Pico da Neblina

Expedition to the lone guard of the Amazon Rainforest: The Pico da Neblina

21 days, including Belém and Manaus

"Amazon Travel Brazil" is a division of Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions. Among a variety of tours focusing on nature, environment and cultural aspects in Brazils wild and unknown backcountry, it is the journey to Brazils highest mountain, the 2994m NN Pico da Neblina, located amidst the Amazonian Rain Forest, that is the most demanding and the most rewarding for the experienced traveler. Situated in the Imari Massif, in the federal state of Amazonas, it borders with Venezuela on its northern slope, and is part of the 22.000 km² huge Parque Nacional do Pico da Neblina. The National Park is located between 01º 10' and 03º 02' northern latitude and 65º 03' and 66º 52' western longitude and is of difficult access. The region hosts also the biggest Yanomami Indian reservation in Brazil. During our expedition the participants will make the experience of their life, when they encounter the untouched and untamed tropical rainforest, its enormous spectrum of species and its complex form of life and interactions in flora and fauna. The natural attractions include the Igapós, flooded rainforests of the lowlands, the Várzea forest with its fertile grounds, the terra firme with its enormous biodiversity, (215 species of hard-wood trees alone) and also the nebular forest at the Pico da Neblina, where the richness of epiphytes, orchids and bromeliads, is just breathtaking, compensating the traveler thus for the strenuous trail up to the "Pico".

The target region is a totally isolated area with difficult access. The largely non-existence of human activities, such as agriculture, stock farming, timber, mining, etc., except subsistence activities of the Yanomami tribes, guarantees untouched nature and an undamaged ecosystem. Provided that FUNAI permission will be granted, the group will visit the Yanomami settlement in Maturacá. According to the group's special interest, a stay with overnight in Maturacá can eventually be arranged.

To better comprehend this unique environment called Amazonia, we have included a stay at Belém, the Atlantic port city and capital of the federal state of Pará, from where the region was explored by the Portuguese colonialists in the early 17th century. We also consider a day in Manaus the capital of the federal state of Amazonia, important to understand past and presence of the development of the region. Starting point of the expedition however is the town of São Gabriel da Cachoeira (SGC), a military settlement and Salesian mission, right at the banks of the upper Rio Negro River. SGC is within reach by boat or plane (turboprop) from Manaus. Some 85 km of slick and tricky dirt road leads to the pier of the Ia-mirim river and requires four-wheel-drive and a top driver. To drive on this road during rainy days even a 4 wheel driven jeep needs extra manpower to make it through the mud. Two days on the Ia and Cauaburi rivers are needed to get to the mouth of the Tucano River, from where the expedition continues on foot (36 km). The Pico da Neblina peak will be reached after another five days.

Scientific Importance

Beyond the scenic beauty of Brazils highest peak, it is the scientific importance of the Pico da Neblina National Park, that has been pointed out by many famous scientists like De Spruce, McGuire, Froes, Vanzoline, Prance, Pires and others, as being absolutely spectacular.

The high camps of the Pico da Neblina hosts the highest known endemic density of all Brazilian highland formations and about 50% of the undiscovered species are completely unknown territory for the science. Without a doubt, here, the future will reveal a new world, especially in botany.

Some of the animals and plants, which can be observed in the region:

  • Birds
    several kinds of toucans, aracaris, scarlet macaws, green winged macaws, blue and yellow macaws, blue fronted amazons, a great number of colorful tanagers, kingfishers, guans, curassows
  • Spiders
    such as the non poisonous Theraposa leblondi, the biggest spider of the world, with a lifespan of up to 20 years, the very poisonous Loxoceles, Phoneutria and Lycosas, Latraodectus mactans (black widow)
  • Mammals
    tapir, capybara, giant otter, paca, brown and black howler monkey, black uacari, spider monkey, dusky titi monkey, brown capuchin monkey, spider monkey, sloth
  • Fish, amphibians, snakes
    river dolphins, piracuru, piranha, caiman, several kind of poisonous frogs and snakes, iguanas, turtles
  • Butterflies:
    papillion, heliconius, morphs
  • Orchids, bromeliads, trees
    Aechmea aquilega, Scuticarias, Coriantes, Cataseto, carnivorous such as Hellianphora tatei, brachinnia, drosera and utricularias, caoutchouc trees (Hevea brasiliensis), Brazil-nut trees (Bertholletia excelsia), Assaí and Buriti palms and a lot more...

and many, many, more...


Ask for details at:

southerncross@uol.com.br

 
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