Region: South America
Location: Seringal Cachoeira, Xapuri, Acre, Brazil (Reserva Extrativista Chico Mendes)
Type: Ecolodge
Established: 2007 (lodge opened; community tourism since 2002)
Accommodation inventory: 3 chalets, 2 belichários (shared dormitories), plus additional rooms. Capacity for 31 visitors.
Connectivity: No Wi-Fi, no TV in rooms
Access: Commercial Flight + Road (fly to Rio Branco, then 170 km by BR-317 to Xapuri, then 16 km of dirt road to the seringal; taxi from Xapuri costs R$120)
Best season: Year-round. Note: access roads can become impassable in heavy rain.
Languages: Portuguese (guides; some English may be available, confirm)
Dining: Regional Acrean cuisine. Freshwater fish, aipim, rice with Brazil nuts, Amazonian fruit juices (cupuaçu, acerola). Meals served in the main wooden house.
Chef: Not a private-chef venue. Community kitchen staff.
Dietary: Not publicly stated
Conservation: Located within the Reserva Extrativista Chico Mendes, the largest extractive reserve in Brazil (1 million hectares). The community manages forest resources sustainably (FSC-certified since 2001). The lodge is part of the “Caminhos de Chico Mendes” tourism route.
Community: Built as a Public-Private Partnership between the Acre state government and the local community. Managed by the community. 90 families live in the seringal. Guides are relatives of Chico Mendes, including Nilson Mendes and Sebastião Teixeira Mendes. The lodge sources products (fruits, sweets, poultry) from local families and donates part of revenue to the residents’ association.
Notable Experiences
- Wildlife & Biodiversity: Monkeys, birds, caimans in the lake, and diverse Amazonian flora (including samaúma trees over 500 years old). Wildlife viewing on trails.
- Avian & Special Interest: Birdwatching; guided tree identification with forest experts.
- Adventure & Waterways: Circuito de Aventura Chico Mendes — 623 meters, 16 obstacles up to 25 meters high. Includes ziplining, rappelling, tree climbing, acrobatic and contemplative arborism, cycling, and walking. Lake with boat rides, pedal boats, and fishing. Swimming pool.
- Cultural & Immersion: Guided tours of a working rubber forest. Demonstration of latex extraction and Brazil nut collection. Stories of the “empates” and Chico Mendes’s legacy. Visits to Chico Mendes’s house, museum, and foundation in Xapuri (via tour packages).
- Wellness & Luxury: Simple, rustic, community-run accommodation. Lake with contemplation decks, walking trails, pool. Not a luxury destination — the value is history, culture, and the forest.
Important Visitor Notes
- This is a community-run lodge, not a luxury property. Accommodations are simple (chalets, shared belichários). Shared bathrooms in the belichários do not have hot water. Expectations should be set accordingly.
- The adventure circuit (arvorismo) has been subject to temporary closures after storms for maintenance. Confirm current operation when booking.
- Reservations required for all guided activities and stays.
- Access road is dirt and can become difficult or impassable in the rainy season.
Contact
Blog Page about Seringal Cachoeira · Phone: (68) 99943-4747 · Email: pousadaseringalcachoeira@gmail.com
Coordinates: -10.839510170654323, -68.37598844132778 (Seringal Cachoeira, Xapuri)