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Dwelling among the beauties and mysteries of the Amazon, the Treetop Family creates a way of life that propose a direct permanent relashionship with Nature. The book tell the story of this family: they live in the Amazon, much more, they live the Amazon and its uniqueness. Just a few essential words and many many photographs try to create the atmosphere of their daily life. The photographic density of the book try to imitate the generous biodiversity of the Amazon and the growing permanent astonishement of living inside its nature. Our best wish is to share sensations, emotions and feelings.

If your wish is to live an awesome adventure in the Amazon ecosystems, you really need to see this book…

You can enjoy a browser window or a full screen preview, just like skim a real book… to see the preview of the Final version of the book, please, follow the link:

Treetop Family – A wildlife journey in the Amazon rainforest

Leo, Vanessa, and the entire family at Tropical Tree Climbing are some of the best professionals I have ever been with. They love tree climbing and are completely familiar with each aspect of their craft. They make sure that you feel comfortable in every situation. When I first climbed with them, I was afraid that I would be afraid of climbing… but their attention to safety, and to having fun in all climbs, made me feel very comfortable, and allowed me to have some great climbs. I recommend them with enthusiasm!

Ricardo Preve   –   National Geographic Documentary Producer

The book (Hard Cover, Premium Paper, lustre finish, Standard Landscape, 10×8 inches or 25×20 centimeters) is available… glance at!

Robert comment:

Nico wanted to “catch and eat a piranha” and was inspired by Jeremy Wade of the TV show ‘River Monsters’.
The piranha mission was accomplished the first day and piranha soup was the delicious reward. We also swam with the Amazon pink river dolphin (Boto), learned technical tree climbing, visited villages and were shown medicinal plants. Exploring the rainforest, we discovered many interesting animals including four different types of monkeys, many different birds, snakes, caiman, and plenty of insects.
We were guided by photo-journalist Leonide Principe, Vanessa Marino, and their three children, Geo, Kinan, and Kena.

The Nico’s Journey is a sample that can be experienced by yourself.
Built your adventure! Click here to see more details.

Nico’s 2010 summer trip – Tree climbing in the Amazon.
Climbing to the canopy of large Amazon trees is usually more than just an exciting challenge. There are many plants, orchids, fruits, and nuts to pursue as well as photo opportunities. Our guides are expert tree-climbers and they showed us the basics as we climbed to the canopy of a 100′ kapok tree.

Nico’s 2010 summer trip to the Amazon (Brazil) involved several excursions – always by motorized canoe. The region is flooded so canoes are the best mode of transportation.
On two occasions, we visited local villages. One was an indigenous tribe, the other was a bit more modern but featured the local medicine woman. She showed us many medicinal plants and adjusted Nico’s aura. Her husband gave us foods to try, including their Brazil nuts. There was also an expert on rubber processing and he demonstrated everything from tapping the trees to vulcanization.

To see more photographs click here.

Comment of Robert, Nico’s dad, on TripAdvisor:

An outstanding personalized Amazon experience!

My 10-year-old son wanted to visit the Amazon this summer and was inspired by Jeremy Wade of television’s “River Monsters”. His goal was to catch and eat a piranha….but, of course, he would experience much more than that.
I looked at Peru and Ecuador but my research kept leading me to the “real Amazon” in Brazil. Since we’re from the U.S., tourist visas were required. The application process was a bit inconvenient but not too bad, overall. We were set on Manaus for one week and I began looking for flights, hotels, tour operators, etc.
I was intrigued by Tropical Treeclimbers – mostly because they work with small groups (no more than 6 in your group and only your people in the group), they have children who are involved in their operation, and they organize everything. My communication, pre-trip, was with Vanessa and she outlined a flexible itinerary for us. She booked us on our arrival night at the Tropical Hotel in Manaus. We would stay five days at Ariau Towers (about 35 miles up the Rio Negro) and another night at the Tropical Hotel before our departure day. The Tropical Treeclimber family also would stay at Ariau Towers.
We flew directly from Miami to Manaus on TAM. Leo, Vanessa, and their three children met us as we emerged from baggage claim. The children had a welcome sign with my son’s name on it and his smile left no doubt that friendships were already established.
We all had lunch together and then checked out the mini-zoo at the Tropical Hotel. We visited a Manatee rescue/breeding center and then stopped to recharge with a wonderful bowl of acai. In the evening, were invited to attend a private festival.
The next day, we departed on a boat on a 2 hour ride to Ariau Towers. We were booked in one of the Tarzan Treehouses and that name is not misleading. Ariau Towers is a series of catwalks that connect several structures above the flooded forest. It’s a kid’s (and kid-at-heart’s) dream. Here we were, in a remote Amazon location, climbing steps into a tree house that is air conditioned and that actually has a small swimming pool installed in a perimeter deck. The tree house was about 30′ up in the tree but it didn’t stop there. Steps continued up about another 50′ into the canopy where a small platform provided a fantastic view.
Meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) were served in a central tower and was always a buffet of many tempting options (predominantly local specialties).
All of our activities were staged from Ariau and were organized by Leo & Vanessa. Everything we did was private – just the family and us. Piranha fishing was accomplished the first day (and pretty much every spare moment of every day). The chef prepared tasty piranha soup with our catch. Excursions were always by motorized canoe. Each day was full of adventures. We swam and played with pink river dolphin (Boto) for hours. Leo and Vanessa specialize in treeclimbing (as the Tropical Treeclimbing name implies). We learned to climb giant kapok trees with harnesses and climbing gear and were rewarded by, literally, a bird’s eye view in the canopy. In the Amazon, a large percentage of the plant and animal life, as well as fruits/nuts, are in the canopy (especially when the water level is high). Tree climbing is not just a sport but a means to access a world of nature’s treasures.
We visited villages of indigenous people and of the local medicine woman. There was almost a never-ending taste-trial of different fruits, nuts, and plants. The forest revealed an overwhelming diversity of plants, animals, and birds. Several different types of monkeys presented themselves to us throughout our visit. At night, a caiman spotting excursion in a canoe culminated with my son briefly holding a small caiman for the cameras.
On our last day at Ariau, we opted not to take the boat back to Manaus. Instead, we took a seaplane for a breathtaking aerial view of the region.
Our trip was late June and the dry season had just begun so the water level was high. Mosquitoes were minimal – no more than we’re used to in Florida. In fact, the ph of the water in this region is fairly acidic and not ideal for mosquito breeding. We brought repellent but didn’t use it much. We were also taking Malarone but it probably wasn’t necessary. I guess it didn’t hurt either and I didn’t have to think about about malaria. We brought small flashlights which were nice to have when exploring the catwalks at night. Cameras and related equipment goes without saying. We also brought rain gear but never had to use it. Better to have it and not need it. There’s plenty of bottled water and bottled soft drinks available at Ariau. We mostly wore tee shirts, shorts, trekking sandals or light hiking/running/cross training shoes. Synthetic performance tees are better than cotton tee shirts in the humidity.
Throughout our trip, it was apparent that Leo and Vanessa are well-connected and respected in the area. This enables them to bypass group tours or crowds and it allows access to places and things that ordinarily would be inaccessible. They also are extremely aware and conscientious of not only your needs but also of the small details that make your guides more like your family. Mention anything, even just in casual conversation, and they will secretly be at work trying to make it happen. Leo has been a photo-journalist in the area for more than two decades and his skills are revealed as he candidly photographs your experiences. At the end of our journey, we were surprised with a photo-book that Leo composed for us – everything had been documented.
Our goal was to experience the Amazon and that experience was fulfilling beyond our expectations. We gained knowledge and a connection with the Amazon but also new friends that we will cherish as a major part of our experience. Vanessa, Leo, Geo, Kinan, & Kena – thank you!

22 Full color pages Hardcover book, 9×6 inches, follow the link or click the image to see a preview.

Parintins is a little city on the border of Amazon river and is the home of the biggest and most impressive of all festivals. It is an incredible musical and theatrical experience, a religious procession, a tribal ritual, a giant puppet show, a fairy tale of powerful villains and brave heroes, a folk art presentation, a major party for the audience and an energizing choreography of the galera (gah-le-rah), all at once. The characters in the performance come from the Boi Bumbá tale. There are two teams called Bois (plural of Boi). Each one tells the same story in all three night[s] of the festival, amounting to 6 different performances of the same show. But every night is different because legends, rituals, dances, puppets, garments, alegorias, they all change and create the show anew.

To see more images, please, follow this link.

Product Details

Preview the book here.

Pink dolphin and child

Originally uploaded by Leonide Principe

These mammals have a brain capacity 40% larger than that of humans. Friendly and sensitive, specially with children and pregnant women, the pink dolphin is a great companion of my family. My sons swim with him like they can do with a friend…

You can see pink dolphin with people, including my sons, following this link.

I have posted a pink dolphin without people gallery on PhotoShelter too. To see, please, follow the link.

Built your adventure! Click here to see more details.

Ariau Amazon Towers

Originally uploaded by Leonide Principe

September 2010. Waters, that  rise the highest point in June are now lowering quickly. The white sand beaches are appearing on the border of Negro river. In this season, generally sunny days with sporadic short rain. The picture on the right shows the taxizeiros blossom. Almost all trees on the borders of Ariau channel flourish around the last week of August and the first week of September. It is something spectacular! We are on September 9, and the awaited blossom don’t happens…

We apreciate this season, winter in the southern emisphere, as one of the most special moments to visit Amazon and Negro river, from June to September.

Located 35 miles northwest of the Manaus, the capital of Amazonas, Ariau Amazon Towers, sits in the treetops of the Amazon Rainforest. Rising on the right bank of the Rio Negro at the origin of the Anavilhanas Archipelago. Taxizeiros trees flowered ( Triplares surinamensis ) in springtime at the Ariau Parana , channel that join the Solimoes river with the Negro river.
The jungle lodge above the Rio Negro consists of 8 treetop wooden towers with 268 treetop rooms, suites and tree houses elevated at 10-20 meters above the rainforest floor. These rustic treetop accommodations are connected by over 5 miles (8.0 km) of wooden catwalks that meander through the Amazon’s thick canopy of native trees and forest at 30 feet high – making it the largest tree top hotel in the world!

Built your adventure! Click here to see more details.

See a slideshow of panoramic views!