Canoe Expeditions (page 1 - Cristalino River)

a) Cristalino River - - b) Paraty/Mamanguá Bay- - c) Aquidauana River - - HOME

a) The Cristalino River

The Cristalino River is located in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil, and runs slowly for about 700km over sand deposits in the east edge of the Pantanal (largest wetland system in the world). During the dry season (from late June to late August) large white sand beaches will form a true paradise for the few canoeing explorers reaching the region. Even today, under the continuous pressure of the extensive production cattle farms all around, the Cristalino River keeps a significant portion of the typical fauna and flora of the region, making this trip something that you will truly enjoy and never forget.

Antonio (Tony) Osse (42) will be your guide along this journey; he is a biology professor (with a PhD on Marine Ecology), and owner of the Companhia de Canoagem - a canoe shop in Brazil producing many different models of open-canoes and kayaks + paddling gear, as well as organizing paddling trips to a few special groups and destinations, just like this one!

Trip Basic Details:

Groups: of 6 (minimum) to 10 (maximum) + 1 (or 2) guide(s).

Meeting point: Goiânia City Airport, Brazil

Aerial Transportation: not included, but we will be glad to help you find the best rates to our meeting point.

Ground transportation: on mini-buses with full-time licensed driver + road insurance. OBS: for special small groups of 1 up to 3 participants the ground transportation will be made on a 4x4 SUV and will need one extra logistics-day.

Lodging: IBIS Hotel Goiânia (at the arrival/departure day) + Pousadas(lodges) at Luis Alves and Cocalinho (simpler lodging on the pre/post-trip days). All based on double/triple occupancy.

Equipments: 17.6' tandem canoes; bent-shaft wood paddles; Type III Ultra-Comfort PFDs; single or double high-quality self-standing igloo tents (your choice of size); full equipped kitchen; pole-tarps; advanced first-aid kit; communication system (1 radio per canoe), water filtering/treatment for the entire group.

Meals: local simple restaurants on route/cities + on-trip camp meals. No commercial beverages included (beer, sodas, liquor etc).

Services: full time guiding from/to the Goiânia Airport. The group must help on some camping chores like wood gathering for the fire, tent pitching, tarp assembling, equipments carrying, etc.

Costs per person: US$ 3000,00 (minimun 6 pax group) All values on US dollars with a non-refundable reservation fee of 25% (to be paid 60 days before the trip date).

Average paddling distance: 250km, to be covered in 9 to 10 days. The final total distance will vary about 10% according to the degree of exploration made on the river's bays, tributaries, etc

The Chronogram:

Day 1: (leaving your country the day/night before). Arrival at São Paulo International Airport (Cumbica/Guarulhos - GRU) followed by a self-connection to the Goiânia Airport. Your guide will be waiting you at the Goiânia arrivals-gate exit, with a? paddle! (yes, you will know that he is the guide!) . Transfer by minibus to the IBIS Goiânia Hotel. Check-in. Group meeting later at the hotel lobby for quick presentations and welcome drinks/snacks.

Day 2: Breakfast at 7:30am. Road-trip to Cocalinho (closest town to the river entry-point) Total distance: 430km. Lunch stop at Goiás Velho (former "golden-era" colonial State Capital). Arrival at Cocalinho by 5:00pm, lodging at a local Pousada. Dinner.

Day 3: Early call + breakfast for a 40km dirt-road trip to the river entry-point. Equipment's presentation and distribution. Quick lunch and?Paddling the Cristalino River: we are supposed to paddle only 10 to 15 km this first day, just in order to find a camping spot away from the road access. First camping night. Things will be a little bit out of rhythm yet, the bugs will be interested on the new blood that just arrived…but let´s try to have a nice dinner under the southern stars!

Day 4: Paddling the Cristalino River. No hurry this first morning! Now we are on the river's rhythm! Let´s have a calm breakfast, talk a little and feel the environment. This day we will face a narrow and shallow river. Depending on the year's rains (quite variable!), the river may be shallower than expected and some wading may be necessary at some portions. Don´t forget to bring a good river-shoe (not sandals). One more detail: we have just 5% chance of rain this time of the year, what means that we have 95% chance of bright skies and hot sun. Don´t forget a good hat and a 40spf (or higher) sunscreen lotion too. With just 25km ahead to paddle, feel free to explore the beautiful "baías" and beaches along the way. Camp by 4:30pm.

Day 5: Paddling the Cristalino River. In order to avoid the hot midday sun and also to get the most beautiful light and views (in a photographic sense!), the group will quickly understand that an early call is advisable. So let´s try to hone our camping skills and be in the water no later than 8:30am?. Hope you don´t mind having somebody lighting a smoky fire and baking some fresh bread by 6 o´clock! And another paddling day along this fantastic river.

Day 6: Paddling the Cristalino River. Well, here is that point where the program start repeating the same paragraph about "paddling along this fantastic river" again and again. Well, but this is the truth? You will have the next 6 days to explore a wonderful environment and meet some incredible examples of birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals etc. Retrieve that field guide provided with pictures and details about some local animals and try to recognize them. Lunch stop around noon. Camp by 4 to 5pm, no later.

Day 7: Paddling the Cristalino River. Paddling along this fantastic river! (Told you!) In such a river, with so many options to explore, it´s important to keep an eye open for the group and never loose sight of your guide´s canoe.

Day 8: Paddling the Cristalino River. Ok, let me use this space in a more creative way! Some people may be concerned (while paddling along this fantastic river!), about caymans, piranhas etc. Is there any risk? Well, the risk with these 2 is really really small! It´s not advisable to swim much far from the beaches, it´s not advisable to make strong turbulence in the water and, of course, always avoid bleeding injuries in the water (as if somebody would ever go to swim while bleeding!). But remember me later to tell you about the stingrays?.

Day 9: Paddling the Cristalino River. What a fantastic river today! Blues skies, warm sun, white beaches! (95% chance of sun, really!). In case we got a little bit behind our schedule, we will start to get up to it today. In case not, let´s explore more and more, or even get a rest day in some isolated beach.

Day 10: Paddling the Cristalino River. Did I tell you before that this is a fantastic river to paddle at? Well, by now you will know it as well as I do! Not that it doesn´t bring me any surprises year after year! The annual floodings in the region will cover an area larger than England for 6 months and leave behind an ever changing river and nature.

Day 11: Paddling the Cristalino River. Maybe today you will have that bitter feeling of "hey, my paddling trip along this fantastic river is almost finishing"?Hope you will miss my "gourmet-camping-cuisine" too? That pizza-night under the stars was quite good, ahh? Our camp tonight will be about 4 hours from the exit point. We will camp here to avoid the road access/tourists…even being in a place where just a few will adventure their selves with a car. Let me see if I find that last bottle of wine and let´s have a toast for another wonderful day.

Day 12: Arrival at the exit point by 11am. Our minibus will be waiting for a transfer to the Luis Alves Town, 50km away by a difficult dirt road access. Hey, before let´s help that poor guide to put all the canoes on the trolley and equipments in the bus! Possible stops to watch local typical fauna of the Cerrado (we often spot ant-eaters, araras and "emas" in this path). Lodging at a Pousada and dinner in a local (simple) restaurant.

Day 13: Breakfast at 7:00am. Road trip back to Goiânia (550km). Lunch stop at Goiás Velho or another chosen place. Arrival at IBIS Hotel Goiânia by 6:00pm. Dinner at a local "rodízio" restaurant.

Day 14: Breakfast at 7:30am. Goiânia Airport by 9:30am, connection to the São Paulo International Airport, and back home flight at night? OR, you can engage into some other local trips. We will be glad to assist you on choosing nice places/tours to discover a little bit more of this incredible country called Brazil! There are thousands of choices!

What to bring: a more detailed list will be sent with your complete trip-information-package. Here are just a few items to start:

a) "adventure" varied clothing (don´t forget that nice hat!) ; b) personal light sleeping bag + self-inflating sleeping pad (ThermaRest e.g.) ; c) personal medicines (it is always hard to find similar drugs abroad) ; d) Sunscreen of 40 (or more) protection factor ; e) good humor!

What NOT to bring: a more detailed list will be sent with your complete trip-information-package...

a) Guns and Drugs: there are NO hunting licenses/reservations in Brazil, and carrying a gun without permission is a serious qualified Federal Crime, no matter what sort/caliber of gun. OBS: if you want to fish, get in contact at least 60 days prior to your arrival, in order to get the necessary permits. Costs (US$ 92,00/person) may be paid on arrival to your guide. Avoid huge and complicated problems by not bringing any sort of drugs too.

b) Stress?. Leave the daily stress in the trunk of your car parked at the airport!! But don´t worry, I´m sure it will not be there by the time you get back!

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General Information for all our destinations:

1) All our International Group Services are based on full outfitting and full guiding services. All you have to bring are your clothes, sleeping bag/mat and personal belongings. We will send you a complete information package (including a list of what to bring!) upon your booking.

2) From the moment you step outside your flight from home to the moment we say goodbye at the airport gate you will be under the care and attention of our guides, including all land transportation, lodging, meals (except beverages), equipments etc.

3) Flights (+ taxes) from/to your home country are not included, but we will be more than pleased to help you find the best services with the lowest rates.

4) Valid passports/Visas are to be self-provided. We have a support agent (hot-line) in São Paulo (where most customers will clear Immigration/Customs), but he will not be able to solve problems with passports/visas.

5) Personal or group travel insurances are not included. A trip-specific full coverage personal insurance with your particular insurance company is advisable.

6) Yellow-fever vaccines are obligatory 20 days prior to departure from your home-country to any tropical country, including Brazil. Bring your certificate inside your passport.

7) Children over 10 years old are more than welcome.

8) As expected, we will be travelling on wild country with no easy exit-rescuing facilities. For your safety, all our expedition groups carry a Satellite Beacon Device that can transmit our position and, under extreme necessity, it can also activate emergency helicopter rescue services. A Term of Liability will have to be filled by each participant prior to the trip, as well as a full medical information chart including personal details on food preferences, allergies, current treatments/medicines etc..

9) Sorry, no pets allowed.