Hammocks in the Amazon

**k7lro** · 08-20-2009, 16:26

I posted this in the Hennessy forum but thought others might miss it if it's buried there.

We got back from a riverboat/kayak trip on the Rio Negro near Manaus Brazil about a month ago - here are some hammock-related photos.

While we slept in typical hammocks for the region while on the riverboat, we did spend one night off the boat and one of the guys brought his Hennessy.

I left mine at home - the Rio Negro doesn't support mosquitos so I knew that a sheet would be all I need - assuming it didn't rain. It didn't thank goodness.

There's a slide show here that y'all might enjoy, we've got a trip report going here and I'll put some pictures below.

BTW, the majority of the sleeping accomodations on the Amazon are in regional hammocks. Just about every riverboat may have a few cabins but most people simply hand a hammock. I'll include a picture of a typical riverboat where you can see an example of this.

Our camp site is straight ahead:

It's not much - but it was comfortable.

Paul's Hennessy:

The riverboat we rented for the week:

Set up for sleeping:

You can see the hammocks on this typcial riverboat:

In 2003, I traveled by riverboat from Belem to Manaus. That boat had three classes of travel: hammock without air conditioning, hammock with AC and small, tiny cabins. This picture is from that trip....

**gargoyle** · 08-20-2009, 16:48

Nice slideshow thanks for the report. I don't know if I'd be brave enough to swim in pirhana filled waters. Looks like an awesome place. Love to see all the hammocks. What did you guys use for mosquito nets? I didn't see any in the pictures, except the Hennessey.

**Knotty** · 08-20-2009, 17:18

Hammocks. Warm climates. Limited resources. It all makes so much sense!

Thanks for the report. Love the riverboat pics. What kind of kayaks are those?

**animalcontrol** · 08-20-2009, 17:22

what a fantastic adventure!
thanks for sharing

**oldgringo** · 08-20-2009, 17:45

Thank you!

**peanuts** · 08-20-2009, 18:28

the beauty of it, fantastic!!! thanks for the report and the wonderful pictures...
terrific music

**bronconite** · 08-20-2009, 19:23

That was awesome. Thanks

**k7lro** · 08-20-2009, 19:57

Originally Posted by gargoyle

Nice slideshow thanks for the report. I don't know if I'd be brave enough to swim in pirhana filled waters. Looks like an awesome place. Love to see all the hammocks. What did you guys use for mosquito nets? I didn't see any in the pictures, except the Hennessey.

Thanks for the kind words. We did catch a few piranhas and two of the guys ate theirs. I declined - they can be kind of nasty in terms of parasites.

No nets were necessary - the pH of the water doesn't support mosquitoes. I used only a sheet to keep the chill off and anything else that might happen along. We all got one or two bites but nothing significant.

**k7lro** · 08-20-2009, 20:02

Originally Posted by Knotty

Hammocks. Warm climates. Limited resources. It all makes so much sense!

Thanks for the report. Love the riverboat pics. What kind of kayaks are those?

The red ones are Long Haul folding kayaks and the green-decked one is a Feathercraft. They're both top-drawer folders that we took with us. That was the only stressful part of the trip - worrying about the kayaks and the extra shipping costs. Brazil mandates more weight per bag and the airlines have to allow two bags so the extra costs weren't bad - $100 each way.

Everything arrived fine.

I did a trip on the Alabama River last year - report here - and for that trip, I shipped everything including my camping gear by Fed Ex ground.

Here's a picture from that trip which illustrates why I love hammocks:

**angrysparrow** · 08-20-2009, 20:19

Originally Posted by k7lro

I did a trip on the Alabama River last year - report here

Great report!

Where you started in Montgomery, Hetairoi and I paddled to earlier this year after completing 70 miles on the Alabama and Tallapoosa Rivers. Report