15-day Pico da Neblina Expedition, Brazil
Planeta Exo
TripsBrazilAmazon

15-day Pico da Neblina Expedition, Brazil

Amazon
14 Nights·15 Days
AmazonHiking & TrekkingCommunity-Based Travel

Overview

Hidden in the northwest Amazon near the Venezuelan border, Pico da Neblina National Park protects the highest mountain in Brazil: Yaripo (its Yanomami name), at 2,995 m. It is Brazil’s second-largest national park and one of the last remote regions of South America, reached only by plane, 4×4, and motorized canoe.

The Pico da Neblina expedition is the most demanding trek in the country. The route to the summit covers roughly 70 km round-trip, with more than 3,300 m of cumulative climb, through dense rainforest, muddy trails, river crossings, and high-altitude cloud forest. On this trip, you spend 8 days trekking and sleep in rustic forest camps.

It is also a rare cultural encounter. Yanomami leaders guide every step, sharing daily life along the trail and hosting a naming ceremony at the end. This Pico da Neblina trek asks you to move at the pace of the forest and the river, where weather and water levels shape the plan as much as any schedule.

  • Full itinerary: 4x4 and motorized-canoe river travel, 8 days of jungle trekking to the Pico da Neblina summit, and Yanomami ceremonies.
  • Reach the summit of Pico da Neblina (2,995 m), the highest peak in Brazil, over ~70 km (round trip) and more than 3,300 m of cumulative climb.
  • Explore Brazil’s second-largest national park, one of the last wild frontiers in South America, near the Venezuelan border.
  • Sleep in rustic forest camps across Irokae, Gavião, Bebedouro Novo, Laje, and Base, bathing in mountain streams as you climb into the cloud forest.
  • Deep cultural immersion with the Yanomami people.
  • Guided throughout by a local team and qualified, trained Yanomami guides (guiding in Portuguese).
  • All-inclusive experience: airport transfers, 4x4 and canoe transport, guesthouse and camp accommodation, most meals, guides, and itinerary insurance.

  • Please note: this is Brazil’s most demanding trek, a serious 15-day expedition for travelers in strong physical condition with previous multi-day hiking experience. All activities are subject to change due to weather, river conditions, and the guidance of Yanomami leaders. Departure dates are strictly fixed (coordinated with the Yanomami), and each expedition requires a minimum of 3 participants.

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in São Gabriel da Cachoeira

  • ArriveSão Gabriel da Cachoeira airport by 1:40 PM · Transfer to guesthouse
  • Manaus → São Gabriel da Cachoeira850 km · ~2 h by plane

This Pico da Neblina expedition begins in São Gabriel da Cachoeira, the most Indigenous municipality in Brazil, 850 km from Manaus (about 2 hours by plane).

Arrive by 1:40 PM for the transfer to a guesthouse near the Rio Negro (check-in from 2 PM). The afternoon is free to explore the riverfront. In the evening, the group meets for a briefing.

Meals included: None on arrival day

Aerial view of São Gabriel da Cachoeira, the starting point of the Pico da Neblina Expedition, showing the town's white church, grid of streets and buildings on a forested peninsula surrounded by the dark waters of the Rio Negro, with rainforest and rocky outcrops stretching to the horizon

Day 2

Briefing, culture and a dip in the Rio Negro

  • ISA visitYanomami culture & conservation
  • Rio Negroswim & final gear check

After breakfast, visit the Instituto Socioambiental (ISA) to learn about Yanomami culture, conservation, and sustainable travel. In the afternoon, swim in the black waters of the Rio Negro and finalize gear and backpacks. It is a calm, grounding day before entering the forest.

Meals included: Breakfast

Dark, gently rippled river surface with a narrow column of sunlight reflected across the water, seen during the Pico da Neblina Expedition
Open thatched-roof terrace of a riverside lodge on the Pico da Neblina Expedition, with hammocks strung between wooden posts and a wide view over a broad river lined with palm trees at golden hour
Three-storey tropical building with horizontal wooden slatted balconies and a wide circular thatched roof, serving as the guesthouse base for the Pico da Neblina Expedition in São Gabriel da Cachoeira

Day 3

Into the wild, from river roads to Maturacá

  • 4x4São Gabriel → South Port · 80 km
  • Motor canoe150 km upriver · Ya-Mirim, Ya-Grande, Cauaburis, Maturacá
  • São Gabriel da Cachoeira → Maturacá~230 km · ~7 h (car + canoe)

The Pico da Neblina expedition officially begins. Travel 80 km by 4×4 to where the road ends at South Port, then transfer to motorized canoes for a 150 km journey upriver. You should arrive in Maturacá, in the Amazon, at sunset, welcomed by the local Yanomami association AYRCA.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Aerial view of two motorized canoes navigating a dark tannin-stained river through dense Amazon rainforest during a Pico da Neblina Expedition, with a small sandy bank visible mid-frame
A white 4x4 vehicle navigating a deeply rutted red mud trail through dense tropical rainforest on the Pico da Neblina Expedition
A motorized canoe speeds across a mirror-flat black-water river on the Pico da Neblina Expedition, with a dense forest horizon and billowing cumulus clouds perfectly reflected on the glassy surface
Children and adult visitors play a rope game together in an open dirt clearing beside a turquoise wooden building, surrounded by tall Amazonian palms, during the Pico da Neblina Expedition community visit.

Day 4

Blessings and the first steps into the forest

  • CeremonyYanomami elders bless the trek
  • Trek→ Camp Irokae · 8 km ·

The day begins with a spiritual ceremony, as Yanomami elders perform a traditional ritual to bless the Pico da Neblina trek. Then, continue upriver to the trailhead and hike 8 km through dense vegetation to Camp Irokae, where hammocks wait under the forest canopy.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Two Yanomami elder men in traditional ceremonial dress — black body paint, red feather headdresses, turquoise bead earrings and woven bead belts — standing together before the Pico da Neblina Expedition trek begins, with lush rainforest in the background
A Yanomami man wearing traditional face paint, red feathers and a leaf adornment clasps hands warmly with a traveler during the Pico da Neblina Expedition, with tropical forest and a mountain peak visible in the background.
A capuchin monkey with a dark cap and pale face peers directly at the camera from within dense green foliage during the Pico da Neblina Expedition
A traveler and a Yanomami elder raise their joined hands during a traditional blessing ceremony before the Pico da Neblina Expedition, with palm trees and a dramatic peak rising through clouds in the background.
Three hikers with trekking poles and backpacks navigate a muddy trail through dense, bromeliad-laden cloud forest on the Pico da Neblina Expedition, the lead hiker wearing rubber boots and a yellow shirt

Day 5

Climbing through the green maze

  • Trek→ Camp Gavião · 420 m · 6 km

Leave the lowlands behind and climb 6 km through humid jungle, slippery roots, and thick vines to Camp Gavião at 420 m, beside a clearwater stream where frogs and birds mark the end of the day.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Travelers resting in hammocks under a green tarp shelter rigged between wooden poles in the dense rainforest, with backpacks and wicker baskets on the ground — a typical Pico da Neblina Expedition camp setup
Close-up of a wood fire burning between river stones on a Pico da Neblina Expedition camp, orange flames rising through smoke above charred logs
Chopped green vegetables on a small cutting board balanced on a stack of firewood during a Pico da Neblina Expedition camp meal preparation, with a knife resting at the edge and supply bags nearby
Close-up of a large fern frond showing rows of pinnules covered in round sori dots, photographed during a Pico da Neblina Expedition through dense Amazonian rainforest

Day 6

Deeper into the rainforest, higher in altitude

  • Trek→ Camp Bebedouro Novo · 850 m · 9 km

The path winds further into solitude. We trek 9 km through untouched rainforest, past moss-wrapped trees, to Camp Bebedouro Novo at 850 m, where a river cools us before dinner.

Meals included: Breakfast / late lunch / dinner

A backpacker looks up toward the misty forest canopy through tall moss-covered trees during a Pico da Neblina Expedition, with soft light filtering through the cloud forest understory
Two men building a wooden camp structure from cut branches and logs during the Pico da Neblina Expedition, surrounded by dense Amazon rainforest undergrowth
A group of travelers on a Pico da Neblina Expedition seated on log stumps in a circle around a small campfire at night, beneath a thatched shelter in the Amazon rainforest
A full moon with clearly visible craters glowing against a completely black night sky during the Pico da Neblina Expedition

Day 7

A hard climb, a sacred view

  • Cloud forest→ Camp Laje · 1,600 m · ~6 h · 5 km

A day of challenge: climb 800 m over just 5 km into the cloud forest. After about 6 hours, reach Camp Laje (1,600 m), where Yaripo, the Mount Neblina, appears on the horizon for the first time.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Twin vertical rock pillars split by a deep narrow cleft rise through dense cloud on the Pico da Neblina Expedition, with low scrubby highland vegetation in the foreground
A Yanomami woman crouches by a smoky open fire, carefully pouring dark liquid through a cloth filter into a blackened kettle during the Pico da Neblina Expedition
A traditional woven wicker backpack basket rests against a mossy root on the forest floor during a Pico da Neblina Expedition camp stop, with a shirtless man sitting by a fire in the blurred background among tall rainforest trees

Day 8

Approaching the realm of spirits

  • Technical ascentBase Velha → Camp Base · 2,030 m · 4 km

A steep, technical ascent: 2 km to Base Velha, then 2 km more over muddy, exposed terrain to Camp Base at 2,030 m. The vegetation turns alpine, and temperatures drop. Gather around a fire and prepare for summit day.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

A trekker crouches beside a yellow North Face dry bag inside a makeshift wooden shelter during the Pico da Neblina Expedition, smoke drifting through the hazy air while colourful gear hangs from bamboo poles
A small yellow-petalled wildflower blooms on a slender stem against dark wet branches and still water on the Pico da Neblina Expedition trail

Day 9

Summit of Yaripo, the top of Brazil

  • Summit2,995 m · Iron rungs & ropes · 4 km

The big day. Set off early from Camp Base with only your daypacks, tackling a demanding trail with sections of iron rungs and ropes.

The Montanha dos Ventos (Mountain of Winds) emerges from the mist and, after a steep 4 km ascent, you’ll reach 2,995 m, the highest point in Brazil. The Pico da Neblina summit opens onto endless forest below and clouds at eye level.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

A smiling hiker with a red pack cover grips a fixed metal handle while scrambling up a wet, mossy rock face on the Pico da Neblina Expedition, with a line of trekkers and fog-shrouded tepui vegetation stretching behind her
View from high altitude on the Pico da Neblina Expedition, with rocky peaks emerging through a sea of white clouds, a bare twisted tree silhouetted against vivid blue sky, and high-altitude shrubs clinging to the foreground ridge
Hikers in rain gear scrambling up wet, fog-shrouded granite rock face on the Pico da Neblina Expedition, using an orange safety rope and iron rung handholds bolted into the cliff
Four hikers silhouetted against thick mist on a rocky ridge during a Pico da Neblina Expedition, one person raising a large colorful flag that billows in the wind

Day 10

Descent through the veil

  • DescendCamp Base → Bebedouro Novo · 9 km

Begin the long descent, retracing your steps through mud and forest, passing Base Velha and Laje to reach Bebedouro Novo. It is a 9 km walk that demands patience and care.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Four children stand on a flat rock at the edge of a dark Amazon river, using long sticks to fish or play, with wooden canoes and exposed tree roots along a sandy clay bank behind them — a riverside scene encountered during the Pico da Neblina Expedition
A traveler with a trekking pole and large backpack smiles alongside two Yanomami guides carrying heavily loaded traditional woven baskets on a Pico da Neblina Expedition trail through dense Amazon rainforest
Close-up low-angle view of a hiker's legs on a Pico da Neblina Expedition forest trail, one leg bearing an infinity tattoo, hand holding an olive-green insulated water bottle, with other trekkers visible among dense green rainforest in the background

Day 11

Return to Camp Irokae & naming ceremony

  • Descend→ Camp Irokae (via Gavião) · 14 km
  • CelebrationYanomami naming ceremony

The forest feels different on the way down. Hike 14 km to Camp Irokae and pause again at Gavião. In the evening, the Yanomami host a celebration, and each member of the group receives a symbolic Yanomami name, an honor that reflects the bond built over days of shared effort.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

A smiling Western traveler wearing a traditional feathered headdress with tall red feathers and leaf adornments stands among Yanomami men during a Pico da Neblina Expedition cultural encounter, surrounded by Amazon forest
A crowded wooden motorized canoe carrying a local family across a dark-water Amazonian river, with an eroded clay riverbank and dense tropical forest rising behind them, during the Pico da Neblina Expedition.
Three young boys in matching red shirts play around a palm tree in a lush green clearing during the Pico da Neblina Expedition, with a dramatic rocky peak rising above the rainforest canopy in the background

Day 12

End of the trail, back to Maturacá

  • Final trek8 km → riverbank
  • Boat~2 h → Maturacá

The last day of hiking is an 8 km stretch to the riverbank where the boats wait. Ride 2 hours to Maturacá for lunch, then share one last evening at the Yaripo Project headquarters, with stories, reflections, and the friendships built along the way.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Jagged rocky peak of Pico da Neblina rising above a dense Amazon rainforest canopy at dusk, silhouetted against a soft blue and peach sky
Close-up of a large handwoven wicker backpack loaded with supplies and coiled vines, carried by a person in a red shirt along a dirt trail in the Amazon, on the Pico da Neblina Expedition

Day 13

Journey back to São Gabriel da Cachoeira

  • Boat150 km · Maturacá, Cauaburis, Ya-Grande, Ya-Mirim
  • 4x480 km → São Gabriel da Cachoeira
  • Maturacá → São Gabriel da Cachoeira~230 km · ~7 h (boat + car)

Visit the local handicraft stalls and say goodbye to the Yanomami community, then travel 150 km by boat and 80 km by car (about 2 hours) back to São Gabriel da Cachoeira, where a snack, a warm shower, and a real bed wait.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Snack

A wide, sediment-rich river reflects green light as dense Amazon rainforest lines both banks, with a tall, sharply peaked mountain rising behind the canopy under a partly cloudy blue sky — a dramatic landscape on the Pico da Neblina Expedition.
Two travelers silhouetted inside a covered motorized canoe on the Pico da Neblina Expedition, one flashing a peace sign as the sun bursts through clouds over a wide Amazonian river

Day 14

A day to breathe

  • RestWariró artisan shop · Optional massage

A free day to rest, visit the Wariró artisan shop, book a massage, or walk around town. In the evening, celebrate with a farewell dinner and a toast to your adventure.

Meals included: Breakfast / Dinner

A glowing orange sun sets over a wide river on the Pico da Neblina Expedition, with silhouetted boats on the water, a potted plant in the foreground, and distant hills on the horizon
Silhouettes of flooded forest trees rise from still water during a golden sunset on a Pico da Neblina Expedition, with a towering cumulus cloud lit from behind on the horizon
A bald uakari monkey with a vivid red face and golden-orange fur perches on a tree branch in a lush green rainforest, encountered during the Pico da Neblina Expedition
Close-up of a cream-white five-petalled wildflower covered in rain droplets, hanging from a slender stem against a dark blurred green forest understory during the Pico da Neblina Expedition

Day 15

Farewell to the forest

  • Departuretransfer to São Gabriel airport
  • São Gabriel da Cachoeira → Manaus850 km · ~2 h by plane

After breakfast, our local partner will take you back to São Gabriel, marking the end of an unforgettable expedition in Pico da Neblina.

Meals included: Breakfast

Jagged rocky peak of the Pico da Neblina Expedition rising above a dense Amazon rainforest canopy under a dramatic cloudy sky at dusk

What is Included

  • Round-trip transfer (São Gabriel da Cachoeira airport ⇌ trailhead), including all 4x4 and motorized canoe transport per the itinerary
  • 4 nights at a guesthouse in São Gabriel da Cachoeira and 2 nights at the Yaripo Project headquarters in Maturacá
  • 8 nights in rustic forest camps (hammocks) across Irokae, Gavião, Bebedouro Novo, Laje and Base
  • Meals per the itinerary: all breakfasts (except day 1), late lunches on days 3 to 13, camp dinners, and boat-journey snacks
  • ISA cultural visit, Yanomami blessing/naming ceremonies, and the summit ascent
  • Pre-expedition guidance on equipment and physical preparation
  • Guided tours throughout by PlanetaEXO’s local partners and qualified, trained Yanomami guides
  • Travel insurance for all days of the itinerary (does not include rescue/extraction in the forest)

Not included

  • Flight tickets
  • Meals in São Gabriel da Cachoeira and personal trail snacks
  • Drinks throughout the trip
  • Personal equipment and an optional personal porter
  • Tips, handicrafts and other personal expenses
  • Any services not mentioned above, including extra transfers, tours, or activities outside the itinerary

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$ 4,600/ per person