Ariau Towers

Coordinates: 3°5′35″S 60°26′29″W / 3.09306°S 60.44139°W / -3.09306; -60.44139
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Ariau Towers
Brasil
Coordinates3°05′24″S 60°26′26″W / 3.0900°S 60.4405°W / -3.0900; -60.4405
Closed2016
Other information
Number of rooms288

The Ariau Towers is an abandoned

rain forest floor by approximately 10-20m and connected by approximates 5 miles (8.0 km) of catwalks. Amenities included two restaurants and three swimming pools.[2]

The hotel complex was one of the oldest and largest jungle lodges in the Amazon.[3] It became known for its luxury accommodations and celebrity guests.[4] Describing it as "the ultimate treehouse", travel writer Patricia Schulz included the hotel as one of her "1,000 Places to See Before You Die".[5] On the other hand, the editors of Frommer's South America severely criticized the hotel for its "mass-market" offerings and its lack of environmental sensitivity, calling it "all that is wrong with Amazon 'ecotourism'".[6] The hotel closed down in 2016.[7]

Structure

The hotel has 288 units split amongst

catwalk system of approximately 5 miles (8.0 km), all within the canopy of the rainforest. Other facilities within these tree tops include 2 swimming pools, two observation towers 134 ft (41 m) high and a panoramic auditorium for 450 people. There are also restaurants serving regional foods, bars and convenience stores.[8]

Activities

The hotel had various tours available within the forest, such as canoe walk, jungle walk, piranha fishing, visit to native's houses, and observation of nightlife animals. Visitors could also observe the Meeting of the Waters, where the

Solimoes River
meet, but because of density and different temperatures don't get mixed. The separate shades of water run side by side for a length of more than four miles (6 km) without mixing. Macaws and various breeds of native and non-native monkeys are common around the towers.

Closure

In 2015, the government seized the property and planned to sell it to pay off its debt, with an asking price of US$8.3 million.[9] A news item in May 2017 stated that the property would be sold by auction in September of that year with a suggested price of US$2.3 million, and a minimum bid of 2 million.[10] A real estate listing in August 2019 indicated that the property was then for sale for €2.5 million. The description provided these specifics:[11]

The Ariaú closed the doors in 2016, despite the abandonment, the facilities still impress, with an architecture totally adapted to the forest and the river ... with all the advances would make this hotel again a unique hotel worldwide.

References

External links

3°5′35″S 60°26′29″W / 3.09306°S 60.44139°W / -3.09306; -60.44139