Text : Métilde Wendenbaum ECEAT Projects
The Silves City is located 260 km far from Manaus in straight line (350 km by river) in a region of the Amazon full of lakes of many different sizes and shapes. The Silves municipality is covering a territorial Área of 3.671 Km². The aquatic ecosystem locally is as sensible as rich. It is sensible related to the biological processes which control the flora, fauna and the traditional communities of riverines living on the riverbank -known as "ribeirinhos"-. The riverines are living in the region since centuries respecting the balance between vital environmental needs and natural resources available.
A very common conflict in the Amazon region has arisen between local populations, who practice artisanal subsistence fishing, and commercial fishermen from the large cities, who invade the area to fish. This phenomenon result of both the increased demand in the cities for fish, and the drop in price of other non-timber forest products.
In the case of Silves where available fish stocks had been greatly reduced, community pressure led the municipality to create an Environmental Protection Area (APA) to grant local control of the lakes.
Then in order to implement an effective management system for the lakes, with the aim of replenishing and conserving the fish stocks, the community founded the "Associação de Silves pela Preservação Ambiental e Cultural"- ASPAC. This non-profit Brazilian NGO is composed of local communities and their members are the riverines who live in the region of Amazonian lakes around the Silves Island. Since 1994, ASPAC executes with the technical support of WWF, the project "Silves : a Project of Ecotourism of local Community in the Brazilian Amazon".
The objective of the project was to make Silves’ ecotourism activities viable as the first community-based ecotourism enterprise in the Amazon region, with the resulting income funding conservation of the fisheries lakes in the region.
During the first phase of the project, the hotel “Pousada Aldeia dos Lagos” and services were established and community members were trained to operate it. The Hotel on the island of Silves is built on a five-hectare site. The hotel has a main building which hosts the lodge administration, a visitor’s shop, the restaurant, the kitchen and a lookout. There are 2 lodging modules with a total of 12 apartments with private bathroom, screened window, fan and veranda.
In the second phase, educational tours focusing on environmental topics have been developed, taking advantage of the exceptional natural beauty of the region. Cultural tours are also proposed, with visits to the various participating communities to foster contacts between tourists and the traditional populations. Visitors to Silves can hire local guides for fishing expeditions (where permitted), night forays in search of night animas, or visits to the surrounding communities to view, for example, the magic transformation of mandioca into tapioca. The profit of ecotourism activities goes used in the benefit of preservation of fishing lakes system, and to improve the life quality of Silves community.
Contact :
Vicente Neves
Adsres : Rua 04, s/n, Localidade Ponta do Macário
Panorama, Silves - Amazonas – Brasil
C.E.P : 69.110-000
Telephone : +55 (92) 528-2124
Fax : +55 (92) 528-2124 ; Tél/Fax : +55 (92) 3528-2045 ou 3234-6562 (Manaus)
E-mail : aldeiadoslagos@terra.com.br ; reservas@aldeiadoslagos.com.br
Website : www.aldeiadoslagos.com.br
Other national or international tour operatoes that commercialise this product :
Brazilians agencies : Viverde Turismo Ltda (http://www.viverde.com.br/home.html), FreeWay Tour, Adrik Tour
Type of stay
Students, Researchers, Nature lovers, groups, volunteers
Season : Average Temperatur : 29,5º C ; There are two main seasons in Amazona. Flood Season (waters rise, flooding the forest from January to June) and Dry Season time (rivers drained and forest and beaches appear again from July to December).
Duration of stay : 4-6 days (or depending on the wish of the visitors to stay more)
Location : The Silves City is located 350 km far from Manaus, 8th Sub-Region - Region of the Middle Amazonas ; 60 m above sea level.
Short description of the place, highlights :
Silves is located in a beautiful island 350 km downstream the Amazonas River from Manaus. Silves is at the junction of the Urubu River and the Canaçari Lake, in addition to its renowned abundance of fish and aquatic life. Surrounded by a lot of nature, the Silves Island has three different ecosystems, with its own particularities. The Pousada Aldeia dos Lagos is located on a calm part of the island, have a good area, and also view to the Saracá Lake and Canaçari Lake.
Services : _ All the tours offered are guided by local guides and, some of the tours depend on the weather meteorological conditions. Other services available : Souvenir shop, Restaurant, Guide services, Laundry, handicraft shop, meeting room, recreation patio and lookout area, electricity grid -110 volts, phone and internet access by satellite.
Cultural Information
In the community, the primary sector concentrates the major economic activities, with prominence for cattle and agriculture. The temporary cultures mobilize great part of the agricultural workmanship. The main production consists on : cassava, pineapple, rice, sugar cane, beans, jute, tobacco, banana, cupuaçú, graviola, orange, lemon, tangerine, maize and watermelon.
The origins of Silves population is a multiethnic mix, being 20% of portugueses, 10% of Africans and 70% of Indians -all from different tribes like : The Caboquenas, Guanavenas, Bararurus and Andirás- (all extinguished).
The life-style of the population is very calm and pacific, also likes to enjoy parties on the surrounding communities and they are very receptive and friendly persons too.
The Language spoke is the Portuguese.
Package recommended
Tittle : Community-based Ecotourism in Silves
_ Duration : 6 days
Type of activities : flora & wildlife nature observation, Excursion in motorized canoe, walk through Cacao crops until a typical house of the community, Testing of local products, Visit of the Silves City, typical music and dance, Trails in the forest, etc.
Departure date : whenever
Seasons : all year
Total costs : US$ 483.00 or € 473,00 (Double. We have other packages too)
Packages includes transfer Manaus-Aldeia dos Lagos (Silves)-Manaus, accommodation, excursions, bilingual guide and full-board (except drinks).
It does not include : Aerial ticket until Manaus, travel insurance, carriers, tips, drinks.
_ Accommodation : The hotel has a main building which hosts the lodge administration, a visitor’s shop, the restaurant, the kitchen and a lookout. There are 2 lodging modules with a total of 12 apartments with private bathroom, screened window, air conditioner and veranda
Services offered : accommodation, full board, guiding service, transfer Manaus-Aldeia dos Lagos (Silves)-Manaus, bilingual guide.
Booking procedure : Direct with Aldeia dos Lagos (see data above) or via Viverde Turismo Ltda.
Access : During the summer, it is possible to reach Silves from Manaus by car. First, by Manaus - Itacotiara (AM010) in 230 Km in paved road and then 120 Km in a ground branch by inter-municipal road to AM010 to Itapiranga.
Conditions required : accessible for all
Climate conditions : activities are subject to change due to meteorological conditions or environmental interference, according to water rules which determine two main seasons in Amazonas : Flood Season (waters rise, flooding the forest from January to June) and Dry Season time (rivers drained and forest and beaches appear again from July to December).