We decided to venture off to a remote area, deep in the Amazon region last October in hopes of getting a glimpse of life outside the city would be. With luck we stumbled upon information that enabled us to truly experience this remote culture first hand. Xixuau Xiparina Reserve (500 KM away from the city) is a community supported by the Amazonia Association (http://www.amazonia.org/SustainableDevelopment/Jauaperi/Ecotourism/index.en.htm) to improve the lives of locals in the region in this competitive world.
Getting there is half the adventure. A 24 – 30 hour boat ride from Manuas on hammocks is not everyone’s comfortable sleeping amenities but the sights and beauty on the way was well worth it. As we went deep in the area; you get a glimpse of pink dolphins peeking here and there also your friendly “caimans” that swims around the once in a while.
The village itself was interesting, they have descent accommodation for visitors; just don’t expect a luxurious getaway and you’ll enjoy every bits of it. As we start to get introduced in their way of living; conversing with my limited Portuguese (should have downloaded an English – Portuguese dictionary on my IPOD; silly me). You get a glimpse that the area is not just a pristine refuge but also a great natural sanctuary of rich bio-diversity. The long treks in the Forrest was humid and hot but amazing, as you walk the paths, different types of monkeys play around and they educate you on how they used to collect rubber on trees during the “rubber boom”.
The constant canoe trips during the day to the interior channels gives you the opportunity to see the beauty of the jungle at its best. You can get a glimpse of giant sea otters, varied species of aquatic life such as sting rays, pacu, your famously acclaimed piranha; I only saw white one’s and apparently there are different types including the popular black piranha that possess a bad reputation and to top it all, numerous 14 feet Caimans basking around the shores waiting for a nice meal.
If you value off the beaten path journeys; this is definitely up high on the list.
Do check out some interesting pics on my travel blog (http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Amazonas/Manaus/blog-548245.html)






