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· Várzea Forest - ( Wetlands ) - The substrate of the várzea is composed of alluvial and fluvial recent Holocene sediments (less than 10,000 years old) loosened from the eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains and carried in the powerful current of these mighty rivers. The rivers swell and overflow their banks each year from heavy seasonal rainfall leaving the surrounding forest under 6 to 12 m of water for periods up to eight months each year. The nutrient rich sediments deposited on the landscape constantly renew the mineral richness of the várzea soils, rendering it much more fertile than the adjacent terra firme. The várzea forest is continuous and has a rich under story with representatives from Zingiberaceae, Maranthaceae, and Heliconiaceae. The floristic diversity of várzea forests tends to be lower than that of terra firme forests. There are many economically important tree species, such as the timber trees Carapa guianensis, Iryanthera surinamensis, Ceiba pentandra, and Calycophyllum spruceanum. Bactris tefensis is an endemic palm tree in this area. The most abundant trees on the levees are Ceiba pentandra, Hura crepitans, and Parinari excelsa, and on the low levee are Pterocarpus amazonicus, Eschweilera albiflora, Piranhea trifoliata, and Neoxythece elegans . Palms are relatively rare in these várzeas, as compared to upland forests.

· Terra Firme Forest (Firm Ground) - located at higher elevations, promontories or hills that are never flooded. Its characteristic is the great diversity of giant trees as Samaúma , Assacú, that form the canopy of the rain forest. In the Piranha Sustainable Development Reserve , 583 different species of trees have been found in one hectare. The term "terra firme" is applied to all forests which are not seasonally flooded by the rivers, thus differentiating it from Várzea and Igapó forests. "Terra firme" forests are also differentiated from open formations, such as campinas, savannas and caatingas. On a more detailed scale, different habitats can be recognized within what is called "terra firme".

· Palm Swamps - are under water for most of the year. The vegetation in these areas is less dense and there are fewer species. Palm swamps are known as "Jaranaçeiro", because the Jaraná Palm is one of the few species that can live under the extreme conditions of being under water for about eight months each year.

· Gallery Forest - is the vegetation found on the banks of the larger rivers such as the Solimões River. The vegetation, mostly composed of bushes, low grasses and tropical mangroves, is more dense than further inland as it has access to the sunlight.

· Forest Canopy - The canopies, or treetops, of rain forests are one of nature's great showplaces of different kinds (species) of organisms. Biologists estimate that fully half of the 5 million to 50 million species that exist on Earth may spend all or much of their time in these dense, green worlds. The canopies of tropical rain forests, areas near the equator where yearly rainfall often exceeds 200 centimeters (80 inches), harbor the greatest number of species. Formed by the leaves and branches from the huge Amazonian giant trees, starting at 40 meters above the forest floor. This is the least known and possibly the richest ecosystem of the rainforest. The forest canopy is so dense that it allows little light to reach the forest floor .

· Mud Water Rivers - originate in the Andes mountains and descend to the Amazon plains bringing with them sediments with a large amount of nutrients, which are deposited in the Amazon basin lowlands.

· Black Water Rivers - have a high acidity and the dark color is acquired from the large amount of leaves that fall on them and release an inky organic matter called tannin.

· Lake systems - The system of lakes of the Piranha Sustainable Development Reserve, composed of more than 180 lakes, each one being different from the other, due to the floating islands of vegetation and the incredible Macrolobium, which grows underneath the water and is the nature home for orchids and many aquatics plants, the largest round lagoon in the Piranha Sustainable Development Reserve is called the "Lago Grande", which does not dry up during the dry season.

Here in this amazing rainforest region you will find and impressive diversity of living creatures, scarlet, blue and yellow macaws, cobalt-winged parakeets, burbling oropendolas and spectacularly colored tanagers share the skies with vultures and hawks . Abundant insects, brightly colored frogs, howler monkeys and butterflies of many sizes and colors inhabit the various layers of the rainforest, while over a hundred species of mammals roam the forest floor and in the rivers, streams and lakes are caimans, freshwater dolphins, pirana, catfish, the giant "Pirarucu " and hundreds of other species of fish.

See our Packages

See our Packages
Nature Safaris received a promotion - and operation concession for its brand new Flotel. At the present moment, we have 16 double apartments,all with private shower and sanitary facilities. Air conditioning is available just for some hours during the evening hours.

The restaurant has a capacity for 40 persons and is naturally specialized in the regional cuisine with emphasis on the multiple variety of local fresh water fish. Due to the gigantic proportions of The Piranha Wildlife Reserve, around 103.000 ha (225.00 acres), we developed a brand new concept:


The Flotel Piranha Eco Lodge, your Rainforest Adventure Sation, consists of a flat bottom barge in the middle of one of the lakes where it is situated, adding to its uniqueness under the open sky, surrounded by the lush green rainforest and its so many different sounds that come out of the rainforest. There´s all the necessary infrastructure, consisting of 16 apartments only, all with screens for mosquitos , mosquito nets over the beds and the apartments mostly consisting of two single beds. All rooms have a private bathroom, with a naturally heated shower and wash basin, besides the Restaurant with mosquito/light bug screen. Maximum capacity of 32 travelers in twin rooms.


Reception and bar - with comfortable sofas, hammocks and chairs, ideal to relax before and after the tours, to have a conversation with newly met friends, accompanied by regional, national and international refreshing drinks. There´s also a observation tower on the barge itself to get falcon eye views from the area. The roof being of regional amazonian architecture - rustic and completely protected by screens against mosquitos and any other light attracted bugs, adding to a great atmosphere in order for you to enjoy the delicious regional kitchen.




The generator of 110V is available just for some hours during the evening hours. Alternative Sources of energy are also being used, like torches or 12 V lights in the bathroom.
There is no hot water (only naturally heated) in which the water temperature is usually between 26-32° Celsius throughout the whole year.
No guarantee of air conditioning in any means of transportation, not even in the vans and on the barge itself.