Cristalino Lodge
Deep in the southern Amazon region, accessible only by boat via the crystal-clear Cristalino River, lies the Cristalino Lodge - one of the oldest and most well-known eco-lodges in Brazil. It was founded in 1992 by environmentalist Vitória da Riva Carvalho, who has created a private nature reserve of more than 11,000 hectares from an originally 700-hectare piece of land over the years. After ornithologists documented over 600 bird species during the first scientific expedition along the river in 1991 - nearly a third of all species occurring in Brazil - the region became one of the world's most important birdwatching hotspots. The wooden bungalows, built on stilts and powered by solar energy, blend gently into the rainforest and consciously forgo air conditioning in favor of natural ventilation. Between observation towers above the canopy, nighttime boat tours, and an 800-year-old Brazil nut tree, you experience the Amazon here as authentically as hardly anywhere else.
Details
Country
Brazil
Location
Alta Floresta, Mato Grosso
Price
Price on request
Best travel time
June - September
Rooms & Bungalows
The Cristalino Lodge offers 18 individually designed accommodations in four categories, from comfortable standard rooms to standalone bungalows with private verandas. All units are built from sustainably harvested wood and natural stone, feature high ceilings, large windows for natural ventilation, and solar-powered hot water showers in the open bathroom. Wooden walkways connect the stilted buildings to the main building, which houses a restaurant, bar, library, and a 144-square-meter sun deck right above the Cristalino River. From your own terrace, you look directly into the rainforest - with some luck, you may spot capuchin monkeys or white-nosed saki monkeys passing by.
Culinary
The cuisine of the Cristalino Lodge focuses on Brazilian dishes using organic ingredients from the region and the Amazon itself: fresh fish, seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as a variety of native fruits are featured in the buffets. Dinners are served by candlelight and indirect light with a view of the rainforest - a lovely setting for evenings after excursions. A part of every overnight stay goes directly towards the environmental and social projects of the Fundação Ecológica Cristalino, which has been closely collaborating with the lodge since 1999.
Activities
The Cristalino Lodge is located in the midst of one of the most biodiverse regions of the entire Amazon and is considered one of the best destinations in the world for birdwatching - over 600 registered species as well as more than 2,000 butterfly species share the area with jaguars, tapirs, and giant otters. From the lodge's own observation towers, you can experience the sunrise over the rainforest canopy, while guided hikes, canoeing, and nighttime boat tours on the Cristalino River provide further perspectives on wildlife. A highlight is the visit to an estimated 800-year-old giant Brazil nut tree on the Castanheira path, which is among the oldest known trees in the region.
Location
The Cristalino Lodge is located in a private reserve on the namesake river in the southern Amazon region, in the far north of the state of Mato Grosso, directly adjacent to the 184,900-hectare Parque Estadual do Cristalino. The journey begins at the airport in Alta Floresta, which is served by flights over Cuiabá; from there, it takes about an hour by car to the Teles Pires River and then about 30 minutes by boat upstream to the lodge. This secluded location, accessible only by boat, guarantees one of the most authentic rainforest experiences in South America, far from any infrastructure.
Contact person
Senior Travel Designer
