Hi Luciana
Back from Brasil last Monday (24 November).
We had a wonderful time everywhere we went, despite, in my case, having a couple of bouts of illness – esp. bronchitis! We’re supposed to go to warmer climes to get away from that!
As requested, my comments:
(1)re. Viverde:
I found Viverde to be extremely helpful and efficient. You always answered my e-mails promptly, and covered all my queries.
It was very helpful to be able to deal with someone who was “on the spot”, so could give up to date information and a clearer picture of what to expect.
As you know, I had some particular concerns, due to my mobility problems. Thankyou very much for exploring these. It gave me the confidence to go forward with our plans to stay at Mamiraua. The main hurdle turned out to be getting into the boat which collected us at Tefe! However, everyone was very helpful and with a bit of pushing and shoving, I managed to get in.
For your information, to correct if you are able> I had to perservere to find you on the internet. The website given in “Lonely Planet” got me through to Portugal – (I assume you are perhaps a subsidiary of a European Portuguese firm.) It may also be a deficiency in my computer skills!! It was only after two attempts to phone together with the knowledge of my Brazilian daughter-in-law, about the likelihood or not, of the numbers being correct, that we got through and were given the correct e-mail contact details.
On a more “negative” note, we did feel the commission you took to be on the high side. We have deduced what this was from a fellow-traveller at Mamiraua, who booked direct. He did book fairly last minute, so realise he may have had a better financial deal anyway for that reason, but.. If our information and sums are correct, we paid an additional c.£100 each for your services – ie. a total of £300. I, personally, though agreeing that it is a high commission, would still pay it, as it saves me the hassle of doing it all myself. However, my friends would not feel similarly. This means that, in terms of promoting Mamiraua, we are much more likely to suggest that people make contact directly, rather than go through yourselves. Whereas for a commission of, say, £50 maximum, I would be more likely to recommend people go via yourselves.
An additional, I hope helpful, comment. It may be that your usual “market” are people looking for a more “luurious” type of holiday/setting. If you recall, we ended up booking our own places for our overnight stays in Manaus as all the ones on your “list” were not the sort of places we would normally stay. I wonder though whether you have explored the market for people like us – i.e.We are of the age and health level, which means our backpacking days are over; this means we wanted to be clean and comfortable, but definitely NOT add to potential pollution by all the unnecessary accoutrements of what we see as “luxury”: we wanted to definitely support the local economy, and not support international chains, or financial backers, where the money will go outside the region – even outside the country: we wanted to be able, without being patronising, to learn about the local community, not be “protected” from it: we wanted to try to ensure our carbon footprint was as low as possible. (I admit we should therefore not even have flown there in the first place! Complicated reasons around this trip for me.)
>>> Viverde and Mamirauá Comment:
Hi Shirley,
Do you know any reason why my guests paid more than this other guest?
Look forward to hear from you,
Best regards,
Luciana Kalvon Pedroso
Viverde Turismo Ltda
“
Hi Sue!
Thank you so much for your comments about the Uakari Lodge and Mamirauá Reserve.
However the overcharging told for another guest I think it is not correct. As I checked the price paid for all guests in that period and everybody paid U$550.00 per person. Also those who stayed alone in the room paid U$150.00 more for the single supplement.
I would like to let you know the Viverde Travel agency is trust and very nice partner that work a long time with us. And the last year VIVERDE was the best national partner had sold 7% of all packages sold on 2007.
I believe that people who commented about the cheaper value paid to visit Mamirauá to refer to the transfer by slow boat from Manaus. This is really cheaper for those who travel by hammock and that buy tickets directly with the slow boat attendant – this was the Pascal van Bergen’s case.
Please let me know what is your thinking about this.
Best regards,
Shirlei Pineiro
Sales and Marketing Manager
Uakari Lodge/ Mamirauá Reserve
“
>Sue last message:
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Hi Luciana
Thanks for your reply.
Please do not let the couple of less positive comments overshadow the main thrust of my response, which was intended to be giving really positive feedback about my contact with yourselves!!!
The point about our problems getting hold of you in the first place was not intended as a complaint, but for you to check what is published in Lonely Planet – and perhaps elsewhere. As I also said in my original e-mail, the fault could have also been with my lack of computer skills. (I am of the generation which remembers life before telephones and television, let alone computers!)
The question about the apparently different rates has been explained – I have copied you into my reply about that. I am very glad I mentioned it in my response to you, though; or you would not have known about it, and the misunderstanding would not have been cleared up.
re. the hotels in Manaus: it was my friends who dealt with the booking of these. I think they did have problems finding somewhere. They told me they went through all the ones on your list (as I thought the ones lower down your list were possibly cheaper); I think they said they had no vacancies. We did have a triple room in the Lord; as I recall, the cost was considerably less than the ones you quoted us, which is why I think Kalpana and Sudesh went with it – but I may be wrong.
Despite the hiccups, I am very glad we found you and am very happy with my dealings with you! Now the question of the rates has been cleared up, I would definitely recommend you to others.
Please feel free to lift the positive comments from my previous e-mails and put on your blog/website – or whatever. (I do not understand this aspect of internet stuff!!)
Very best wishes
sue
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re.TRIP
efficient and helpful staff.
Re. Mamirauá
What can I say? Absolutely wonderful, amazing, peaceful, informative.
All arrangements by all their staff were efficiently carried out
The accommodation was simple, but very clean and comfortable, including the hammocks on the verandah, overlooking the river and forest, with the plentiful caymans – maybe not plentiful, but always visible – amazing jumping fish, sound of howling monkeys, and numerous birds. There were about 6 to 8 single storey rooms, each for up to 3 people I think; each with simple shower room and verandah. These were built in local style in keeping with surroundings, and on a floating system, to allow for the dry and flooded seasons.
The on-site staff were always very helpful – both Misha, the main organiser, who spoke English and Italian, as well as Portuguese, – and all the local staff – cook, laundry, guides etc.
Kalpana and I especially valued the provision of good, home-cooked vegetarian food at each mealtime, and the gentle reminder from Misha that we should have our share before the others tucked into it! (There was always meat or fish too.) It was carefully placed with some separation from the non-vegetarian food, to minimise the possible contamination of utensils. The cook even experimented to provide us with something she had never done before.
We valued the opportunity to visit a local village of “ribeirinhos”. This appeared to be something of mutual benefit.
It worked well having a small group of guests stay at the lodge, with eating and doing outings together. Misha was mostly part of that, and was able to help us gel together. There were 7 of us, and from a range of countries and backgrounds. (Obviously, a lot depended on chance, and we did all get on OK anyway.)
The videos and talks were an essential part of the experience – you should not go to Mamiraua unless you are really interested in the reason for their existence as a conservation area.
The local guides were patient and keen-eyed, helping us spot wildlife from foot or canoe. These were mainly different varieties of monkeys, but also sloths; and an amazing variety of birds and fish and, of course, caymans. We were not lucky enough to see a jaguar, though they almost certainly saw us!!
Amongst the wildlife, it was amazing seeing the acrobatics of the pink river dolphins. We learned that the conservation work appears to be being successful in helping local people see the dolphins as an asset rather than a potential for hunting, or killing as a competitor for the fish. (Research has indicated that they only accoiunt for around 5% of potential fish catch.) It was distressing seeing dolphins crying in fear as they were caught in nets for research purposes (weighed, examined, and tagged before being released again) Against this is the fact that the dolphin population outside conservation areas is being brought close to obliteration. If you go to Mamiraua, you have to accept that research is a large part of their reason for existence currently.
I am sure there is more I would want to say, but that is it for now!!!
Again, very many thanks for all your helpful work and communications.
best wishes
sue (meredith velado)
p.s. I have not consulted with my friends who came with me – Kalpana and Sudesh, so these comments are purely my own.