostar Grand Amazon, launched in 2005, was designed and built entirely in Brazil. This is a source of pride for those associated with the boat.
The ship is kept spotless, inside and out. Daily common sight was members of the maintenance crew shining, polishing, washing windows, and painting.
The trip began at the sidewalk where a member of the crew welcomed us by name at our taxi and explained about the crusie. Our bags were ported to the ship, where we were welcomed at check in with a delicious fruit drink.
Our air-conditioned cabin, with a king bed, was spotless, roomy, and well provisioned. A private balcony for every cabin was a particularly welcome feature.
All drinks and food (including the minibar in the cabin) are included in the price. The bar on the terrace was staffed throughout the day and into the evening. The bar in auditorium was staffed during meetings and entertainment.
At a meeting on the first night, a crew member explained matters of safety, outlined daily activities, and provided introductions of the crew—captain, guides, chef and matre d, medical officer, head of housekeeping, head of maintenance. The information was provided in Portuguese and English
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were buffet style, with several entrée choices. In addition, an ala carte menu listed additional choices from the kitchen (galley). A wide variety of cheeses and salads, plus daily home-made bread, guaranteed that nobody would go hungry.
The wine was excellent, as were the wide variety of other drinks available.
Morning and afternoon excursions, on 20-25 person boats powered by dual outboard engines.
The excursions were varied, including a trek through the forest, bird watching, flowers, and trees, and an evening alligator hunt. Piranha fishing was also offered.
Excursion boats sometimes stopped by homes along the river to watch preparation of manioc and purchase local crafts. The trek through the forest employed a local man as a guide.
Guides were friendly, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and concerned about the environment. Guides learned our names. Guides were also talented in other ways, including music; they provided a band concert on the terrace one night. One guide provided concert with Brazilian flutes.
The crew was multilingual—Portuguese, English, French, German, and Spanish. Excursions were guided by English speakers and Portuguese speakers.
Approximately half of the guests were from Brazil. This percentage has been growing over the past several years. On our cruise were people from Brazil, Switzerland, Spain, the United States, and other nations.
Other observation
All the guides were male. On an Antarctica Cruise we took a few years ago, about half of the guides on the Zodiac boats were female. We suggest that the Iberostar Grand Amazonzon integrate more women in into its staff of guides.
às 08:43
admin
Bom Dia, Ricardo!
Desculpe mas as passageiras só retornaram semana passada e somente agora uma delas a líder Dona Eroydes van der Voort efetuou o comentário da viagem. Acharam o Festival de Parintins maravilhoso, mas o preço que pagaram foi muito alto pelos serviços oferecidos:
- Assistência na ilha: somente efetuado o transfer in/out, sem sequer prestado nenhuma assistência durante a permanência na ilha.
- Pousada Brito distante do Bumbódramo e não prestada nenhuma assistência pelo menos no primeiro dia, café da manhã bom, serviços na pousada a desejar: limpeza diária dos quartos precisava ser solicitada, falta de água compraram água mineral para lavar rosto, escovar os dentes e somente no último dia forneceram um galão.
- A ilha não tem infra-estrutura para receber tanta gente.
Quanto ao atendimento de sua Agência foi muito bom, as informações foram prestadas imediatas, a única demora foi com relação aos vouchers com informações de horários de vôos, ingressos foi muito em cima do Festival. Tudo bem que a Fatura/Voucher foi emitida mas é somente um comprovante do pagamento e o o Pax quer todo roteiro organizado, com horários de vôos, vouchers, etc. aguardando apenas o momento de viajar.
Mesmo assim quando nosso destino fôr Manaus estaremos entrando em contato com vocês para mais solicitações.
Grata,
Marie/Braziltravel
17 de Julho de 2007 às 11:23
admin
