Novo Airão - Anavilhanas National Park
Anavilhanas National Park in Novo Airão is the ideal destination for visitors who are looking for a complete nature-tourism experience. Amazing wildlife, vegetation, lakes, and a sky full of stars make the region a truly magical place.
The National Park comprises 400 islands, several lakes, rivers, igapós (blackwater-flooded forests), and impressively diverse wildlife and vegetation. This wealth of natural resources makes it the second largest river archipelago in the world.
Nature plays the main role in the region. If visitors want to enjoy what it has to offer, there are several tourist services that make the whole experience even better. The Park itself and its nearest city, Novo Airão, are great attractions that worth a visit.
Among all the local activities, the ones that stand out are the night walks through the forest with no light but starlight, the meeting of the waters of Rio Negro and Solimões River (Amazon River), getting close to pink river dolphins, boat rides around the region, local trails, bird watching, and nocturnal wildlife observation. Getting to experience the wisdom and knowledge of traditional riverside communities is also something that tourists will cherish forever.
As the region is very influenced by the level of the water in the local rivers, it is possible to have different experiences depending on the season in which you choose to go. There is a dry season and a flood season, so it is advisable to plan before you make a final decision. The dry season occurs between the months of September and February, and the peak floods take place between the months of March and August.
It is extraordinary to be able to experience flooded forests where the water reaches the top of the trees. Watching the sunset over the islands in the archipelago is something else that everyone must try. During the dry season, visitors can enjoy the white-sand beaches that are formed all around the archipelago.
It is free to visit Anavilhanas National Park. However, visitors must pay for some specific activities such as the Voadeira tour (a motorboat ride along the river), or a visit to the Dolphins Floating Deck, a unique attraction that allows you to see pink river dolphins up close. The best thing to do is to plan your days in advance and decide which activities you are interested in doing.
A trip to the park is also part of the experience. Tourists can rent a seaplane to enjoy the beautiful view of the Rio Negro from above as they arrive at the park. They can also travel by boat at night, when they can lie in a hammock and enjoy the magical experience of the stars over the Amazon. Visitors can get to the region by bus, by car, by taxi, and even by helicopter. In other words, the initial trip can also be an important part of the visitor’s experience at the destination.
The archipelago of Anavilhanas is undoubtedly an unforgettable destination where visitors will find amazing natural beauty and have incomparable experiences.
