This Luxury Lodge in the Brazilian Rain Forest Is the Ultimate Family Adventure Destination

"I grew up swimming in rivers and creeks in rural Pennsylvania, and now seek them out wherever I travel. I've jumped into rivers of all kinds, from the Maipo in the Andes to the Vltava outside of Prague. But nothing has compared to the exhilarating experience of plunging into the dark waters of the Rio Negro, a major tributary of the Amazon."

"Our arrival in August coincided with high-water season on the river, when submerged trees decay, intensifying its tealike color. (This decomposition also causes an acidity that impedes the breeding cycle of mosquitoes, eliminating the need for the malaria pills recommended elsewhere in the Amazon.) On our long flight from the U.S., I tried to share some context for the singular river-swimming ahead of us with our sons, ages 13 and 15. They responded with the briefest of nods before turning back to their screens."

The traveler grew up swimming in rivers and creeks in rural Pennsylvania and seeks out wild rivers while traveling. The ultimate destination is Anavilhanas National Park, a vast river archipelago on the Rio Negro. Arrival in August coincides with high-water season, when submerged trees decay and intensify the river's teal color; that decomposition creates acidity that impedes mosquito breeding and reduces malaria risk. The itinerary includes a stay at Hotel Villa Amazônia after flights to Manaus and a guided tour of Manaus's historic fish market. The river hosts more than 700 species, including the ten-foot pirarucu, described as a "living fossil." The family looks forward to exhilarating swims in the dark Rio Negro waters.

Read at Travel + Leisure