Study Abroad

10-Day Tour

Welcome to the Summer Abroad of your dreams! Below you will find all of the information necessary to prepare for your “Trip of a Lifetime.” We suggest that you read it all thoroughly so you have a good understanding of what to expect.

General Information about Brazil:

Brazil is a stable and friendly country and travel there is safe and enjoyable. The Brazilian currency is the Real (pronounced “Hay-eyes”) and can be exchange in the airports and hotels in Manaus. Brazil is the world’s fifth largest country, both by size and population, with a population of 201 million. The language spoken is Portuguese – but don’t worry, our English-speaking staff will meet you upon your arrival in the Manaus Airport and see to your every need throughout your stay to Brazil. You will always be within arm’s reach of a translator who speaks both English and Brazilian Portuguese.
Brazil has the greatest biological diversity in the world and reflects a variety of different and unique ecosystems. According to scientific estimates, Brazil is home to approximately 4 million species of plants and animals. There are 3.3 million square kilometers of rainforest within the Brazilian borders – this is about 60% of the total Amazon Rainforest.

When do we travel?

Our travel abroad program is offered between the months of March through June. Other dates of travel are available depending on size of group and specific desired dates. (Please call for more information on availability)
How long will we be gone for?
The study abroad program typically lasts eleven days. See the itinerary below for a full outline of the trip. Please note that day one and day eleven will be used mostly for traveling. On the 11th day of travel you will be back in your home city by early afternoon.
Where are we traveling to?
Your group will be traveling to the Brazilian Amazon. Specifically, you will be around the city of Manaus which is the capital of State of Amazonas.

What is our exact itinerary?
Day 1

Travel from your home city to Miami International Airport. You will then board an American Airlines non stop flight to Manaus Brazil. (Approx. 5hr)


When you land you will be met by one of Hooked on Adventure’s English speaking representatives at the terminal gate. You will then board a waiting shuttle and be taken to the Amazon Lord for a night of rest.

2nd Day – Presidente Figueiredo Waterfall

Breakfast aboard the Amazon Lord
Transfer from the Amazon Lord to the waterfalls via shuttle, this will take about three hours
Tour and exploration of the waterfalls
Lunch at the Urubui Running Waters
There will be a 30 minute hike to the Onca (Jaguar) Waterfalls
Tour/exploration of the Onca (Jaguar) Waterfalls
Transfer back to the Amazon Lord, this will take about three hours
Dinner aboard the Amazon Lord

3rd Day – Navigate to the Satere-mawe tribe on the Ariau River

Breakfast aboard the Amazon Lord
Visit with the Satere-mawe villagers and observe part of one of their unique tribal rituals. This ritual lasts 24 hours and consists of a “self-purification” process through the use of ants and costumes
Lunch aboard the Amazon Lord
Exploration of the streams and tributaries around the Satere-mawe village and fishing for Piranha. Don’t worry, the Piranha are nothing like in the movies – they won’t bother you in the slightest and they are delicious to eat!
Dinner aboard the Amazon Lord
Caiman spotting after dinner – Caiman are a species related to the alligator, our expert guides who are very experienced in Caiman handling and behavior will be with you every step of the way during this activity. Please keep in mind all you will be doing is looking for them, no one will actually handle the Caiman.

4th Day – Jungle Trekking and Visiting Jungle Villages

Breakfast aboard the Amazon Lord
Jungle Trekking in the Pataua forest area under the expertise of a local jungle guide who has lived in this area of the Amazon Rainforest his entire life
Visit a family who lives in isolation in the rainforest and learn about their day-to-day life and how they survive using the resources found in the rainforest and its many jungle rivers.
Lunch aboard the Amazon Lord
Swimming with the Pink River Dolphins – many of our guests are amazed at the intelligence of these graceful creatures
Dinner aboard the Amazon Lord

5th Day – Local School and Village Visit

• Breakfast aboard the Amazon Lord
• Visiting a local school for children. You will have a chance to deliver gifts to the school kids during this trip. They would be especially appreciative of colored pencils (crayons don’t do well in the humidity of the Amazon), coloring books, flashcards, rulers, erasers, pens, pencils, and some small toys. If you want to bring these things for the students please pack them in your suitcase as they are hard to find in and around Manaus.
• Lunch aboard the Amazon Lord
• Visit the Acajatuba Village which represents an interesting juxtaposition between traditional Amazonian village life and the modern need for economic prosperity. This village has a boat and souvenirs factory yet maintains a traditional village life. This will be a great time to play soccer with the villagers.
• Navigate to Praia Grande where we will have a luau on a beautiful white sand beach
• Dinner aboard the Amazon Lord

6th Day – Explore Islands & Villages

Breakfast aboard the Amazon Lord
Explore the Anavilhanas Arrchipelago which consists of 380 islands
Lunch aboard the Amazon Lord
Visit the Kambewa’s tribe. This tribe lives on one of the Amazon River beaches and maintains the same traditions they have for many generations.
Dinner aboard the Amazon Lord

7th Day – Jungle survival experience

Breakfast aboard the Amazon Lord
Navigate to the Jaraqui River
Jungle survival experience under the expertise of an Amazonian native, Mr. Manoel, who will teach us how to make traps to catch small animals, how to start a camp fire, how to erect a jungle tent, and how to capture clean drinking water using just the resources of the rainforest.
Lunch aboard the Amazon Lord
Visit the Jaraqui’s village where they produce unique local goods for sale to visiting travelers as well as the local markets.
Dinner in the Jaraqui’s village
Sleep in the Jaraqui’s village (or aboard the Amazon Lord depending on your preference – we of course encourage you to stay in the village so you can experience the amazing sensation of sleeping under the brilliant Amazonian starscape.)

8th Day – Dessano tribe’s “Big House”

Breakfast aboard the Amazon Lord
Visit the Dessano tribe’s “Big House”
Participate in a Dessano tribe ritual with the Xama family in which they play different musical instruments and dance to demonstrate the way they have lived for many generations
Swimming in the Tupe River – you will be amazed how warm and inviting this beautiful water is.
Lunch aboard the Amazon Lord
Visit the Rubber Museum (Seringal Vila Paraiso) to learn more about how life used to be in these plantations and how rubber (needed for the Industrial Revolution in Europe) transformed this dense Brazilian Landscape into a booming and prosperous economy.
Dinner aboard the Amazon Lord

9th Day – January Ecological Park

Breakfast aboard the Amazon Lord
Visit and tour of the January Ecological Park. This is an absolutely massive jungle reserve containing a huge amount of biodiversity. We could easily spend the entire ten days in this park and not see anything twice.
Lunch aboard the Amazon Lord
Tour the Meetings of the Waters, floating village, and fish farm.
Dinner aboard the Amazon Lord

10th Day – Manaus

Breakfast aboard the Amazon Lord
City tour of Manaus – Mercado and Opera House
We will visit the Mercado at about 7:00 am so that we can observe its boisterous environment. This is a great chance to grasp the importance of exchange rates and barter based economies. The Mercado has many unique fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, and wares that can only be found in this corner of Brazil. Be sure to sample the pineapple, many people agree it is the best in the world.
The Opera House is a beautiful example of the wealth and affluence that was brought to the Amazon as a result of the Rubber Boom. It is completely adorned in art deco and has housed many world renowned performances.
Lunch at the Manaura Mall. We will enjoy a unique Brazilian lunch at this Mall.
Visit the CIGS Zoo. We will visit this zoo which has over 30 species of Amazonian animals.
Visit Ponta Negra Beach. The Ponta Negra Beach is world renowned for its white sands and stunning beauty.
Dinner in Manaus at one of Brazil’s best Churrascaria restaurants, Bufalo’s. This is a traditional “Brazilian Barbeque.” You will be brought dozens of varieties of meats and fish. It is a fabulous experience. For those of you who do not want to go to Bufalo’s, dinner will be served aboard the Amazon Lord (if enough people wish to stay aboard for dinner).
Fly back to Miami International Airport, where we will be staying, this flight leaves the Manaus airport at approx. 12:05 am and arrives in Miami at approx. 5:30 am. You will then board your connecting flight back to your home city depending on domestic airline schedules.

10 Days of Adventure

Here is a map which shows our day-to-day travels throughout the areas around Manaus.