Hi,
So I made Amazon jungle reservations with the company Amazon Backpackers (It's a real company with a website and trip adviser reviews) during the World Cup. One of their associates/managers wants me to pay the fee at his office, and he will drive me and my gf to the office from the airport. The problem is our flight to Manaus arrives around 11pm. I don't think it would be smart to go drive with this man at night to the company's office. What do you guys think?
Trent thank you for your reply. My jungle trip is the following week, not the next day. I think it's odd for me to go w/ him to his office around 11/12 at night.
It is. Just say, its a late flight, can we do it the next day sometime or within the week before hand. If not, there is something very fishy about it.
If you find it that dubious, consider cancelling. There are plenty of fish in the sea when it comes to these trips in Manaus. Try PMing regular poster Wendy79 she is knowledgeable about these tours and their operators.
Yeah, there's really nothing unusual about this, but I can see why it would make you uncomfortable--I might have had doubts my first time in Manaus, too. Amazon Backpackers is a well-established agency, and while the staff shifts, they're unlikely to work with anyone who would be risky--and actually, anyone picking you up then is likely to be the owner or owner's direct assistant. They only want to take you directly to the office so they can lock in your business. Competition for tourists is insane. I have watched people walking down the sidewalk with the intent of going with one tour company and being picked up by a rival company two doors away. I've seen guides in the airport spot a lost-looking tourist and say "well, instead of calling your company, why don't you just sign up with mine?"
In other words--Amazon Backpackers, not sketchy. Just trying to hold onto your business before you get booked with another agency, whether sketchy or legitimate, and there's reason for them to worry.
Also note that (at least last time I was in Manaus) the Amazon Backpackers office is located inside a hotel. (Not a great hotel but it's perfectly safe.) There'll be people around.
And finally--look at it this way, you've been offered a free ride from the airport into central Manaus late at night. That's a VERY good thing. I don't feel that a taxi driver would be any more safe. (And hell, the taxi driver might try to sell you a tour, too.)
Thank you for all your responses. I just emailed him and backpackers and just said we'll just meet them in the morning to pay. I don't think after a day long trip through 3 airports I really want to do anything other than chill out.
This is not the sort of problem you are likely to find in Brazil in my opinion.
Danger resides in more unexpected, impossible to plan ahead situations.
jbatmang:
If you're talking about this company (http://amazonbackpackers.com.br/) you can definitely trust them. I worked on the production of the promo video you can watch on their website (you can see my name Andre on the credits of the video). The managers Joaquim and Claudio are extremely nice persons and totally honest guys.