The dark water of the Rio Negro stirs, a pink back breaks the surface and a whistle cuts the silence: the pink river dolphins have arrived. At the floating platform in Novo Airão, gateway to Parque Nacional de Anavilhanas, the encounter with the Amazon dolphin is the kind of experience that changes anyone’s relationship with the forest.
How the visit works
The encounter takes place on a floating platform at the river’s edge, a project that has existed for almost three decades. In small groups and at controlled times, visitors go down to a partly submerged platform, where the dolphins — wild animals, free to come and go — approach of their own accord. Biologists and guides explain the biology of the species, the Amazonian legends and the threats the dolphin faces. It is not an aquarium: if the dolphins do not want to appear, they do not — and that is part of the beauty.
From hunting to a symbol of conservation
The boto-vermelho, the largest freshwater dolphin in the world, was once persecuted by fishing and by superstition. In Novo Airão the relationship has been turned inside out: today the animals are the soul of local tourism and fund environmental education for the new generations. The project takes part in research and helps to monitor the health of the Rio Negro dolphin population.
Rules of the encounter
- No touching on your own initiative: contact is always led by the team.
- No freshly applied sunscreen or repellent when stepping onto the platform.
- Feeding the animals is the handlers’ job alone, with controlled fish and quantity.
- Photos as much as you like — but no flash and no selfies holding the animal.
When to go and what to combine it with
The floating platform operates all year round. In the dry season (September to February), combine the visit with the white sand beaches of the archipelago; in the flood, with canoe trips through the igapós. The encounter lasts around an hour and fits into any itinerary around Novo Airão — but keep the rest of the day free, because the urge to sit and watch the river is inevitable.
Is it worth it?
Yes — and it is worth choosing well. Always prefer authorized, educational experiences such as the one in Novo Airão, and avoid any attraction that keeps dolphins captive or forces interaction. The privilege of meeting a wild animal on its own terms is exactly what makes this moment unforgettable.
🥾 Who is it for?
Effort: easy — the floating platform is a few steps from the little town center of Novo Airão. Children: guaranteed enchantment at any age, with clear rules of conduct. Older travelers and people with reduced mobility: stable floating walkways and a short visit — one of the great Amazonian experiences with minimal effort. Wheelchair: check with the base on the condition of the walkways and the access to them.