Tours from that take the Rio Negro into the Amazon River are based out of
Manaus, Brazil. Nearby the Rio Solimois and the Rio Negro converge in one of the
most interesting natural phenomenona in the world. The Rio Solimoes comes from
Peru and runs pale and foggy from the sand of the Andes. In contrast, the Rio
Negro runs clear and dark. When these waters merge to form the Amazon they flow
next to each other, brown and muddy next to black and clear, for several miles
until they eventually intermingle.
Many eco-tours take small boats, or slightly larger cruise ships, along the
river’s edge to spot the over 2000 varieties of plant species, the giant
butterflies, and blue Hoatzin birds. This method is less strenuous than hiking
and camping. Wildlife is bountiful along the river’s edge and in the
water—including the unique, pink freshwater dolphins.
When water levels are high, boats can explore small streams and duck into
parts of the rainforest that are normally inaccessible. The feeder rivers to the
Amazon boast some of the most extraordinary natural phenomenona. The Rio Negro
leads to the igapo, which is a forest flooded with “black” water, which is
actually brownish and quite clean. Exposed root structures stretch out of this
leaf-stained water where the caimans lurk. When the water is high on the Amazon,
the forest is flooded with “white” water, called the varezea, which is in stark
contrast to the igapo.
Staying in the Amazon
Accommodations in the jungle vary greatly, from bungalows to lodges. While
luxury is not a top priority in the jungle, the most impressive accommodations
are set high above the treetops affording spectacular views of the rainforest.
So, eco-tourist can camp under the rainforest canopy or stretch out in a hammock
above the canopy. Either way, it’s a trip of a lifetime that might play a small
part in saving your world.