Hi Luciana:
We are now home … the holiday is over (boo hoo!) and I have a moment to respond to you re: our trip. Here are my comments overall:
Mamirauá
• when we booked this, we really did not know HOW SPECIAL this place is! The setting and the environment cannot be improved in any way. Rooms are clean and comfortable with mosquito nets, flush toilets and hot water (for showers). The guides are knowledgeable and take the safety and interest of the visitors very seriously and provide many different opportunities to do a variety of interesting things. Those activities with the Uacari guides are then supplemented with visits by researchers who are working nearby. Transfers were all excellent and smooth.
• in terms of improvement, the food is good and substantial but gets a bit dull and repetitive. Also, the guides all require a translator since they only speak Portugeuse and that can be less effective
• when we met Brazilian people throughout the rest of our trip (including the guide at Juma and a professional guide we hired at Santarem), they were AMAZED that we had gone to this location as few foreign visitors do …. IT IS A SUPER SPECIAL PLACE
Juma Lodge
• the pick up by Juma at the airport was nice, but we were combined with another couple (who were going to Juma the next morning) and the car – a Fiat – was just too small for four adults who were loaded with luggage.
• getting there is a bit different (car – boat – car – boat) but it all works out and is pretty smooth and seamless
• this was the perfect contrast to Mamiraua … where as that cabin was on the water, at Juma you are up high in the canopy
• rooms are comfortable and clean … unfortunately only cold water for showers (ouch!) but our cabin (#16) was lovely and private … we called it the “honeymoon suite”. Meals are better than at Mamiraua, but that stands to reason since there are many more people
• location at Juma was not as spectacular as Mamiraua but the English speaking guide we had (Elcio) is one of the best guides we have ever had IN THE WORLD (and we are dedicated travellers) THIS IS ALSO A GREAT PLACE … a bit more “commercial” than Mamiraua but wonderful
Manaus
• the one day we had to tour Manaus (on our own) was Jan 4th and it was RAINING all day, very hard. Normally, that would not have bothered us, but after getting wet each and every day in the above lodges and without many dry clothes, we did not see much of it … mostly the area around the floating dock, where our ship was tied up and the market.
Perhaps the most important thing I have to say is about YOU – we could not have organized and arranged this trip, from half-way around the world without you. I was thinking about our difficulty in booking our TRIP flights, etc. You gave such good advice, you always responded to each and every e-mail within a day or so and I have provided many people (who we met on the cruise ship) with your contact details!!!
Finally, I am not against uploading some pictures to your site – how would I do that?
All for today –
Best regards,
Susan