The Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve lies near Tefé, in the state of Amazonas, Brazil. It is also known by its Portuguese name, Reserva de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá, and it protects one of the largest várzea reserves in the Amazon: forest that floods seasonally when the great rivers rise and spreads wide over the land.
What you will see
The reserve's main interest is its flooded forest ecosystem. During the high-water season the trees stand in water, and the landscape shifts with the rivers, so a visit depends on the time of year you choose. Boats are the natural way to move through the reserve, and the calm channels between the trees are where most of the wildlife and birdlife can be watched.
A reserve that works with its people
Mamirauá is not only a protected area. It was set up as a sustainable development reserve, which means local communities live within and around it and take part in managing the forest and its resources. Visitors who come here are therefore seeing a place where conservation and everyday life are meant to go together.
What to know before you go
- Location: Tefé, Amazonas, Brazil, which is the town you will base yourself in.
- Kind of visit: a nature reserve, best suited to people interested in flooded forest, river travel and community-based conservation.
- Timing: the water level changes the landscape considerably, so consider the season when planning.
- Contact: +55-97-3343-4160, to confirm arrangements before travelling.
If you want a quiet, watery corner of the Amazon where the forest is shaped by the seasons and by the people who live alongside it, Mamirauá is worth considering. Check current arrangements by phone before you set out.