Cristalino Lodge

Family owned and run Cristalino Lodge is an exceptional destination for nature lovers, sitting lightly and sustainably in a private reserve and bordering the vast Cristalino State Park, a vital conservation area in the southern Amazon. This 11,399-hectare biodiversity hotspot is known as an ecotone, meaning there’s an extraordinary diversity of bird and other wildlife. It’s the place for birding in the Brazilian Amazon with over 600 species, including the harpy eagle and black-girdled barbet, 2,000 species of butterflies and over 40 mammal species such as tapirs, monkeys and a resident giant river otter family, which featured in the BBC documentary “Earth’s Great Rivers: The Amazon”. The rich biodiversity is the result of variations in altitude of up to 450masl. and the six distinct types of rainforest found here – evergreen, deciduous, semi-deciduous, riparian, campinarana and floodplain.

Cristalino was one of Brazil’s first eco-lodges and is still among the best in Latin America, its stunning architecture blending seamlessly into the primary rainforest surroundings. The rooms and bungalows are stylish and luxurious, with solar energy, photovoltaic panels and intelligent design to keep the water warm and the rooms cool. Candlelit Brazilian cuisine draws on regional recipes and seasonal organic ingredients. A floating bar-deck beside the pristine River Cristalino is the perfect place to relax by day to the sound of birdsong and later to gather round the firepit as the rainforest chorus awakes below star studded skies.

Immersive adventures include rainforest hikes with passionate nature guides and botanists, whose expert eyes point out the well camouflaged wildlife and rich vegetation, including a huge number of tree species and wild orchids. The observation towers offer sweeping panoramas of the emerald canopy and are ideal for spotting macaws, parrots, tanagers, cotingas, the white-nosed saki and endemic white-whiskered spider monkey. Other activities include year-round access to a large network of trails plus excursions by kayak and boat, such as the Sunset Tour with its wonderful views.

The founders of Cristalino Lodge are committed to the conservation of this fragile ecosystem. They set up the Cristalino Foundation to promote the protection of the region’s natural resources, with its many important research projects and educational programmes. Lodge rates include a contribution for the Foundation.

Senderos Soul

I’ve visited many rainforest lodges but nowhere quite like Cristalino Lodge. It’s a short flight, drive and boat ride from the Pantanal wetlands, making it easy to combine the two most important areas for wildlife spotting in Brazil, without spending all day travelling and avoiding having to fly further north. There's even a mini version of the “meeting of the waters” here, where the lighter Teles Pires meets the tranquil, black Cristalino river.

- Gareth, Senderos

Key Facts

No. of rooms: 18

Room Categories:
All rooms include a ceiling fan, 220V electricity sockets and ensuite shower bathroom, with Granado amenities.
Standard Room, 22 m², up to 3 guests, twin or triple beds, decorated with local handicrafts.
Superior Room, 53 m², up to 2 adult guests and their 2 small children. With double or twin beds, private garden with alfresco shower and verandah with hammock
Junior Bungalow, 60 m², up to 3 adult guests. With king size bed or twin or triple beds, reading desk, armchairs, ceiling fan, private garden with alfresco shower, verandah
Bungalow, 75 m², up to 2 adult guests with their 2 (or max 3) children; occupies the entire bungalow. With king size or twin bedroom, an ante-room with 2 sofa beds, reading desk, armchairs with footrests, ceiling fan, private garden with alfresco shower, verandah with hammock
Special Bungalow, 79 m², up to 2 adult guests with their 2 (or max 3) children; occupies the entire bungalow. With king size or twin bedroom, ante-room with 2 sofa beds, reading desk, armchairs with footrests, private garden with alfresco shower and separate bathtub, verandah with hammock

Facilities: Restaurant, bar with floating deck, reading room and library, yoga and meditation classes, auditorium for talks, shop; two 50m observation towers with platforms on various levels.

Internet: WiFi throughout the property.

Excursion details: Groups of 6-8 people are led by English-speaking guides; 2 activities per day plus a sunset boat ride on the Teles Pires River. (Night walks are offered on request for birdwatchers who are interested in nocturnal birds).

Dates of operation: All year

Rates from: 2024 (per person sharing a double/twin room): from $625 per person per night (standard room) / $690 pp pn (superior room). 35% child discount up to, and including, 14 years old, accompanying their parents and staying in double occupancy (2nd and 3rd child further discounts).

Rates include: Full board (3 meals a day, non-alcoholic drinks, guided excursions, airport transfers; excludes alcoholic drinks). Plus Cristalino Foundation fee: net USD 120 per person per package.

*For full rates see Gallery and Resources box below

Minimum age: Recommended from 5yrs old.

Minimum stay: None

Senderos recommends: At least 3 nights for nature lovers and 5 nights for birdwatchers.

Affiliations: Pure Life, Brazilian Luxury Travel Association, Emotions, Pack for a Purpose

Awards:
Brazilian Luxury Travel Association 2018
Sustainable Vision Award LATA Sustainability award 2015 – runner up.

Sustainability

Clean solar energy, intelligent architecture with natural ventilation and full treatment of effluent.
The lodge’s Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPN) has been permanently protected from development, and together with the bordering Cristalino State Park provide a safe wildlife corridor for endemic and endangered species, including the jaguar, puma, giant anteater, sloth and white-whiskered monkey
Supports a variety of educational and research programmes in the region. Stays here directly contribute to these wonderful causes.
More information here on their website

Need to know:

The rooms and bungalows have all been designed and built to enable maximum natural ventilation, so ceiling fans render air conditioning unnecessary.
Guests booking standard FIT programmes are split into birdwatchers and general nature lovers to get the very best out of their stay.
Cristalino Lodge offers special interest programmes and workshops on such varied subjects as photography, birdwatching and yoga. For more information see http://cristalinolodge.com.br/en/programs/
All guests must pay the Cristalino foundation fee: US$ 95 net per person per package.
Guests travelling to Cristalino Lodge will experience their very own “Meeting of the Waters”, without the hustle and bustle of the better known location of the same name near Manaus!
Cristalino Lodge runs specific family programmes with activities for children. Contact us for more information.

Perfect for:

All lovers of nature and high end sustainable tourism (+ serious birders too)

Getting there

The lodge is located in the far south of the Brazilian Amazon, in the state of Mato Grosso.

By Road

1 hour drive from Alta Floresta airport, followed by 30-minute boat transfer.

By Boat

The lodge is only accessible by boat.

By Air

Nearest airport: Alta Floresta, reached by daily one hour flights from Cuiaba by Azul Airlines.

Gallery & Resources

Follow this link to Senderos Resources for Cristalino Lodge to access

Images, our selection
Fact sheets
Presentations
Rack rates
Excursion lists
And other useful information

Cristalino Lodge also has its own image library here.

Weather

Drier season (June to November, 15-34°C)

Best for seeing large mammals, eg tapir and capybara, as well as birds & butterflies. Nights can be cool till October. Nov-Jan are the sunniest months with good visibility, abundant lush vegetation and food that attracts monkeys and birds.

Green season (December to May; 21-30°C)

Feb-March: short, heavy showers followed by clear skies. Lush vegetation, lots of flowers and butterflies, high river levels and humidity, good for spotting monkeys and other species. April-May with gorgeous sunsets, wildlife with their young. Rain can fall at any time of the year, but is more common and abundant between October and May, with short, heavy showers followed by clear blue skies.