Ribeirinhos · people of the river
The family who calls this forest home
For three generations, one family has lived on this bend of the Ariaú river. Today they share it with you.
Levir · Josiene · Alice
Meet the Nativos House family
They are a Ribeirinho family — the traditional river people of the Amazon — and they run Amazon Ariaú Nativos House the way they live: warmly, simply, and with deep respect for the forest.
Part native lodge, part home stay, the pousada is a wooden house built on stilts above the water. When you arrive, you're not a booking number — you're a guest in the family home. Josiene's kitchen turns the river's bounty into unforgettable meals, and young Alice may well be the first to show your children the best hammock.
A native son of the Ariaú
Levir's story
Levir was born on the very spot where the pousada now stands, and he has lived his whole life on this river. He is a third-generation Ribeirinho — the forest and its waters are woven into who he is.
In his twenties he began working as a guide, and he never looked back. He loves nothing more than slipping through the flooded forest at first light, finding the pink dolphins, and dropping a line for the evening's fish.
Above all, Levir is a protector. His family cares for 400 hectares of living rainforest, and he is passionate about helping visitors see its beauty — so that they, too, come to love and defend it.
“I only have words of gratitude for this family who welcome you into their home as if you were one of their own, and show you the jungle with such love and respect.”★★★★★ — a guest, on Google
What matters to us
Small by choice, genuine by nature
🌳 Guardians of the forest
Tourism here has one purpose: to keep 400 hectares of rainforest standing and thriving. Your visit is part of that.
🤝 Home, not a resort
No crowds, no sales pitch, no scripted tours. Just a family sharing the place and the life they love.
🛶 Knowledge passed down
Three generations of river wisdom — the trails, the animals, the seasons, the stories — shared first-hand.
Life on the river
A world of water, passed down
For generations the Ribeirinhos have lived by the river's rhythm — paddling dugout canoes, trading from boats, reading the sky. These photographs, taken years ago along these same waters, capture the world Levir's family still calls home.
Come and meet them
Be welcomed like family
Levir and Josiene would love to hear from you. Send a message and start planning your Amazon visit.