OUR VILLAGE
Sao Joao de Tupe
Tupe is situated at the Rio Negro, approximately 18 km river-up from Manaus City. It is a small village nested in the heart of the Amazonian Forest. Around 40 families or around 130 people are living in the village. Tupe can only be reached by boat which is a journey of between 30 and 45 minutes depending on the size of the chosen means of transport. See in the following picture the location of Tupe.
Infrastructure
Water Supply in Tupe
Tupe had faced difficulties in the past by a lack of access to fresh water. Prior to 2016, residents had to obtain water from the river or rely on rain collection – both of which is either quite a heavy physical work (carrying water) or the quality of the water is not sufficient for drinking and cooking. Despite being situated on the banks of the Rio Negro and living in the “rainforest”, securing enough fresh-water for basic daily needs was a constant struggle.
Fortunately, a generous company stepped forward between 2016 and 2018, providing the funds necessary to establish a ground water-supply in Tupe (120 meters deep), complete with a state-of-the-art deep-water pump. The successful implementation of the project has ensured that Tupe now has a source of fresh water since.
However, as of January 2023, one of the two pumps succumbed to wear and tear which left only one operational pump. The cost of replacing a pump is around 1,000 USD, and the village lacks the resources to purchase a spare-pump or to repair the broken one. If the actual operational pump were to fail, the fresh water supply for the village, including the local school, could be disrupted.
In conclusion, the infrastructure for the vital fresh water supply is already in place in Tupe, but a lack of resources may jeopardize the continuation of this successful project.
Ground-Water-Hole (120 meter deep) with a manual lifting mechanism for maintenance.
Water-Tank where the water is stored and from there it goes into the distribution. The people have then either small tanks, too or they use the water directly.
Energy Supply in Tupe
Tupe has been connected to the public power grid since around 2016/2017. Despite the welcome and much-needed improvement to the village’s power source, the grid remains highly unstable. A household should be supplied with 127 volts of continuous voltage, but the grid in Tupe only provides around 90-100 volts, which is further decreased by each additional device switched on.
In addition to insufficient voltage, the grid also frequently fails entirely. Outages can last anywhere from one hour to multiple days and result in residents losing food stored in their refrigerators, which is both costly and/or damaging to their local economy, especially for those who run mini-shops selling frozen food items or for those running a local restaurant.
While the energy supply is already in place, incorporating autonomous power sources such as solar panels could help mitigate the instability of the grid and get some decentralized autotomy for the people.
Pousadas in Tupe
Tupe has various types of pousadas available for rent. Some of them could be found in Airbnb, some in booking.com and some are just with a local representation and can’t be found via internet. The prices for one night in a very simple pousada in Tupe range between 100 and 300 BRL. There is no service included in any of them. Although Tupe has some small shops for the very basic items, one cannot rely on the availability of the needed accessories – so a visitor should plan to bring some food, water, coffee or whatever is considered necessary for preparing your days.
Attractions in Tupe
Tupe has a variety of attractions to offer, a few of them we would like to list here so that potential visitors know what they can expect.
- The “Praia do Tupe”. The beach in Tupe is well-known in the area and can be either serene and empty or crowded depending on the season. The local residents provide food, drinks, ice cream, and snacks (let’s call them “refreshments”), but it can sometimes be challenging to locate those refreshments in the village. The best way to find out is to walk through it and look for signs indicating what is available, but there is no guarantee that the refreshments will be available at any given time.
- The “Lago da Cobra”. Lago da Cobra is a small lake with a private beach where 85% is wild and 15% usable. It is maintained by the local indigenous people and the nearby families, depending on which part one would like to spend time. Access to the lake can be granted upon request, which is usually not an issue as long as the rules for keeping the area clean are respected. The lake is fed by groundwater, making it a few degrees more refreshing than the river water. Hunting is strictly prohibited in this area, providing a higher chance of encountering wild animals. There is no infrastructure for selling refreshments at the lake.
- The “Indigenous Village Josef”. The village, located a few kilometers from Tupe, is home to an indigenous family that lives without much access to modern technology or infrastructure. They are always willing to showcase a ritual for visitors upon request. It is best if interested visitors reach out to us beforehand and request a presentation, which typically lasts 30 to 60 minutes and costs 200 and 300 BRL. After the presentation, visitors can gain a glimpse into life in the wild jungle without modern technology.
- The “Ayahuasca Ceremony”. The indigenous people offer Ayahuasca Ceremonies upon request and with exclusive booking and pre-payment. Participants must set aside at least 2-3 days for the ceremonies, which are very time- and labor-intensive for the local people. As a result, and because of the exclusive nature of the experience, the ceremonies are somewhat costly. In case one is interested feel free to contact us and we will forward your request.
- The “Oca”. The Indigenous People’s ritual house is located within a dense forest and can appear eerie at night. The Oca building serves multiple purposes like a training center for social projects, a location for food distribution, a venue for local sporting events, and, upon request, a place for overnight stays. Visitors should bring their own bedding (hammocks and mosquito nets) or borrow it for an extra fee from the locals. A basic stay is quite budget-friendly but does not include beverages, nor food, nor snacks, nor breakfast. So, if one wants more comfort, feel free to ask, we can forward your request.
