Ariaú Jungle Tower, Manaus, Amazonia, Brazil

This resort was listed in “1000 Places to See Before You Die”. To quote, “Perched high above the heart of the Amazon jungle, …… enveloped in the voluptuous beauty of dense treetop canopy where the Rio Ariaú and the Rio Negro meet.” I had the grand fortune of spending time amongst this unique magnificence in July 2006. Jacques Cousteau was responsible for its design and had a private tower and helicopter pad there. It was unlike anything in the world. But it closed after 30 years in 2016.
I canNot do this amazing resort literary justice; cylindrical wooden rustic towers nestled within the trees housed the guest rooms, spider monkeys lept around you along with gorgeous royal blue macaws. Unfortunately, I saw it featured on the TV show “Abandoned Places”, and the desolated decaying buildings were heart-breaking. It meant that no one would ever have this unique experience again. Sigh.