Brazil, 2006
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Pousada, Aldeia dos Lagos, Silves Island: After a couple of days in Manaus, we went 250 KM downstream (east) to visit an Eco-Lodge on the Amazon River on Silves Island. Our driver thought he was in the Brazilian Grand Prix driving as fast as the car would go (and it was pouring rain). He made sure we used our seat belts but only used his when we arrived at a police check point. We finally pulled on onto a dirt road and into what seemed like someone's back yard with chickens running around. Soon a small aluminum boat arrived and after putting our luggage in the boat and covering in plastic we took off across the Amazon to the Island of Silves.

It was about a 30 minute trip to the island. When we arrived we got into an old VW bus to drive to the lodge, Pousada Aldeia dos Lagos. The lodge was built with a grant from the Austrian government to encourage eco-tourism in the area as an economic alternative to the over fishing of the lake and river. It is run as community project with different groups fixing the meals each day, etc. One of the local teachers met us as he was the best English speaker in town. When they found that Jackie spoke some Portuguese and a Brazilian, Ana, who was also visiting and worked for a Brazilian eco-tour association spoke some English, the language problem was solved.

I'll let the photos of the trip speak for themselves, but in general we would spend most of each of the four days we were there by going out on the river or to another island by boat and explore. Frequently we would trek through the jungle by canoe with a guide in the front with a machete and one in the back with a paddle. It would be interesting to go back in the 'dry season' when we could walk through the jungle! We had monkeys going through the trees overhead, lots of birds, cayman (a type of allegator), and amazing plants and flowers. We then returned to Manaus for an evening and visited with a friend who took us for a tour of Manaus University (in the jungle) before we flew on to the Pantanal.

Go directly to sections: Manaus, Silves 1, Silves 2, Pantanal 1, Pantanal 2, Pantanal 3, Iguazu 1, Iguazu 2, and Iguazu 3.

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All Photos © 2006 by David Cary.
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Thanks, Dave Cary