Ariau Amazon Towers Hotel

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The Ariau Amazon Towers Hotel sits 21 metres above the forest floor, amongst the canopy of the Amazon Forest, 35 miles from Manaus in Brazil. Although this is the largest commercial treehouse with over 4km of walkways that connect several lodges and even air-conditioning in some rooms, you must remember that it is in the middle of the rainforest with animals, insects and a lot of rainwater that cannot be avoided. The rooms often smell musty and can be invaded by stray tropical birds on a regular basis. The walkways between complexes are often slippery and if you do happen to have an accident, the size of the complex could mean that you are left stranded for a long period of time. Finally rain gear is an essential as during the rainy season the heavens have the potential to open at any time and without the proper clothing you will be soaked to the skin and miserable. Saying this, the tours that the hotel operates; caiman hunting, piranha fishing, jungle trekking and swimming with dolphins in the River Negro, give you a real feel of the surroundings and the location itself is breathtaking. You can look out amongst the canopy, watching sloths, macaws, parrots and other animals scampering and fluttering about and in the bar you can have a cool beer sitting next to a monkey who will be very appreciative if you’ll let him share your peanuts.

2 / 5 Review by editor Alessia Horwich