6 Best Hotels in The Amazon, Brazil

Tucked away among the islands of the Ananvilhanas Archipelago on the Rio Negro, this luxury resort is unparalleled in its sophistication, combining beautiful cabins with superior guiding and expectional food. Guests are greeted upon arrival with a fresh fruit juice in the elegant, thatched-roofed living area. The cocktail bar, comfortable sofas, and pool table make this area a hub for mingling. All rooms are elegantly furnished with comfortable beds, air-conditioning, mini-refrigerators stocked with drinks, and porches strung with hammocks. The fantastic buffet offers regional delicacies as well as fresh fish and tasty salads. Guests are given personalized itineraries upon arrival, all of which are undertaken in speedboats that jet off from the hotel's charming pier and are led by expert bilingual guides. Classic experiences include visiting pink dolphins and hiking through the forest to visiting local villages. Exploring the surrounding igarapés ( tributary rivers) is a highlight. Feel like playing hooky? Sit back by the lovely infinity pool, surrounded by trees and with views over the Rio Negro. There is a minimum stay of two nights. Prices for a two-night/three-day all-inclusive stay (excluding alcohol) start at R$2,100 per person.

On the shores of Lake Acajatuba, this family-owned resort consists of charming wooden rooms built on stilts above the jungle floor. Owners Germano Alvarado and Fabiola Carrazzone do everything from greeting the guests with fruit juice to taking them on the various tours. Germano, who hails from Peru, personally takes guests on boat trips to see baby alligators and riverside communities, while Fabiola is in charge of the tasty meals served thrice daily. All rooms have screened windows, an electric fan, and their own bathrooms. Packages include a boat trip to see caimans at night, a visit to local riverside communities, and guided jungle hikes. Avoid booking trips during the dry season from September through January when the waterways dry up and temperatures soar.

This sustainable floating lodge, set in the middle of a tributary, offers the only way for visitors to explore the Mamirauá Reserve, led by biologists in tandem with local guides from the communities. The result is a special Amazon experiences. Rustic cabins are simple but spacious, with porches and hammocks overlooking the water. Activities include sunrise boat trips, jungle treks, fishing trips, and visits to a local community. While some tours are done in groups, you will also be allocated a private guide to take you exploring by canoe. The flood season (April–July) is the best time to spot wildlife, as animals seek shelter in the canopies of submerged trees and wait for the water to go down. Visitors are also given the chance to interact with researchers from different programs during panels and trips to floating stations. The lodge aims to be fully run by the local communities by 2020. Inquire about special packages, including jaguar tracking expeditions, bird-watching, and photography excursions.

Twenty rustic floating cabins make up this remote lodge, one of the oldest in the Amazon, located within 337 hectares of its own reserve on Juma Lake. Highlights include great home-cooking, excellent English-speaking guides, and reliable monkey- and bird-watching. Various packages include visits to riverside communities, nature hikes through the jungle, and piranha fishing. The minimum stay is two nights and the package includes transportation to and from Manaus. Only half of the 20 rooms come with private bathrooms, and can be booked as triple or quadruples. Due to its remoteness, energy is powered by a generator and runs only from 6 pm to 6 am. The journey time from Manaus is 3–4 hours, divided between minivan and speedboat.

Built on a steel barge, moored mid–Rio Negro, the art deco facade of this floating hotel feels incongruous with the surroundings, even if modern rooms come with air-conditiong and hot water. Explore the region by day, and at night return to a buffet dinner and live entertainment. Packages include airport or hotel pickup and drop-off in Manaus.