The trans amazon highway

Here there is a suggestion for whoever wishes to ride in an undiscovered area in the Brazilian amazon region by crossing the “trans amazon highway” rode. You can come ether from Bolivia or Venezuela and you gone end on the north coast of Brazil in Belem or Recife.
The road is shown in maps and I guess you got one. Any way, the road starts in a small town called Humaita (need to be suspicious about the people there). This town is located 200Km north to Porto Velho or 700Km south to Manaus.
If you come from Venezuela then you go to Manaus and then 700Km farther south.
If its Bolivia you leave, then you need to cross the border in Guaramirim in the north of Bolivia and keep on going to Porto Velho.
The road is not paved but I crossed it around July, 2 years ago. I had luck and it didn’t rain, so it was dry. I think it suppose to be the dry session.
The longest distant between 2 gas station as far as I remember was around 400Km.
Most Brazilian people would probably tell you not to go and stuff but pay attention only to those that you know that came out from there. There are hardly Brazilian people that crossed it all. If I listened to all the people there that talled me not to go I probably would have mist this beautiful experience I had.
While you are there, try not to hurry. Talk to the people. This people didn’t see many tourists so they usually very nice and exited to meet you. Try not to ruin this.
The first village called Apui in about 350Km. Where young kids on their 175cc Hondas showed me around for 4 days, took me to the river, some waterfalls, arranged me a place to sleep… pure fun. First night I slept on a hammock in the Gus station and in 6:30am the next day they came and adopted me.
The people are extremely nice simply because they didn’t meet to many tourists yet.
Try not to ruin it!
Any way the next places I stopped where: Jacarecanga (300Km), Itaituba (300Km), Santarem (350Km, in both last cities you can catch a boat to Bellem or Manaus if you had enough), Altamira (500Km, there is a Gus station on the way, I asked for a permission from a man to set a tent in his farm since I was tired and he invited me to his house). Then to Bellem (700Km, crossing Tucurui dam, sleeping in another privet house on the way).
I went to Belem but you can go with this road straight east toward Natal / Recife and save lots of Km’s incase you are heading south.
That’s all people. Don’t expect any high lights on the way. It’s all about riding in a throne away area with its beautiful people.
Ride safe and enjoy
Aviv

Hi Aviv, thanks for the report. Just the kind of info I was looking for. Hope I will be on this route in a couple of months (with wife on back) and am curious how much this place will have changed in a decade. Appreciate your comments about dealing with people.

thanks for that . i am in suriname now for a few months then start my amazon trip heading south

Not to insult anyone's alertness or intelligence, but the OP was twelve years ago. Much has improved since then, but much else has deteriorated.

Looking forward to a more current report.

Mark

will do in a few months

Thanks...very useful information.... where did you start from ?

Looking at north to south america route myself and very interested in other RTW accounts

Rupert & Fanny's Big Bike Trip | South Africa and the world on KTM 990 Adventures

kendo and kito,

Looks like we'll all be member of the Amazon Riders Class of 2012!

The Humaita to Manaus leg is tricky, but I am planing to try it ~November, or sooner if I can get there before. Indeed the dry season for the Amazon peaks in July and rains are the heaviest in ~January.

Keep your kit light and pick up knobby tires before getting to Brazil (tires are reported to be expensive all over Brazil.) My goal is ride light as possible, keeping the center of gravity as low as possible to address the ~400 miles of unimproved road (a.k.a dirt) that is much of BR 319.

My plan is to ride a barge up the Amazon river to Manuas, then head south to Humaita. See the rough plan on my blog.

Let's stay in touch.

__________________
Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.

Blogs: Peter's Ride

Hola!

We're now in porto vehlo discussing what to do...
Shipping to Manaus is pretty expensive.
Has anyone ANY information about the 319? Anyone did allready this year?? OR Anyone going to soon??

Sunny greetings Werner y Claudia

__________________
Just traveling
www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/longwayhome