It’s a loop, and only one way to do it.
Motodreamer, Brazil, and Dirtbike Adventures have long been the Dream of Mike Thomsen, the Co-Founder and Chief Rider behind this Global Brand. If you have the same passion for Off-Roading as he does, then feast your eyes on this Amazonian magic.
MotoDreamer, Brazil, and Dirtbike Adventures.
It’s a loop, and only one way to do it.
Mike and many Off-Roaders and Dirtbike Riders worldwide have waited a long time for these 11 Days Off-roading the Amazon in Brazil experiences.
Close your eyes and imagine 11 days of dirt biking in Amazonian Rainforest. Finally, it is here to stay, and in 2023 it will undoubtedly be one of the Calendar highlights.
The Beginning of your dirtbike and Off-road riding in the Amazon begins with you flying into Brazil.
Your first destination is the Governador Jorge Teixeira de Oliveira International Airport. The name comes after the Brazilian Governor of the same name who governed the province state of Rondonia from 1922 to 1987. The civilian airport is shared with the Brazilian Air Force. It is also referred to as Belmont Airport. It lies within 4 miles of the city of Porto Velho.
The airport’s roots go back to 1969; in 2002, it gained its international status.
What not to expect from Porto Velho
Your first day will be settling into your hotel, attending a group briefing, and taking over and inspecting your bike for the adventure.
Regarding the Rhondonia capital Porto Velho. Don’t expect a mega-style tourist attraction with visitors on every street corner and tons of traffic to deal with. If anything, treat it as a market town and a stopover style of the location to other destinations.
Porto Velho overshadows the Rio Maderia, which is the longest Amazonian tributary.
Just over forty years ago, in 1980, the first settlers began to arrive in considerable numbers in search of jobs and land. They had come for the mineral wealth discovered in its surrounding terrain. A form of tin dioxide known as Cassiterite and, of course, gold were the attraction.
Cassiterite consists of many colors and is often transparent. Colors range from black, reddish brown, brownish black, grey, white, or yellow.
Cassiterite has been the primary source of plates, containers, solders, alloys, cans, and polishing compounds from ancient times to now.
Due to its hardness gauge of 7, cassiterite matches quartz for durability and suitability for everyday jewelry use.
The next time you put your mobile to your ear, there will be some cassiterite in the circuit board.
Given that Porto Velho a recently settled city and region. The road system is surprisingly advanced for the Amazon. You’ll notice there are robust tarmac roads such as the BR-364 combined with the three major rivers called Mamore, Madeira, and Guapore
Talking earlier of pit stops and ongoing destinations from Porto Velho, you can reach Manaus by riverboat. Then, travel overland to Peru, Bolivia, and South America.
The map image above will give you a great insight into the routes you will discover while on your off-roading dirtbike.
As I said earlier in this article, Day One will keep you busy, get to know your dirtbike, complete any residual paperwork, and attend a briefing with fellow off-roaders. As soon as the group has all arrived, equipped and ready for the adventure ahead. We will have time to relax, get to know the town, and replenish food and drink.
For the historians, here is a short list of places to see either before your adventure begins or on your return to the market town after completing the off-roading experience.
- Dom Joao Batistass Costa Museum.
- Governor Jorge Teixeira de oliveira Memorial.
- Estrada De Ferro Madeira Mamore.
- Mercado Cultural.
- As Tres Caixas d’Agua.
- Mirantes 1, 2, and 3 (Observation decks.)
- The Natural Park and Zoo of Porto Velho.
In the evening, check out the nightlife with the local’s thirst for their Brazilian music and vibe. The locals do know how to party when the sun goes down.
Then, it is off to bed for a good night’s sleep and ensures all is fit and raring to go on the following day’s 297 km to Vila Realidade. An approximately seven-hour ride.
On your ride through the Rondonia state, you will experience a mainly large deforested landscape. You will see tracks and roads radiating like ribs from the spinal highway BR 364. Witness the huge number of companies and their buildings that have swallowed up as much of the deforestation areas as possible.
It is true the rainforest has suffered the most since the 1980s?
The latest figures for the first six months of 2022 show that more than 3,980 sq km of the rainforest has been cleared. That enormous figure equates to five times the New York City area. Deforestation is not showing signs of diminishing. In fact, the latest figures show it is the highest rainforest destruction in six years.
Expect to see many landless communities and groups, many of who have deep roots going back to tribes that were once proud tribal communities. Their descendants now live under plastic sheets on either side of the highway.
The basics of Vila da Realidade are located on the BR319 that links Porto Velho to Manaus.
The Vila da Realidades community of nearly 4,000 locals makes up the population of this Brazilian destination. The settlement has no infrastructure to discuss but has restaurants, bars, and odd hotels. What more could a dirtbike riding group from MotoDreamer desire?
Here are a few pointers to expect on arrival:
- Sanitation is basic; the piped water is not the best. In fact, it is poor.
- Public lighting and energy supplies are hit-and-miss.
- Expect to have no internet or access to the outside world on your mobile devices.
- The local school is teacherless, and the local television is the channel for information to the local children.
- There is a health center but do not expect a doctor or nurse to be on call 24/7.
- On a positive note, you may well see the presence of the Military Police from time to time.
- Sidewalks do not exist, and the streets are not paved.
- In winter, the streets are purely mud, and in comparison, in the summer, the streets are simply dust bowls.
- The local economy depends on sawmills, but sadly it is often the case that only one is in production. Agriculture is in a similar dismal state. Therefore, jobs are scarce for the local workforce.
Your next destination on the MotoDreamer, Brazil, and Dirtbike Adventure is Igapo Acu.
The Igapo Acu is an Amazon tributary river diverting off the Madeira River and also houses a sustainable development reserve with the same name. You will only be there for a night stop after a 10-hour bike/ferry trip to it.
The reserve itself covers a landmass of under 1 million acres and sits on either side of the BR-319. As you can imagine, the vegetation is wholly Amazonian Rainforest foliage. If you come across any of the local population, they will most likely be landowners, leaseholders, or farmers.
After a night’s rest in Igapo Acu, onward to your next destination for this MotoDreamer, Brazil, and Dirtbike Adventure – 6 hours to Manaus.
Mixing off-road dirt biking with the possible river crossing heading to Manaus should take you around 6 hours to complete. Kick yourself at having the curiosity and availability to experience the most powerful rivers that unselfishly showcase their individual greatness and strength.
The reward has to be arriving in Manaus – the capital of the Amazonas.
If time allows, fish for Piranhas or seeks out Caymans (Alligators) and other nocturnal nightlife after dark.
Author’s Note. After that suggestion, how about swimming with Pink Dolphins?
Be inquisitive and learn as much as possible about the incredible world of medical plants and their traditional uses.
Manaus, the gateway to the Amazon. A city of over 2 million souls, and being a city means it has all the creature comforts you can expect back home. (Well, nearly all.)
The city at the heart of the rainforest sits on two rivers – The Solimoes and the Negro. You will find plenty to do and see both in and around the city.
The history of Manaus has its roots going back as far as 1669. When the Portuguese created a fort on the Rio Negro. The communities in those days thrived and expanded. By 1832 it had been certified as a town. Sixteen years later, declared a city.
Now Manaus is the Amazon tourist destination for those interested or working in the fields of Wildlife. Conservation, Ecosystems, and the Amazon Rainforest.
Manaus is the home to the Pied Tamarin, now an endangered primate.
The Saguinus Bicolor, or Pied Tamarin, has decimated numbers through rural expansion and urban sprawl. Over three generations, they have seen their numbers diminish by as much as 80%. Making them classed as a species on the most critically endangered list.
Pied Tamarin with his hairless face near Manaus in the Brazilian Rainforest.
The Pied Tamarin, with their fur mixed colors from brown, red, white, black, and tan, are fast little fellows.
They can reach up to 24 mph and are only found where off-road dirtbike riders are going.
Although small in stature. With an average size of 7 to 11 inches from head to tail and weighing only 430 gm. Be aware of them proportionally these guys have rather large claws.
Apart from that, Pied Tamarins are pretty sociable. In addition, you often find them in groups of at least 5 or more.
These omnivores mammals enjoy a feast of insects, fruits, and rodents. They are not partial to their predators. Such as snakes, wild cats, and hawks. If left alone, they can reach up to the age of 15 years.
Pied Tamarins are classed as “New World Monkeys.” They are found in tropical regions, for example, South America, Mexico, and Central America.
On your 5th day of your MotoDreamer, Brazil and Dirtbike Adventure is our bonus day. It is time to enjoy a 30-hour ferry trip from Manaus to Santarem.
The slow ferry journey covers a good distance. Thus, you can enjoy the exuberance of the magnificent Amazon rainforest. You will be mixing with the local population, but our group will have private cabins.
Head up to the top deck. Follow the daily life on the river as we glide by villages and secluded huts.
Expect some scheduled stops for the ferry on its journey. They are Itacoatiara, Parintins, Juruti, and Obidos. The ferry will stop for approximately 20 minutes each time to allow cargo and passengers to either board or disembark.
Expect plenty of opportunities to purchase snacks from the vendors and their long sticks. Marvel how they attached your order to baskets so as to reach you.
Witness the amazing sunrises and sunsets with incredible landscapes constantly displayed throughout your journey.
If it rains, note how the river comes alive with a turmoil current. The great thing about the rain is the opportunity to have a fresh shower!
You will experience one such vista when the Rio Solimoes meet the Rio Black. Both rivers have vastly different densities. Which results in neither river having the ability to mix with the other. This phenomenon lasts a good couple of kilometers.
Three cities make up the Municipality of Santarem. Santarem, Mojui dos Campos, and Belterra are located in the Brazilian state of Para.
The city has a population of just over 300,000. Surrounded by two rivers, one full of mud -The Amazon. The other, was named after the early Indian tribes – Tapajos. In contrast, check out its clear green water.
Santarem has its roots going back to the Jesuits in 1661, who created their mission and fortress. Now deemed as one of the oldest towns, Santarem can boast of having a 300 km stretch of pristine white sandy beaches and freshwater lapping the sand banks.
Day 6 of your MotoDreamer, Brazil, and Dirkbike Adventure allows you the pleasure of riding to Alter do Chao.
The group will ride on the 36.3 km stretch of the PA-457 to the coastal location of Alter do Chao. It should take less than 35 minutes to arrive at this beautiful beach town. Some refer Alter do Chao as the Brazilian Caribbean with its freshwater beach setting.
What makes the beaches unique is that in the rainy season, many of them disappear completely, and when the dry season returns, the beaches reappear again.
Relax, wade, or swim, and stay aware of freshwater stingrays. They are attracted to the remoteness of some of the beaches. Our advice is to shuffle your way along and not walk as you would on other surfaces. The stingrays will, when stepped on, sting you in defense.
It would be easy to assume from all the headlines we often come across when humans meet stingrays. The Stingrays are the aggressors. Often, someone gets hurt, and it is not the freshwater fish. After all, he is generally a peaceful sea creature until one of us inadvertently places a foot on him. His natural defensive reaction is to react – defensively.
Here are ten interesting facts regarding the freshwater stingrays of Brazil.
- Stingrays have flat bodies with long spiky tails that contain venom, which is released in self-defense when disturbed.
- Like sharks, stingrays are carnivores and will eat anything they discover on the seabed.
- They have, as a species, been around for over 50 million years, and scientific evidence has proved they were there with dinosaurs.
- Stingrays are unique in the fact they have no bones. Instead, their skeleton structure is made up of the same stuff our ears and nose are made of. Yes, flexible cartilage.
- When in muddy waters, the stingray relies on his nose and sense of smell to detect food sources.
Despite being nervous, stingrays enjoy being curious and playful when in the presence of snorkelers.
- Sharks and stingrays are classed in the same family, made of cartilage. Both have scales and the same type of teeth.
- Stingrays have to avoid becoming a meal for larger preying fish, seals, and their related sharks.
- Stingrays do not need their parents as soon as they are born. As they are fully developed at birth. Mind you. Their mothers still remain close at hand when other predators take an interest.
- Stingrays swim as birds fly. They use their fins in a flapping motion. They often reach speeds of 30 mph with their wave motions.
- Females have the advantage of longevity over their male counterparts. The females often live to their early twenties, whereas the males barely get past seven.
After a day in Alter Do Chao, it’s time to ride out on a six-hour journey to Itaitubu.
It is here where this article titled MotoDreamer, Brazil, and Dirtbike Adventures should bring you up to speed on the Mighty Amazonas of Brazil. After all, this is the star attraction for you guys.
We start with the official term for this UNESCO World Heritage site and National Park. It spans French Guiana, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.
Amazonas Rainforest or in Portuguese: Floresta Amazonica, or in Spanish: Selva Amazonica.
MotoDreamer, Brazil, and Dirtbike Adventures. It’s a loop, and only one way to do it.
Amazonas Facts and Figures Part 1.
The Amazon River system is the lifeline for all of the Amazon Rainforest and basin.
- The Amazonas is the largest rainforest on our planet. It is often described as our heart and lungs.
- It is located and shared with eight nations of South America and includes a small protected area under the governance of French Guiana.
- The rainforest gets its name from the Rio Amazonas. In turn, you can trace its name back to ancient Greek mythology regarding a mighty tribe of female warriors.
- The Amazon can be best described as a mosaic consisting of ecosystems, vegetation, savannahs, seasonal forests, and various other forests, such as deciduous or flooded.
- Furthermore, the Amazon River acts as the Amazon basin’s drainage, which is the world’s largest river in terms of the massive amounts of discharged water it produces each year.
- In addition, the Amazon River is second only to the Nile in Africa for its size.
- There are over 1,100 tributaries, of which seventeen of them are over 1000 miles in length.
- There are over 526 hectares of primary forest, making up close to 84% of the overall regional 629 million hectares of tree coverage.
- Now imagine this incredible 2.6 million sq miles of the tropical landmass is actually our “Carbon Sink.” It is the earth’s way of maintaining the climate with natural means.
- For lifesaving reasons alone, the Amazonas is vital for our existence, its abundant wildlife, and its glorious plant life.
Author’s Note: If the historians amongst you wish to discover more regarding the history of the Amazon Rainforest, we at MotoDreamer recommend following the next link. The information is concise and easy to read.
The Amazon Rainforest
MotoDreamer, Brazil, and Dirtbike Adventures. It’s a loop, and only one way to do it.
Mike T created the itinerary and route for this amazing and challenging MotoDreamer, Brazil, and Dirtbike Adventure.
Early on, he soon realized he had to create an 11-Day loop to ensure you all would be in the thick of this Jungle experience.
Right in the middle of the jungle tour would be one day, not dirt biking but traveling on the 30-hour Amazon Ferry. As this is the first-ever English-speaking Rainforest Experience, he decided to keep the 10-Day plus a day to cover the 30-hour River Ferry. And make it a FREE BONUS Day.
During the last five days of your adventure in the Amazon, you will visit the following locations as part of your overall experience.
It’s a loop, and only one way to do it.
These Amazonas “cities” are often no more than truckstop-style of places. They will be where you will rest your bones, feed an empty stomach, and quell your thirst. For your record, here is a list of where you will be resting on the latter days of the magnificent loop.
- Itaituba, with its 101,000-plus population, was founded in 1856. It is regarded as one of the fastest-growing medium-sized cities in Brazil. The city has a nickname – Cidade Pepita. In English, that translates to Gold Nugget City. Itaituba does have decent hotels, a thriving port, and an airport.
- Jacareacanga is a city positioned at the very center of South America, A Brilian “city” with a small population of only 7,590 that manages to have an impressive Basilica, zoo, and museum.
The average distance in time for dirt bikers to rack up high mileage is measured in hours. Expect anyway between 5 to 8 hours between places.
- Apui, with its population of over 22,000, shot to fame back in 2006 when it was reported that the early miners were scoopíng up thousands of dollars of gold in 3 months.
As you can expect, a few thousand other people arrived for their share of the riches. It did not take long for the area to be ruined by wildcat mines, deforestation, and the terrible diversion of streams.
- Humaita.The final municipality of over 56,000 people before returning back to Porto Velho to complete the loop. Here, you will witness soybeans trucks rumbling to the bigger city of Rio Janeiro, England, Europe, Mexico, and China.
Amazonas Facts and Figures Part 2.
Head to this amazing video we discovered on YouTube. You will learn about some mindblowing things, such as walking trees and a fellow who has swum the whole of the Amazon River! Don’t forget to come back.
Scientists Terrifying New Discovery Hidden In the Amazon Rain Forest!
It’s a loop, and only one way to do it.
In conclusion to this article called MotoDreamer, Brazil, and Dirtbike Adventures.
We always knew this would be a mighty trip consisting of 10 days plus a 1-day Free bonus.
It is not for the faint-hearted or those who prefer paved roads with majestic hotels and first-class cuisine.
This is for those dirtbike enthusiasts who can circumnavigate any obstacle. Not being fazed by the lack of bridges, sandy potholes, skidding surfaces, and not a sprinkle of asphalt in sight.
Add the above MotoDreamer, Brazil, and Dirtbike Adventure to your bucket list of completed experiences and add it to your Around the World in 80 Days challenge.
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