Cristalino Jungle Lodge

We spent 4 nights, 3 full days at the lodge. Our guide tailored the excursions to our interests while providing insight into the Amazon biome. Caio was incredibly knowledgeable and our boatman Thio was overflowing with knowledge from 23 yrs of guiding. The sunrise tower experience was our favorite. We loved the river excursions and kayaking. Our room was very comfortable and we were blessed to be upgraded to the only unit with a/c. The food is excellent tho a bit too gourmet for my taste. Be prepared for the heat. Few bugs when we were there but bring a spray with DEET. The Pia type is useless. Saw lots of wildlife and beautiful birds but from a distance. Very nice setting to unwind.

We were lucky enough to recently visit Cristalino for 4 days. It is a trek to get there-from Rio we took two flights, an hour drive over bumpy roads and then a half an hour boat ride but that is part of the charm of the lodge and what makes it even more special. We loved everything about our stay. We stayed in a roomy well appointed bungalow with lots of windows to enjoy nature even from our room-in fact we had our closest sighting of a toucan from our bed! And our guide Jessica was phenomenal. She is incredibly knowledgable, attentive and kind. She has a Master's degree in Biology so she knows her stuff. We felt very lucky to have her as our guide. We did kayaking, walks, boat rides and climbed the observation tower (I was nervous but once I got to the top so appreciated that I "did it" and got to have the unique experience of seeing the rainforest from above. The rest of the staff was also wonderful including our boat man and the bar, restaurant and housekeeping staff. I highly recommend experiencing this unique and incredibly beautiful place.

This lodge is very special. Our family of four - parents and two adult children - spent a week here over Christmas and all had a fabulous time. Parents stayed in one of the junior bungalows and the children in superior rooms, all of which were nicely appointed, clean and well maintained. It was quite hot during our stay, so we quickly learned to cool off with multiple swims, showers and fruit juices at the bar each day. Our guide for the week, Rafa, and the boatman, Leandro, were fabulous, showing us way more wildlife than we ever thought possible. By the end we had more than 200 birds on our lists, together with multiple mammals, spiders, and frogs. The food at the restaurant was fresh tasting and delicious, much of it with Brazilian flavors and produce from their gardens. All in all, Cristolino was the perfect choice for us. The only downside was that our flight home from Alta Floresta was cancelled at the last minute due to weather. Our daughter texted the concierge (even though of course we had checked out). Lucas joined us after a few minutes, negotiated with the airline staff (who spoke limited English) and stayed with us until we had been rebooked. This all took several hours (since everyone else was rebooking as well!). He wouldn’t leave until we completely taken care of - way above and beyond in my view. So, thank you Cristolino for a wonderful week and to Lucas for getting us home!

The staff and guides here are exceptional. The lodge itself and the room are beautiful. However it was 95-98 degrees from 10 am to 6 pm and the rooms and dining area have no a/c. You are in the jungle so no air moving either. The heat really did us in and then if you try and rest in your room it is oppressively hot. The hikes in the very early morning are great but having no relief from the heat will prevent us from recommending. The food is also sort of pretentious and you have 4 courses at lunch and dinner of primarily hot food. When you are in a tropical environment like that cool food light salads would be so much better.

Wow! I could not recommend this place highly enough. The entire team really made our stay unforgettable. George Lin our guide was very knowledgeable and with sandro our boatman found animals and birds galore. Both worked extremely hard on our behalf and as well as being expert created a very relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. Thanks to them we were very privileged to see giant otters and a harpy eagle! George is a very accomplished photographer too and was very generous in sharing his photos. The food is also an extremely high standard and always very fresh. I am gluten intolerant and every meal had options that were delicious and met my needs. Thanks too to the highly capable Vinnie and Sam who answered every question and requirement and brilliant bar team who produced a wide range of non alcoholic and alcoholic options. We would recommend you to everyone!

An excellent experience in all respects! The facilities are amazing, especially given their remote location. Staff are uniformly knowledgeable and helpful. The food was fantastic, and they paid special attention to food restrictions. Local trails and boat rides were delightful, with knowledgeable guides and boatmen. We are so pleased that the area has been preserved for posterity, with its amazing biodiversity and its focus on introducing kids (and adults!) to nature. One of the best lodges we've ever visited...

We recently returned from a week long stay at Cristalino Jungle Lodge - and what an amazing experience it was. We stayed in a king bed junior bungalow (#18) that was spacious, beautifully designed, and had every amenity we might need, including both indoor and outdoor shower. The food is delicious and well presented and highlights local ingredients. There is always a vegetarian/vegan option available. The bar is well stocked and staff will make any drink you want - don't miss the fresh fruit juices, they're wonderful! Both housekeeping and meal service is excellent. The staff are gracious and always willing to help! The primary reason for our visit was birding, so we spent a good deal of time exploring the beautiful Cristalino River by boat. We also enjoyed many of the lodge's trails and 2 canopy towers. A special feature not often seen are the small bathing "puddles" with hide, constructed by the staff. These allow birders to view shy, forest birds as they arrive for a late afternoon bath. Cristalino Jungle Lodge is a very special place and we hope to return in the future. One week just wasn't enough!

If you want rustic luxury in the Amazon, this is your place. As I wrote in the review paperwork they ask you to fill out before leaving, they have thought of every detail (kind of like Disneyland). Getting there requires flying in to Alta Floresta airport, approx 45 min van ride, and approx 25 min boat ride. The buildings, common areas, and rooms were re-done within the past 15 years or so (I don't recall the exact years). But we met the daughter of the owner who is the architect. My husband is a general contractor and they had much to discuss about the type of wood used, etc. The bottom line...it's gorgeous. Since I could write a lot about this place, I'm going to go to bullets for brevity: - Rooms are spacious with every detail thought out for clothes storage. Two showers, one inside and one outside (which we used often due to the heat). No AC but we were pleasantly surprised at the effectiveness of the fan and slept well every night. - We are not "birders" in the true sense, but if you are, you'll love this place. From the macaws nesting on the property trees, to the hundreds of birds you can see on hikes and boat trips, you'll be amazed. There were several guests who got to see the Harpe Eagle (if you don't know what that is, please look it up...it's stunning). - The employees are super sweet and gracious. Whatever you need, they will deliver. We tipped several individuals generously (like the breakfast cook, bartender, and waiter) who were so thoughtful and just great people. - The amount and deliciousness of the food is incredible. And often local dishes and flavors are served. One night they grilled fresh-caught local fish in the common area fire pit. I have never tasted fish that good in my life (we live in California and eat fish regularly). The only suggestion I had in my feedback was the the meals off the menu (when buffet isn't available) contain too much salt. I frequently sprinkle salt on my food and even for me, I felt like there was too much sodium. We were there for 4 nights (for context). Hope you have as wonderful time as we did.

Sustentabilidade Ambiental no Cristalino Lodge é efetiva, direta e reta, ao contrário de muitos que falam e até investem no tema, porém, continuam destruindo a natureza na busca de melhores retornos financeiros. Mais importante do que a sofisticação da hotelaria, a exclusividade nos passeios no meio da floresta amazônica, intocada, e pelo rio de águas cristalinas, a preservação do meio ambiente foi, sem dúvida, uma experiencia que jamais esqueceremos. Parabéns à todos do Cristalino Lodge.