Pico da Neblina Expedition

Arrival Manaus and transfer to nearby domestic airport for flight with Trip Linhas Aereas to São Gabriel da Cachoeira at 3:00/5:15pm. Transfer to Hotel “Deus me deu”, presentation of the crew, followed by a meeting to discuss the itinerary, equipment check, dinner and overnight stay.

Departure at 8am on board the Toyota 4WD Jeep to hit the dirt road to “Frente Sul”. Estimated travel time for the 85 kilometer is 3 hours. Boarding of canoes on the Lá Mirim River, which after about 30 minutes funnels into his brother the bigger Lá River. The Cauaburí River is reached after 1.3 hours and after another 3 hour canoe ride on the Cauaburí, the Maturaca channel is reached. Mooring of the canoes. Camp is pitched on a safe location on the river bank to avoid that, after heavy rains on the river head sudden downstream swells might wash the camp away. You are going to pick up our Yanomami guides and carriers at the Maturaca village. They will join in for dinner which has been prepared in the meantime.

Overnight stay in hammocks.

Departure from the camp at 8am to the mouth of the Tukano River which should be reached before noon. Canoes are moored, engines and gasoline are stashed away and the hike to the Pico da Neblina begins. After 3 hours of mostly up and down hill hiking you arrive at a Yanomami plantation site called Cachoeira do Tukano. The Yanomami maintain such plantations with banana, manioc, lime and other fruits also to support their hunting groups in the forest.

There is time for a refreshing bath in the river. You may also want to exercise your fishing skills and eventually contribute some fresh fish for dinner.

Overnight stay in hammocks.

As usual, you breakfast and leave camp at around 8am, destination camp 3, called Bebedouro Velho, which could be translated into the “old water supply or source”. For the 12 kilometer trail on irregular terrain, requiring breaks by the hour, a total of 6 to 7 hours is estimated. The Bebedouro Velho is located 400 meters above sea level and offers splendid views of the Pico da Neblina and surrounding mountains.

Camp is pitched, fire lit and the dinner prepared with the helping hands of our Yanomami guides. Story telling around the fireplace.

Overnight stay in hammocks.

From the Bebedouro Velho, a difficult trail with plenty of ups and downs, this gets you to the Bebedouro Novo, or new water source or supply. A 460 meter difference in altitude to the Bebedouro Velho, plus another 12.5 kilometer of trail, sums up to a total of 860 meters above sea level and 25 kilometer of trail, making up an average of 6-7 hours of hiking for that stretch.

The camp is pitched at a beautiful spot next to the Cuiabixi River, offering great bathing in the cascades, natural hydro- massage for relaxation included.

Overnight stay in hammocks.

Today you have to navigate a short but steep trail of 6 kilometers that brings you to an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level. As usual, you travel an average of 6-7 hours. The temperature drops and the vegetation changes on the way to the Campo Base, situated below the peak of the Pico da Neblina. To get there, you will have to master, among a series of other natural obstacles like roots and trees and rocks and rivers, a swampy turf plateau where you are up to your knees with each step in the muddy terrain.
After arriving and a well earned rest, the crew pitches the camp, while the others may want to visit the nearby camp of a lonesome garimpeiro (gold digger). On request, he will show how he washes the gold out of the rapid banks.

No further activities are planned for the rest of the day, already a very strenuous one.

Overnight stay inn hammocks.

The last leg (6 kilometers) to the top of the Pico da Neblina will take about 7 hours of heavy mountain trekking, including 3 hours through swampy terrain, another 3 hours over a large plateau covered with loose boulder and rock, plus 1 hour climbing on the rope, for which technical climbing experience is not necessary. Provided everything is running smoothly, a tired but happy group will arrive at the 2994 meter peak around 3pm, with daylight at hand for admiration of the Imari massif, and the infinite Rain Forest that stretches deep into the Venezuelan territory.

Although Neblina means fog, you may be lucky with the weather and be able to take some great photos of this magnificent environment. For overnight in the tents on the peak you will need a sleeping bag for low temperatures of up to -5º Celsius and warm clothing.

While here, you will not miss out on Brazils 2nd highest mountain, the neighboring Pico 31 de Março (2972 meters). Early decamp at the Neblina to trek to the 31 de Março. A short while remaining at the summit before hitting the same trail back that leads to the Pico da Neblina. Arrival at the Campo Base expected around 5pm. Overnight is at the Campo Base.

The night is spent probably in tents. Usually the climate at base camp is cold and humid. Overnight is always in accordance with the existing weather conditions.

We have planned an additional day as a safe guard to be able to cope with eventual weather inconveniences and to explore the area around the plateau of the Campo Base, which offers a splendid array of plant life and a great variety of birds. This day however can be spent either before attacking the peak or after returning from the peak, before beginning to descend. The expedition leader will decide according to the circumstances.

Overnight probably in tents. Usually the climate at base camp is cold and humid. Overnight is always in accordance with the existing weather conditions.

Decamp, packing gear and returning to descend to the Bebedouro Novo with arrival there estimated for 2pm approximately.

No further activities are planned for the rest of the day. Again, there is the Cuiabixi River for great bathing and refreshing.

Overnight stay in hammocks.

An 8 hour hike descending continually, straight to Cachoeira do Tukano, requires several breaks. An invigorating bath in the Tukano River after arriving there will help to relax body and mind. Camp at the Cachoeira.

Overnight stay in hammocks.

Further descend to the mouth of the Tukano River. Picking up motor, gasoline and other equipment and provisions that were left behind there, the canoe is loaded and you head for the Yanomami Indian village of Maturacá. Arrival estimated for the end of the day.

You will stay overnight with the Yanomami people in their traditional cabanas.

Overnight stay in hammocks.

Today you will have the rare opportunity to visit the largest Yanomami village on Brazilian territory which hosts roughly 2000 Yanomami people. You will meet their leaders and discuss issues of interest. The Yanomami handicraft, made by their women, is well known for its beauty and quality. You will be impressed by their dedication while watching them producing artifacts from natural resources, mainly fibers, woods and clay. You will get to know their way of living today and in the past, their traditions, their food and visit their manioc plantation to witness the process of production of flour, an essential diet for all Indians and most of the Brazilians in general.  

Particularly touching is the contact with their joyful children. The stay in Maturaca provides an insight view of the reality of the Brazilian Indians today and in particular of the famous Yanomami tribe.

Via the rivers Cauaburi, Greater Lá and Lá Mirim, you return to the Frente Sul, Southern Front, where your jeep takes you back to the town of São Gabriel da Cachoeira, with arrival estimated for the late afternoon. At the hotel “Deus me deu”, or “Given by God”, a hot shower is waiting. Dinner tonight will be at the best restaurant in town.

A real bed and air conditioning will guarantee a comfortable accommodation for the last night.

In the morning we suggest some walking around the town to get to know some of the history of the region and also to visit the Salesian church and the port area. Back at the hotel you must pack gear before you go for lunch and transfer then to the airport to catch your flight back to Manaus at 5:45/8:00pm.

Transfer to the airport

City tour and, depending on your departure time from Manaus, visit of the phenomena of the meeting of the waters between Rio Solimões and Rio Negro, forming the Grand Amazon River. Transfer to the airport and flight back to your country of origin.