Join our popular Orchids in the Wild tour aboard the RV Otter, led by experienced guide Peter Tobias. Departing from Manaus, cruise upstream on the Rio Negro, where the blackwater of this incredible tributary means you can enjoy the Amazon without biting insects. Twice-daily excursions in small motorized canoes take you through flooded forests to see wild orchids, often at eye level, with opportunities to spot monkeys, sloths, the occasional reptile and colorful birds. Enjoy beautiful sunrises, comfortable accommodations, and delicious meals aboard the boat. Before embarking, join an OCA-hosted dinner and a visit to Manaus’s historic opera house.

More than 100 travelers have explored the Rio Negro aboard the RV Otter, making this one of our most popular Orchids in the Wild tours. Boat owner Gilberto Castro and his crew welcome you aboard, while OCA trip leader Peter Tobias brings the experience of more than ten journeys along this remarkable river. You can find more photos, travel reports, videos, publications, and seminars about our previous trips here.

Life aboard follows an unhurried rhythm, with time to watch the forest drift past, enjoy spectacular sunrises and sunsets, and share the day’s discoveries with fellow travelers. Twice each day, small motorized canoes carry us into the flooded forest, where high water brings orchids and bromeliads close to eye level. As we explore, we look for monkeys, sloths, iguanas, macaws, toucans, and many other birds.

One especially welcome feature: there are no biting insects on the river, allowing you to enjoy this extraordinary setting without the mosquitoes so often associated with the Amazon.

Between excursions, relax in the Otter’s common room, peruse and share your photos, paint or draw the flowers, browse the small reference library, or enjoy a drink at the bar.

The crew serves excellent meals, featuring fresh fish, with vegetarian and gluten-sensitive diets accommodated, and ample purified drinking water is provided.

Your journey begins and ends in Manaus, where the Rio Negro meets the Solimões to form the Amazon River. Arrive the day before departure to enjoy an OCA-hosted dinner at one of the city’s fine restaurants and allow time for a visit to its world-famous opera house the following morning.

Please plan your flights around these arrival and departure times: Arrive in Manaus no later than noon on May 21; depart no earlier than 3 p.m. on June 1.

Our Orchids in the Wild Ecotours are one of OCA’s most important fundraising programs. OCA’s board and staff are entirely volunteer, and profits from each tour directly support our conservation projects and project partners. Tour profits typically range from $300–$1,000 per participant, depending on the tour. After each tour, we calculate the profit per participant and provide travelers with a year-end donation acknowledgment for that amount. OCA is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization; the contribution may be tax-deductible, so please consult your tax adviser.

Destination

Rio Negro, Manaus, Brazil

Dates

May 21-June 1, 2027

Arrive in Manaus no later than noon on May 21 2027. Departure flights should leave no earlier than 3 p.m. on June 1, 2027. Arrival the day before embarkation is strongly recommended.

Duration

12 days

Group size

Minimum 10, Maximum 16 plus Peter, the trip leader

Cost per person

US$3,955 Sharing a cabin, US$5,715 for single occupancy. Solo travelers who would like a room mate should contact us through the "ask a question"

Final booking date

February 1, 2027

Trip will be confirmed on or before this date so participants can make their flight reservations

Refund policy

Deposits are refundable through February 1, 2027. If the OCA cannot confirm this trip the deposits are fully refunded. After February 1 your funds are not refundable unless we can find someone to take your place (e.g. on the waiting list). For peace of mind, we suggest you consider travel insurance.

Travel Medical Insurance

Medical insurance is mandatory on all of our tours, and should include a minimum of $50,000 extraction coverage. Your US medical insurance is not accepted outside the USA so you will need a separate policy. We will ask for this as part of the additional details collected after booking.

Final Payment Due

March 15, 2027

Tour type

Nature and Wildlife Cruise

Primary focus

Observing and photographing wild orchids in the flooded forests of the Rio Negro, with opportunities to enjoy birds and other Amazonia wildlife.

Other interests

Bromeliads, birds, monkeys, sloths, dolphins, iguanas, flowering broadleaf trees

Accommodation

Air-conditioned cabins with private ensuite bathrooms and hot/cold showers. Beds can be arranged as two singles or one queen.

Internet

Starlink WiFi included; suitable for messaging and light internet use, with limited bandwidth for streaming.

Activity level

Generally easy, with most exploration by boat. Participants must be able to climb and descend two flights of stairs aboard the RV Otter and transfer into motorized canoes; assistance is available. Lifejackets are provided for the canoe excursions, and the excursions are all optional. One forest walk takes approximately 45 minutes each way on wet, uneven ground, with a gentle incline and some fallen trees to climb over. The walk is optional.

Itinerary format

A flexible riverboat journey with twice-daily motorized canoe excursions. The route and excursion locations vary with river conditions and opportunities to observe orchids and wildlife.

Brazil entry requirements

Travelers are responsible for obtaining any visa required for their passport nationality. See Practical Information for details.

Organizer

Orchid Conservation Alliance – Orchids in the Wild™ Ecotours

Who should join this tour?

Orchid enthusiasts, birdwatchers, photographers, and nature lovers who enjoy exploring by boat. No orchid expertise is needed, and solo travelers are welcome. Little walking is required, but participants should be comfortable using stairs and transferring between the riverboat and motorized canoes.

What's included

All meals aboard the RV Otter, plus the pre-trip OCA dinner; guides; Starlink WiFi; accommodation aboard the RV Otter; twice-daily motorized canoe excursions; riverboat transportation; and admission to the Amazonas Theater opera house tour and any parks or reserves we visit. A basic tip for each RV Otter crew member is included. Travelers are welcome to give additional tips, particularly for personal services such as laundry.

What's not included

Round-trip airfare to Manaus, Brazil; travel insurance; alcoholic beverages aboard the RV Otter; soft drinks; personal items; souvenirs; and hotel accommodations in Manaus. A pre-trip hotel night is strongly recommended. Hotel recommendations will be provided closer to departure.

Refund policy

The terms of our refund policy are here

Emergency Medical Insurance

All participants are required to have an emergency medical insurance policy that covers the dates of the tour. Further information can be found here

May 20: We recommend guests to arrive. Transfer to your hotel is provided by the OCA. The cost of the hotel is not included in the tour costs. Dinner at Tambaqui de Banda courtesy of the OCA; Tambaqui is a large amazonian fish. This restaurant specializes in amazonian fish dishes.

A whimsical illustration of orchid explorers enjoying the pre-tour dinner.

Photo By Susan Valentim - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=171824968

Before boarding the RV Otter, we will enjoy an English-language guided tour of the Teatro Amazonas, Manaus’s landmark opera house. Opened in 1896 during the Amazon rubber boom, its pink façade, colorful dome in the colors of the Brazilian flag, and lavish interior offer a glimpse of the wealth and artistic ambitions that transformed this riverside city.

After the tour, guests will then be transported to the dock and board the RV Otter for lunch. We may travel downstream to see the Meeting of the Waters (Encontro das Águas) near Manaus. This is where the dark waters of the Rio Negro meet the sandy-brown waters of the Solimões to form the Amazon River. The two rivers flow side by side for several kilometers before fully blending, creating a striking natural boundary. Differences in their temperature, density, and current speed help explain this remarkable phenomenon. After a short stay in this part of the river, we being our journey upstream.

The Meeting of the Waters near Manaus, where the dark Rio Negro meets the sediment-rich Solimões. NASA Earth Observatory image by Jesse Allen and Robert Simmon, using EO-1 ALI data from the NASA EO-1 team.

Our Rio Negro journey follows a flexible route rather than a fixed day-by-day itinerary. As we cruise upstream from Manaus, we explore different areas according to water levels, local conditions, and opportunities to see orchids and wildlife.

On most days, we make two excursions in small motorized canoes, each lasting approximately two to four hours. These outings take us into the flooded forest, where high water brings many orchids close to eye level. We expect to encounter a wonderful variety of orchids, many in bloom, along with bromeliads, flowering trees, and other fascinating plants.

Wildlife adds to the adventure: monkeys, sloths, iguanas, bats, colorful birds, and smaller discoveries such as praying mantids. Between excursions, the RV Otter offers excellent opportunities for birdwatching and relaxed sightseeing. Pink river dolphins sometimes follow the boat, and there are opportunities to swim on most days.

Planned highlights

Along the way, we plan to visit villages, explore a rubber plantation museum, and enjoy a picnic at Gilberto Castro’s camp, where celebrated botanical artist Margaret Mee stayed. A morning visit offers opportunities to observe pink river dolphins and the enormous fish known as pirarucu during feeding activities.

We also plan to visit Jaú National Park, where we hope to find Aganisia cyanea in bloom. An optional forest walk leads to an interesting ecological site on an island. Specific visits and their order may vary with conditions.

Beginning and ending in Manaus

The boat trip begins in Manaus on May 21, 2027. We recommend participants arrive the previous day to enjoy the pre-trip OCA dinner and allow time for the opera house visit on the morning of embarkation.

On June 1, we return to Manaus and share a final lunch aboard the RV Otter before disembarking. Departure flights should leave no earlier than 3 p.m. Travelers remaining in Manaus will need to arrange hotel accommodation, which is not included in the tour price.

What to expect on the RV Otter

Air-conditioned cabins have outside windows that open, private ensuite bathrooms with hot and cold showers, and space for luggage and clothing. Each cabin measures approximately 10 × 10 feet, plus the bathroom and storage area. Beds can be arranged as two singles or one queen. Soap and towels are provided; please bring a washcloth if you use one.

All meals and snacks aboard are included, along with ample purified drinking water. Vegetarian and gluten-sensitive diets can be accommodated. Alcoholic beverages and canned soft drinks are available for purchase. The bar typically stocks Brazilian beers, wines, common soft drinks, and ingredients for caipirinhas—the refreshing Brazilian cocktail made with lime, sugar, and cachaça. Please let us know in advance if you would like a particular beverage so arrangements can be explored.

Laundry service is available aboard for a tip. You can also hand-wash clothing in your cabin and hang it to dry in the designated area on the upper deck.

Electricity

The RV Otter provides 110-volt electricity with U.S.-style outlets. Some cabins have two-prong sockets and others have three-prong sockets, so bring an adapter if your equipment requires one. Hotels in Manaus use Brazilian sockets; an appropriate travel adapter is recommended.

Weather and what to bring

Expect warm days, typically in the 80s to low 90s °F, with somewhat cooler evenings. Rain showers are part of the experience, so bring lightweight rain protection as well as a bathing suit for swimming opportunities. We will send participants a suggested packing list at a later date.

Binoculars are strongly recommended. A camera with both close-focus or macro capability and a good zoom is useful for photographing orchids and birds. Image stabilization is particularly helpful when viewing or photographing wildlife from a moving canoe.

A very special feature of this tour requires a little historical context. Margaret Mee (1909–1988) was a British botanical artist whose exquisite paintings brought the flowers of the Amazon to worldwide attention. Traveling deep into the rainforest, she captured its remarkable plants with scientific precision and artistic sensitivity, sometimes portraying them within their lush natural surroundings. Her celebrated painting of the elusive, night-blooming Amazon moonflower crowned decades of exploration. Through her art and outspoken concern about deforestation, Mee left a lasting tribute to the Amazon’s beauty and the importance of protecting it.

Our boat captain, Gilberto Castro, was Margaret Mee's boatman in her later journeys, and she stayed at Castro's camp (which we visit) on her last journey when she painted the night blooming moonflower. We will even go to the same tree to see the moonflower plant, and if we are really lucky, its flower. Some of Margaret's artwork is displayed on the boat.

A whimsical Illustration of orchid explorers heading home with memories of a wonderful adventure.

This is our last day on the Rio Negro, as the RV Otter heads back to Manaus and our guests depart. Guests should plan on airline departures no earlier than 3 pm.

A whimsical illustration of orchid explorers preparing for their trip (note, don't put your camera in your checked bags!)

Getting to Manaus

We don't officially endorse any airline. However, in the past our guests have used American Airlines (from the east coast), and United/Copa Airlines (from the west coast). As mentioned above, participants should arrive before noon on May 21. Passengers arriving on May 21 after 7 am will likely miss the morning opera house tour. We strongly recommend coming a day early. Departures should be planned after 3 pm on June 1.

Visas

Currently, American, Canadian and Australian passport holders require a Brazilian visitor e-Visa, available here.

Other nationalities should check with this Brazilian website

Health and Safety

Please take every precaution to arrive without a communicable disease (cold, flu, etc).

Electricity

The RV otter cabins have 110vAC with USA style electrical outlets. Some cabins have two prong, and some three prong, so we suggest bringing an adapter. Bring an adapter for Brazilian outlets and confirm the voltage with your hotel before plugging in equipment.

Currency

Currency in Brazil is the Real (plural is Reais). In Manaus there are ATMs available, and most tourist and commercial facilities in and out of Manaus accept credit cards. They do not typically accept US currency. ATMs are not readily available outside Manaus. Gilberto Castro will change US currency into Brazilian Reais, and vice-versa, for a much lower fee, if any, than an ATM or your bank. Please advise Peter, and thus Gilberto, if you wish to exchange currency so that he can be sure to have the Reais available.

Drinks

Other than purified water (free), drinks will cost between US$3 and US$7, and bottles of wine are US$25. Your bar bill on the RV Otter can be paid in either US or Brazilian currency.

Wifi

Wi-fi is available via Starlink on the RV Otter and is included in the trip fee. It does not have the bandwidth for streaming but WhatsApp works well. We strongly recommend looking at the orchids, the other flowers, the seed pods, the bushes, the trees, the birds, the river, the clouds, the rain, the wind on the water, the dolphins, the monkeys, the local river people, the other boats, or in other words, almost anything other than your computer, tablet, or cell phone.

Meet the Pink River Dolphins

We will visit a floating observation platform where you can enter the water and stand on a submerged platform as wild pink river dolphins approach. These dolphins swim freely in the river, offering a memorable opportunity to see them up close. Bring a bathing suit if you would like to participate; there will also be opportunities to swim in the Rio Negro during the trip.

Suggested packing list

We will send out a suggested packing list to guests closer to the departure date.

Our trips fill quickly, but sometimes plans change. If you would like to go but the trip is full, click "Ask a Question" and request a place on the waitlist.

Peter Tobias-Tour Leader

Peter Tobias initiated OCA’s Rio Negro trips in 2015 and has led ten trips with Gilberto Castro on his boat, the RV Otter. With that experience, and a few caipirinhas, he is able to identify many of the orchids you will see.

Gilberto Castro-Tour Guide

Gilberto Castro has been running the Amazon for decades as a biologist, nature guide, and boat captain. His custom designed boat, the MV Otter, regularly carries people for orchid trips, botanical illustration trips, and fishing trips, depending on the demand, season, and state of the river. His encyclopedic knowledge of the Amazon and his intimate knowledge of its nooks and crannies make him the go-to guy for our trips.