The two rivers flow side by side for many miles, different in color, mixing in eddies: the "Meeting of the Waters." Legend has it that they never mix.
The largest city in northern Brazil, Manaus occupies an area of 11,401 square kilometres (4,402 sq mi), with a density of 144.4 inhabitants/km². It is the neighboring city of Presidente Figueiredo, Careiro, Iranduba, Rio Preto da Eva, Itacoatiara and Novo Airao.
Manaus has a tropical monsoon climate (Am) according to the Koppen climate classification system, with more or less consistent temperatures all year round.
Because the driest month, August, sees less than 60 mm (2.4 in) of precipitation, the city's climate falls under the tropical monsoon climate category instead of the tropical rainforest climate category.
There is rain throughout the year in the city, though there is a drier period from July to September.
The Amazon represents over half of the planet's remaining rainforests and comprises the largest and most species-rich tract of tropical rainforest in the world.
Wet tropical forests are the most species-rich biome, and tropical forests in the Americas are consistently more species rich than the wet forests in Africa and Asia.
As the largest tract of tropical rainforest in the Americas, the Amazonian rainforests have unparalleled biodiversity. More than one-third of all species in the world live in the Amazon Rainforest.
Despite being located in the Amazon, Manaus is densely developed and has few green areas in the city. The largest green areas are:
- Mindu Park, located in the center-south of the city, the district Park 10. The Park of Mindu, established in 1989, is one of the largest and most visited parks of the city.
- Bilhares Park, established in 2005, located in the south-central region of Manaus, in the neighborhood of Plateau.
- Area of the green hill of Aleixo, created in the 1980s, located in the east of the city and one of the largest urban green areas.
Sumauma State Park, a state park located in the north of Manaus, in the New Town district. It is the smallest state park of the Brazilian Amazon Basin.
- Castanheiras Pied Tamarin Wildlife Refuge, a 95 hectares (230 acres) refuge created in 1982 to protect a population of endangered pied tamarins.
- Adolfo Ducke Forest Reserve, a biological reserve established in 1963, and covering an area of 100 square kilometres (100 km x 100 km). The
Reserve is managed by INPA (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia - National Institute for Amazon Research).
Part of the Anavilhanas National Park, a 350,018 hectares (864,910 acres) conservation unit that was originally an ecological station created in 1981.
About 75% of the Rio Negro Left Bank Environmental Protection Area, a 611,008 hectares (1,509,830 acres) sustainable use conservation area created in 1995.
The 11,930 hectares (29,500 acres) Tupe Sustainable Development Reserve, created in 2005, about 25 kilometres (16 mi) west of the city.
The 86,601 hectares (214,000 acres) Rio Negro State Park South Section, created in 1995, about 40 kilometres (25 mi) by boat to the north west of the city.
The urban area covers all or part of four river basins, all tributaries of the Rio Negro. The Sao Raimundo and Educandos streams are completely contained in the city.
The Taruma Açu forms the western boundary of the city in its lower reaches, and is fed by several tributaries that originate in the Ducke Reserve and run through the north and west of the city.
The Puraquequara forms the east boundary of the urban area in its lower section.
Although it has been developed along a predominantly Roman Catholic social matrix, both because of colonization and immigration,even today the majority of Manauenses are Catholic, there are nevertheless dozens of different Protestant denominations in the city.
Judaism, Candomble, Islam and spiritualism, among others, are also practised.
The city's Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora da Conceiçao is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manaus.
The city has a very diverse presence of Protestant or Reformed faiths, such as the Presbyterian Church, Calvary Chapel, For Christ International Church of Grace of God, Pentecostal Church of God in Brazil, Methodist Church, the Anglican Episcopal Church.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Baptist Church, an Assembly of God Church, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, and the Jehovah's Witnesses among others.
These churches are experiencing considerable growth, mainly in the outskirts of the city. An LDS temple has been built in the city, the 6th in Brazil.
The Metropolitan Region of Manaus (RMM) is a metropolitan area that comprises eight cities of the Amazonas state, but without conurbation.
Manaus is divided into seven regions: North, Southern, Central-South, East, West, Mid-West and Rural area. The eastern region of the city is the most populated, with approximately 600,000 inhabitants (2007).
The northern region of the city has had the highest rate of population growth in recent years, and has the largest neighborhood of the city, the New Town. The Center-South region has the highest per capita income.The Eastern Zone is known for having a large number of hills.
The first neighborhood bairro established in Manaus was Educandos. From there, other areas of the city began to be occupied, with the arrival of migrants from other regions of Brazil.
Manaus has the largest neighborhood of Latin America, the neighborhood of Cidade Nova, which has 264,449 inhabitants, but it is estimated that the population exceeds 300,000 inhabitants. Cidade Nova is larger than all the cities inside the Amazonas state.
With the permanence and the strengthening of Free Economic Zone of Manaus, the city began to receive investments and constant migration of people from many parts of the state and northern Brazil.
The wealthiest neighborhood in Manaus is Adrianopolis, located in the Central-South Area of the city. Downtown Manaus is located in the Southern area of the city, next to Rio Negro River.
After years of development, the historical center has been neglected by the authorities and it has become an area mostly for commerce and poor housing.
There is a plan to restore the city centre to its former glory by removing beggars and irregular sellers from sidewalks and by doing that provide more safety for tourists and locals who are trying to walk in the historical areas of the city.
All these plans were prompted by the 2014 World Cup.
The wealth of the primeval forest becomes visible first of all in the architecture of the city. The city was rich and the rubber barons afforded the biggest luxury from Europe, a copy of the Grand Opera de Paris - the Teatro Amazonas.
Other monuments from this epoch are the Mercado Municipal, a copy of the famous market halls Les Halles in Paris, and the arts center Palacio Rio Negro, located among fascinating Portuguese facades.
Today Manaus is a foreign trade zone. Foreign enterprises don't pay import duties, what guarantees a certain income for the city and the region.
Electronics, wood industry and oil refineries have settled in the outskirts in industrial areas. The harbour is the most important trading center in the city with regional, national and international products.
The city is pleasant and friendly, although quite hot, and is still a major port, and a good starting point for river tours.
The Rio Negro (northern) branch of the Amazon is the color of strong tea, peaty brown and its comparative acidity means few mosquitoes. At Manaus the Amazon rises and falls almost twenty meters between seasons.
In May and June it's at its peak, full and very wide, spreading way out into the trees. In November and December it's low; still massive but with sandbars.
Manaus or Manaos before 1939 was formerly called Barra do Rio Negro, is the capital city of the state of Amazonas in the North Region of Brazil. It is situated near the confluence of the Negro and Solimoes rivers.
With a population of more than 2 million, it is the most populous city of both the Brazilian state of Amazonas and the Amazon rainforest.
The city was founded in 1693–94 as the Fort of Sao Jose do Rio Negro. It was elevated to a town in 1832 with the name of "Manaus", an altered spelling of the indigenous Manaos peoples, and legally transformed into a city on October 24, 1848, with the name of Cidade da Barra do Rio Negro, Portuguese for The City of the Margins of the Black River. On September 4, 1856 it returned to its original name.
Manaus is located in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, and access to the city is primarily by boat or airplane. This isolation helped preserve both the natural environment as well as the culture of the city.
The culture of Manaus, more than in any other urban area of Brazil, preserves the habits of Native Brazilian tribes. The city is the main access point for visiting the fauna and flora of the Brazilian Amazon. Few places in the world afford such a variety of plants, birds, insects, and fishes.
It was known at the beginning of the century, as Heart of the Amazon and City of the Forest.
Currently its main economic engine is the Industrial Park of Manaus, the famous Free Economic Zone. The city has a free port and an international airport. Its manufactures include electronics, chemical products, and soap; there are distilling and ship construction industries.
Manaus also exports Brazil nuts, rubber, jute and rosewood oil. It has a cathedral, opera house, zoological and botanical gardens, an ecopark and regional and native peoples museums.
With a population of 2.5 million people in 2014, Manaus is the most populous city in the Brazilian Amazon area and the 7th most populous in the country.It is located on the north bank of the Negro River, 18 km (11 mi) above the meeting of the rivers where the Negro merges with the Solimoes, to form the Amazon proper.
Manaus is 1,400 km (900 mi) inland from the Atlantic Ocean. It is the hub of tourism for the rivers, the jungle lodges and the river cruises.
The Solimes and Negro rivers meet just east of Manaus and join to form the Amazon River, using the Brazilian definition of the river; elsewhere, Solimoes is considered the upper part of the Amazon.
Rubber made it the richest city in South America during the late 1800s. Rubber also helped Manaus earn its nickname, the Paris of the Tropics.
Many wealthy European families settled in Manaus and brought their love for sophisticated European art, architecture and culture with them. Manaus is also a duty-free zone, which has encouraged development in the region.
Manaus was at the center of the Amazon region's rubber boom during the late 19th century. For a time, it was one of the gaudiest cities of the world.Historian Robin Furneaux wrote of this period, No extravagance, however absurd, deterred the rubber barons.
If one rubber baron bought a vast yacht, another would install a tame lion in his villa, and a third would water his horse on champagne.
The city built a grand opera house, with vast domes and gilded balconies, and using marble, glass, and crystal, from around Europe. The opera house cost ten million dollars. In one season, half the members of one visiting opera troupe died of yellow fever.
The opera house, called the Teatro Amazonas, was effectively closed for most of the 20th Century. However it was used in scenes of the Werner Herzog film Fitzcarraldo (1982). After a gap of almost 90 years, it reopened to produce live opera in 1997 and is now attracting performers from all over the world.
When the seeds of the rubber tree were smuggled out of the Amazon region to be cultivated on plantations in Southeast Asia, Brazil and Peru lost their monopoly on the product. The rubber boom ended abruptly, many people left its major cities, and Manaus fell into poverty.
The rubber boom had made possible electrification of the city before it was installed on many European cities, but the end of the rubber boom made the generators too expensive to run. The city was not able to generate electricity again for years.
In the 60's during the establishment of the military dictatorship in Brazil, the newly installed government concerned about the demographic gap in Brazil, began to introduce numerous projects in the interior of the country, especially in the Amazon region, with the introduction of the Manaus free trade zone in 1967, and with the opening of new roads within the region.
The city had a wide period of investments in financial and economic capital, both national and international, attracted by the tax incentives granted by the free zone, in this period, Manaus had enormous demographic growth becoming one of the most populous cities in Brazil.
Manaus was one of the host cities of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and one of the seats of some Olympic football games.It was the only host city in the Amazon rainforest and the most geographically isolated, being further north and west than any of the other host cities.
A massive prison riot occurred in January 2017, having begun in Manaus and has later spread to two additional cities in Brazil, thus unleashing security problems within the country.
Manaus is the sixth largest economy in Brazil. According to IBGE in 2014, its GDP was R$67,5 billion.The per capita income for the city was R$33,446.Although the main industry of Manaus through much of the 20th century was rubber, its importance has declined.
Given its location, fish, wild fruits like Açai and Capuaçu, and Brazil-nuts make up important trades, as do petroleum refining, soap manufacturing, and chemical industries.
Over the last decades, a system of federal investments and tax incentives has turned the surrounding region into a major industrial center,the Free Economic Zone of Manaus.
Manaus sprawls, but the center of town, the Centro where most of the hotels and attractions are located, rises above the river on a slight hill.
As the largest city and a major port on the river, Manaus is commercial. Local industries include brewing, shipbuilding, soap manufacturing, the production of chemicals, computers, motorcycles and petroleum refining of oil brought in by barge and tourism.
The mobile phone companies LG, Nokia, Samsung, Siemens, Sagem, Gradiente and BenQ-Siemens operate mobile phone manufacturing plants in Manaus.
Plastic lens manufacturer Essilor also has a plant here. The Brazilian sport utility vehicle manufacturer Amazon Veiculos is headquartered in Manaus.Two airlines, MAP Linhas Aereas and Manaus Aerotaxi, have headquarters on the grounds of Eduardo Gomes International Airport in Manaus.
The initial idea of a Free Trade Port in Manaus, came from Deputy Francisco Pereira da Silva and was subsequently formalized by Law No. 3.173 on June 6, 1957. The project was approved by the National Congress on October 23, 1951 under No. 1.310 and regulated by Decree No. 47.757 on February 2, 1960.
It was then amended by rapporteur Maurcio Jopper, engineer, who by agreement with the original author, justified the creation of a Free Trade Zone instead of a Free Trade Port.
For the first ten years the ZFM (Manaus Free Trade Zone) was located in a warehouse rented from Manaus Harbour, in the Port of Manaus, and relied on federal funds. It was perhaps due to this lack of its own resources that there was little credibility in the project.
On February 28, 1967, President Castello Branco signed Decree-Law No. 288, which redefined the Manaus Free Trade Zone in more concrete terms.
The new Decree-Law stipulated that the Manaus Free Trade Zone would have a radius of 10,000 km (6,200 mi) with an industrial center as well as an agricultural center and that these would be given the economic means to allow for regional development in order to lift the Amazon out of the economic isolation that it had fallen into at that time.
On August 28, 1967, the Manaus Free Trade Zone Authority, SUFRAMA, was created. SUFRAMA is an independent body with its own legal status and assets and having financial and administrative autonomy.
Tax incentives and the subsequent complementary legislation created comparative advantages in the region with respect to other parts of the country and as a result the Manaus Free Trade Zone attracted new investment to the area. These incentives constituted tax exemptions administered federally by SUFRAMA and SUDAM.
The airport is some 15 km by road from the city centre. A taxi will set you back 70 reais (fixed price). It is possible to get to the centre using buses, but you may need to change to get to your hotel.
Eduardo Gomes International Airport is the airport serving Manaus. The airport has two passenger terminals, one for scheduled flights and the other for regional aviation. It also has three cargo terminals.
Eduardo Gomes International Airport is Brazil's third largest in freight movement, handling the import and export demand from the Manaus Industrial Complex. For this reason, Infraero invested in construction of the third cargo terminal, opened on December 14, 2004.
TAM Airlines also inaugurated their own cargo terminal near the airport in 2008, which claims to be their largest cargo terminal in Brazil. The country's major dedicated freight route is between Manaus and Viracopos International Airport, which is operated by wide-body jets.
Other freight routes include North America and Europe.
The passenger terminal had been fully refurbished and expanded in time for the 2014 FIFA Football World Cup, which held 4 games in Manaus.
The airport currently operates daily international flights to Miami, United States, by American Airlines and LATAM Airlines Brasil, to the city of Panama, by Copa Airlines, to Willemstad, Curaçao, by Insel Air and to Barcelona, Venezuela, by Avior Airlines.
The airport has direct flights to all major airports in Brazil, operated by the three major carriers: Gol Transportes Aereos, TAM Airlines and Azul Brazilian Airlines. The airport's IATA code is MAO.
Manaus Air Force Base, a base of the Brazilian Air Force is at the former Ponta Pelada Airport.
Apart from the Eduardo Gomes International Airport and Ponta Pelada Airport, Manaus still has an operational airstrip used by small propeller aircraft and helicopters about 6 kilometres (4 miles) north of the city centre, simply known as the Aeroclube or airclub.
On Sundays, it is used for parachuting and where flying classes can be hired. Due to the fact that it is surrounded by residential areas, and has a recent history of crashes, it is under constant pressure to be moved.
Manaus is about 2200 km from Sao Paulo or Rio de Janeiro which takes about four hours by air. From North America, it's much faster if you go direct without backtracking via SP or Rio. From June 2014, TAP Portugal flies from Lisbon to Manaus and Belem, making the trip from Europe to the Amazon shorter.
- American Airlines has one flight daily direct Miami in an Airbus A319.
- TAP has direct flights from Europe.
- TAM and United Airlines are flying once daily direct Miami - Manaus which takes less than 5 hours in a Boeing 767-300.
- Copa Airlines also does Miami-Manaus via Panama in an Embraer 190.
- Azul Airlines has direct flights to Campinas and Tabatinga on the Colombian-Peruvian border.
- GOL flies nonstop from Rio (6 days a week, except Saturday), Sao Paulo (2x daily) and Brasilia (3x daily).
- TAM has direct flights to Belem, Brasilia, Boa Vista, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paolo, Santarem
- TRIP has direct flights to Belem, Belo Horizonte, Porto Velho and other municipalities in northern Brazil.
Manaus is a major destination for boats on the Amazon River. From Belem on the Atlantic Coast, it takes about five days. Boats go to Porto Velho two-three times per week.
Tabatinga on the border with Colombia can also be reached by boat from Manaus, with connections further on to Iquitos in Peru. To save a few hours on your way to Colombia or Peru, you can take a boat from Manacapuru instead.
Due to road conditions, there is very little if any long-distance bus service originating from major cities in this area. There are several daily buses from Boa Vista in the north and there are also buses from destinations in Venezuela, such as Santa Elena.
The bus from Caracas in Venezuela takes about 36 hours, but it is air-conditioned, has comfortable reclining seats and a toilet. The bus terminal is located to the north of the city, on Avenida Mario Ypiranga, close to the where it intersects with Constantino Nery and Joao Machado.
To get to the centre you can take a taxi, or walk out of the station and over the pedestrian overpass to the next parallel street,Avenida Constantino Nery and catch a bus for R$3.
There are many local buses within the city. At bus stops there are only numbers, but on the front of the buses themselves the destinations are listed. Fare is R$3, either pay before entering the station if boarding at a station, or onboard.
Opera House or Teatro Amazonas. Praça Sao Sebastiao, Center. Everyday, starting time of shows may vary. The Opera House was built during the heyday of rubber trade, using materials from all over the world, and was once visited by all the most famous opera divas and maestros.
Regular guided tours in English. There are frequent free performances; be sure to arrive at least an hour in advance to secure a seat. Prices vary.
The Meeting of Waters or Encontro das aguas, the mysterious place where the waters of two different-colored rivers meet to form the great Amazon.
Served by many tour operators, but also entirely reachable independently by public transportation. One can take a public bus to Ceasa port, located outside Manaus,for example, there are buses departing from the giant station near Mercado Municipal, then a public ferry Ceasa-Careiro, which will slowly pass over the meeting of waters.
It is also possible to take an express boat, but it doesn't provide a good view.
Mercado Municipal. Rua dos Bares, +55 92 3234-8441. Every day, 8AM-10PM. The city's main market is modeled after the Les Halles market in Paris.
Natural Science Museum or Museu de Ciencias Naturais da Amazonia. Estrada Belem , Colonia Cachoeira Grande. Few locals visit this museum, know about it, or would even want to, considering that it's basically critters they'd find almost in their backyard.
For visitors, though, it's a chance to see a live pirarucu and other fauna mostly preserved, of the region. The museum was constructed single-handedly by a Japanese entomologist specializing in butterflies with his own money and resources.
It's out of the way and about half an hour by taxi. The nearby INPA is a preserve and research center with birds and other wildlife.
Rio Negro Palace. 1546 Av. 7 de Setembro. Call for information on attractions. The Rio Negro Palace was built by German farmers in the golden age. Nowadays it's a cultural center and theater. It's one of the city's postcards. Prices vary.
Ponta Negra Beach it's a nice spot,and popular river beach. It has several bars and restaurants and is some distance west of the city.
Praia da Lua Beach very clean and nice river beach a few kilometers from Ponta Negra upstream the Rio Negro. Access by shared motorized canoe from Estalagem de David.
Paricatuba Waterfall is on the right bank of the Negro River, along a small tributary, is formed by sedimentary rocks, surrounded by abundant vegetation. Access is by boat. The best time to visit is from August to February.
Love Cascade is in the Guedes bayou, with cold and crystal clear water, is accessible only by boat and, then, hiking through the Forest.
The National Park of Jau The Park is situated in the lowland plateau in the Western Amazon and North of Amazon state, it is one of the largest National Park in Brazil and in Latin America. It is 2,272,000 hectares in size and 1,250 km of perimeter. It was created on 24th September 1980.
It is of paramount importance in ecological terms for its high endemism and richness of its wild flora and fauna. Part of the Park area constitutes of varzea denominated as Pluvial Lowland.
Terra firme or formlands is divided in two:
- Large flat tops separated by shallow valleys occupying the largest area.
- Small hills on a higher level. There are small areas which are flattened by sand sediments in the Park central part. Open Forest is predominant throughout represented by either Tidal Flat Open Palm Forest especially in varzeas or wet lands alongside Jau and Carabinani rivers, or Tidal Flat Canopy Dense Forests.
In the tidal flat areas, frequently flooded, alongside the Carabinani and Jau rivers there are a great number of palm trees such as paxiubas (Iriarte spp), cabbage palm (Euterpe oleraceae) and Jauaria (Astrocaryon spp).
In older tidal areas, rarely flooded, the predominant palms are miriti and carana (Mauritia spp). Many other tree species are found in the Park area, some of them with commercial value such as Brazilnut tree (Bertholletia excelsa), sucupira (Bowdichia virgilioides) and others.
For details on the Jau National Park and other nearby attractions, see the Get out section below.
There are a number of companies operating jungle adventure trips from Manaus, but only a few seem to be more established and reputable. First you need to check if the Tour Operator has a valid Embratur (Brazilian Tourism Board) registry.
Then you make up your mind what you really want. You need to travel at least 100km from Manaus to see virgin rain forest and the wild life you are looking for.
There are basically two main areas which you can explore: the Rio Negro basin and the South of Rio Amazonas. Both of these regions are sparsely inhabited, so you will not be completely isolated from civilization.
If you want to make a trip to a reserve or a remote area, ask for a special expedition package and plan to pay much more and spend a few days for the transfer to and from the reserve.
Rio Negro is an area that is great for the jungle vegetation and for the lack of mosquitoes due to the acidity of the river. Unfortunately, the lack of mosquitoes means there are a lot fewer animals that live there. The South of Rio Amazonas is a network of rivers, lakes and channels.
There are mosquitoes and wildlife, however, there are quite a lot of houses and farms, and thus civilization is a lot more visible. Most tours go to or through lake Mamori.
There are quite a lot of jungle things to see around the lake, but do not expect pristine nature due to all the farming going on around the lake. There is a reserve nearby called Jurara. It also seems to be inhabited and there is not much difference between the reserve and lake Mamori.
A better option may be a trip to lake Juma which is a special protected area.
There are two seasons in the Amazon basin:
- Wet season and dry season. During the dry season it's very hot that means 40 C plus the humidity and thus may be unbearable for some. As well, many channels and rivers dry out. On the other hand, fishing is much easier since all fish concentrates in the remaining water basins.
During the wet season, it rains almost every day. When there is a storm, the amount of rain may be overwhelming. Thus, if traveling in wet season, be prepared to get wet and not dry out until the end of your trip.
During the season the rivers and lakes rise several meters and many new channels are formed in the flooded jungle. Temperature-wise, the weather is more bearable and only the humidity will be a problem. The wet season lasts roughly January to July, with the best time to visit the jungle May to August.
If you travel during the wet season, keep your important things like documents in a tested waterproof bags/containers. Cotton clothes let your skin breathe but there is no chance that they will ever get dry. Some people find nylon/synthetic clothes to work well.
Long sleeves and long pants are not 100% necessary but you will not regret wearing them. A flashlight is necessary for the night, as the jungle is pitch-black. A machete most probably will not be required on short/casual trips but is essential for longer expeditions.
A lighter and a pocket knife are a good idea. The pocket knife is especially important since it can provide the only defense against the boa and the anaconda,attacks do occur. A mosquito repellent is most probably a very smart idea.
It keeps other bugs away too and it reduces the risk of being infected by a disease-carrying insect. However, the number of mosquitoes in the jungle is not completely overwhelming, so for longer expeditions you may consider getting used to them.
Additionally, a good guide can show you some natural repellents available in the jungle. Sun block is needed especially during the dry season. Otherwise, keep your luggage to the minimum. Do not take things you do not really need.
Native people - people who live in the region. Most of the time that means, with Portuguese descend. These are not aboriginal inhabitants.
Native guide - a guide who is a native. If at all, usually speaks only marginal English.
Explore the meeting of the waters - a 10-second chance to glance at it while crossing the river on a speedboat.
Do not buy tours from people at the airport or on the street in Manaus. The best guides are hired by the best companies; the best shysters don’t work for the best companies.
If you don’t want to book a tour before arriving and want to book a tour in Manaus use a reputable published guidebook first or just look for the official tourist information center (CAT), they'll help you out and even make free calls if required. Tour companies are relatively easy to find in downtown Manaus and many will meet you at no charge.
The tour companies,even the ones in Lonely Planet tend to trick the tourists sometimes, they ask you "may I do the reservation?" if you say yes and later cancel they will want to charge you 25%.
It is not legal unless they let you know about it and make you sign something, so remain alert. Ask other tour operators to check prices.
If you take a river tour, go up the Rio Negro. From a three-night river boat trip from Manaus up the Rio Negro with a guide, you can expect to see some wildlife and visit some of the forest remnants, but two weeks or more are needed to reach untouched areas.
Small two-story river boats carry five to ten people, sleeping in hammocks on the upper deck. Large boats carrying hundreds ply the river too, but the big boats don't stop between ports. The most popular place for jungle tours is Lake Mamori/Lake Juma about 100km south of Manaus.
Other recommended areas are Rio Urubu about 200 km east of and Novo Airão about 100 km northwest of Manaus. Make sure that your travel agency has a valid Embratur or Brazilian Tourism Board registration.
Amazon Brasil Tour - Rua 10 de julho 708- Room- 02. They organize non conventional tours with experienced tour guides. They do jungle tours to different areas of the Amazon the Juma Lake area, Tracaja, Rio Negro river and they are specialized in Boat tours - boat with hammocks and Boat with cabins and luxury boats exploring rivers of the Amazon.
Their main goal is to show the Amazon in its authentic way. All Their jungle tours are covered by insurance.
Manaus Booking - Edifício Antonio Simoes, Av. Sete de Setembro, 1251 , Centro. They are the largest budget jungle tour and river cruise operator. They operate on Rio Negro and Rio Juma with overnight in Anaconda Lodge or Juma Eco Lodge.
They offer expeditions to Jau National park, Mamiraua Reserve, Expedition to Eldorado Waterfall, Yanomami Reserve and Satere-Mawe Reserve. Packages starting at US$ 50 per person per day.
Amazon Tree Climbing. Ecotourism, nature and adventure travel specializing in tree climbing and boat expeditions and working with small closed groups. Follows rigid safety protocols according to the Brazilian adventure tourism standards.
The trees are previously inspected and the climb sites are carefully chosen – they opt for primary forest area, which gives a better chance of observing the wildlife in its natural habitat. Multilingual guides with solid cultural background, and top quality equipment.
Trips vary from 1 day to longer customized boat expeditions at the Rio Negro basin.
Manaus Jungle Tours. Amazing Tours is in the business since 2006 but Leonardo the owner is since 1999 in the tourism business. They do organize Jungle Tours,Day trips,Boat tickets,Transfers and few other activities.
The Amazon Jungle, also known as Amazon rainforest or Amazonia, is the largest forest on this planet along with big river system. This area covers a giant portion of South America and more than half of Brazil.
It extends into the neighboring countries including Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela wherein the river itself starts life with a lot of different headwaters. This jungle has many species which can pose a hazard.
Some of the largest predatory creatures are the anaconda, cougar, jaguar, and black caiman. The name of this rainforest originally comes from the Amazon River which is the main river.
But through the tropical rainforest, there are more than 1,100 rivers running including Rio Negro, Rio Madeira, and Orinoco. It has been estimated that there are around 390 billion individual trees which are further divided into 16,000 species.
Local cuisine is rich and varied and can be found in many restaurants and stalls. You may try:
- Tapioquinha, a glutinous pancake made from manioc starch, usually buttered and filled with tucuma palm fruit and farmer’s cheese.
tacaca, an Amazon local soup.
- Tambaqui, the favorite fish among locals. Banda de Tambaqui is the most famous and one of the most delicious fish dishes from there.
- Pirarucu, the biggest fish from Amazon. Breaded filet and Moqueca are the most famous dishes.
- Pamonha, made from green corn and coconut milk boiled in corn husks.
-Bolo de macaxeira, a tasty glutinous translucent cake made from manioc.
- Sugar cane juice, a favorite drink among locals.
The region is also known for its exotic fruits like:
- Creamy white cupuaçu.
- Iron-rich açai.
Restaurants:
Tambaqui de Banda- Address: Av. Tancredo Neves, 9 (close to Parque do Mindu), Parque 10. This is a fish restaurant well frequented by manauaras. It's the opportunity to try local food made to local people with no overprice for tourists. Comfortable place with air conditioning and Wi-fi. Open every day for lunch at 11 am and for dinner from 6 pm to 11 pm (Monday to Saturday).
Restaurante da Charufe- Address: Rua dos Angelins, 261 (atrás da Escola Maria Amélia do Espirito Santo), Cj. Kissia I. Local, typical and homely prepared fish dishes, the best Lebanese food and the most famous paella in town.
The renowned chef opens her restaurant at home only for lunch on Thursdays. Reservations are requested on phone nr. 55.
Açaí e Companhia, Address: Rua Acre, 98 - Vieiralves, phone number. Open 10AM to 12AM. Nice atmosphere. Regional dishes. Good service. Sometimes live music.
Canto da Peixada, Address: Rua Emilio Moreira, 1677 - Praça 14. Great local fish selection.
Scarola Restaurant and Pizzaria: Traditional Restaurant near the Amazon Theater open for lunch with self service buffet and dinner a la carte. Famous for their Pizza and Barbecue Grill. Delivery service available. Rua 10 de Julho, No. 739 at the corner with Av. Getulio Vargas.
Casa da Sopa, Soup buffet. Highly recommended.
For international food in Manaus, the Miako and Suzuran offer Japanese food; there’s a Korean restaurant on the “Boulevard”, superb Italian food at Gianni's, and there is a home that serves delicious Peruvian dishes downtown near Cortez Casa de Cambio.
Peixaria Morongueta, Rua Jaith Chaves, 30 - Porto da Ceasa. Open-air seafood restaurant with a fantastic view of the Meeting of the Waters. Moderately priced, offering fresh local i.e., Amazonian fish and traditional Brazilian dishes.
Habibi, Right outside Hotel Brasil. Late afternoon and evening. Staple sandwiches in clean surroundings, with a small variety of arab dishes.
Downtown drinking near the Teatro Amazonas, lately spreading towards the refurbished Praca da Saudade. Other options in the Ponta Negra area, including the "Estrada do Turismo" -a string of nightlife spots along the road to the airport.
Bar do Armando, Largo do Sao Sebastiao,Acros the square from the Theatro Amazonas. Every evening until midnight. Lively crowd, simple setting, excellent location. Prices are a bit stiff, and for snacks they are downright ridiculous. Large beer R$ 5, small sandwich R$ 9.
Porao do Alemao, Estrada da Ponta Negra 1986, Sao Jorge 30-40 reais by taxi from the centre. Mostly rock, excellent snacks. Entry fee.
Tuesdays and Fridays hundreds and hundreds of people gather at a string of drinking shacks known as Calçadao da Suframa. Some have live music, often forro.
One spot is Casa do Terror, a cobwebbed hole-in-the-wall where a shirtless Cearense in a cowboy hat spins old LP’s of boleros and bregas. R$ 20-30 by cab from the centre.
Crocodillo (Centro) is a dance club with decent music and reasonable drink prices.
Festivals Festivals are usually held in the Sambodromo, a huge stadium on Rua Constantino Nery. Carnaval is held here as well as many other festivals, including Manaus’s popular Boi.
Gay: The two main clubs are Humps and A2, both located in the city centre.
Upscale dancing at the Tropical Hotel.
Amazon Jungle Palace, which is located on the left hand bank of the river Rio Negro, was built according to two guiding principles: concern for the environment and providing excellent services for the tourist.
Anyone who stays in its 65 apartments can feel all the energy and vibrations of nature in the middle of the Amazon jungle, in tandem with all the comforts of large luxury hotels.
Anaconda Lodge is a New Jungle Hotel located on an island on the Rio Negro 50km from Manaus. Chalets with a/c or fan, marvellous river view, swimming pool, barbecue grill and Internet. Packages starting at US$ 40 per person per day including all transfers, 3 meals and excursions.
Juma Eco Lodge is a Rustic jungle lodge located on an island on the Rio Juma 100km south of Manaus. Chalets with a/c or fan, marvellous river view. Packages starting at US$ 50 per person per day including all transfers, 3 meals and excursions.
Lots of cheap hotels and pensoes can be found around Av. Joaquim Nabuco. Many of these have hourly rates, and are not very pleasant, and often quite smelly. The area gets dodgy in the late evenings. Private rooms start at 30 reais.
Estrela, Center, Rua Pedro Botelho, clean and cheap: Us$ 15/single, good place to find amazon jungle tours and trips in and out of Manaus.
Pensao Sulista, Traditional Hotel in historic building from 1904. Rooms with Fan and TV. Complementary breakfast, wireless Internet access and private parking. Rates start at R$40 for single room, Hostel option R$ 25/person. Av. Joaquim Nabuco, No.347, Centro.
Big Hostel Brazil, A new beautiful, breezy, clean hostel close to the historical centre. Facilities include lovely garden patio, TV room, Wifi, lockers, laundry and basic kitchen. Comfortable single, double ,triple and dorm rooms available, Rates starting at R$30. Av. Sete de Setembro, No.1653 - Centro.
Jangada, Rua dos Andradas, opposite Rio Branco. Rooms with private bathroom, a/c and tv for 35 reais. Very clean.Brazil.
Rio Branco, Rua dos Andradas 484, 233-4019. A real backpacker dive. Rooms are tiny and in some cases without windows. Cheap clean rooms with Frigobar, Phone, Air condition, Safe service, breakfast and room service.
Hotel Colonial, 12 Rooms for up to 6 people in historic building recently reformed. All rooms with private bathroom, frigobar and cable TV, wireless Internet and complementary breakfast. Rua Quintino Bocaiuva, 462, Centro.
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Continental, Rua Coronel Sergio Pessoa 189, 233-3342. A few blocks removed from the main strip; pleasant and economical.
Hotel Veneza,Rooms and dormitorio for up to 8 people near the Praca da Policia. All rooms with private bathroom, air condition, fridge and cable TV. Breakfast buffet on veranda with view over downtown Manaus, Wireless Internet, 24 hour reception, airport transfer. Hostel option 25 Reais, Single room 60 Reais, Double room 80 Reais. Rua Leovegildo Coelho, 460, Centro.
Hotel Rei Arthur, Rooms and dormitorio for up to 4 people near the Amazon Theater. All rooms with private bathroom, air condition, fridge and cable TV. Breakfast buffet, Wireless Internet, 24 hour reception, airport transfer, jungle tours. Hostel option 25 Reais, Single room 55 Reais, Double room 75 Reais. Rua Dez de Julho, 685, Centro.
Hotel Express Vieiralves: near Amazon Shopping, Millennium Mall, Shopping Plaza Manaus, shopping centers, leisure facilities, bars and city center options. St. Rio Branco S/N - Nossa Senhora das Graças.
Hotel Saint Paul, Rua Ramos Ferreira, 1115, Centro (One blocks east of Amazon Theater). checkin: 14h; checkout: 12h. Near Manaus major tourist attractions, as Largo de São Sebastião and the famous Teatro Amazonas, and varied shopping and leisure in the historic city center. Single 165, double 195.
Hotel Sao Pedro, Rua Rui Barbosa 166, Centro,Two blocks south of the Teatro. Partly refurbished, clean, bright and spacious. Arguably the best cost/benefit in the neighbourhood. Single 65, double 85, triple 105.
Hostel Amazonas, Rua Ramos Ferreira 922, centro,three blocks north of the square. Spacious public area, kitchen facilities, wi-fi. Single 70, double 100, dorm bed 25..
Hotel Brasil Av. Getúlio Vargas, 657 - Centro Manaus. Central location. Singles 60, doubles 95.
Continental Park Hotel, Estrada dos Japoneses, n.238, Parque 10, Phone:92-3642-6232 E-Mail. Walking distance to Mindú Park, Rooms have Minibar, cable TV and Broadband Wifi Internet Service, 24 hour Room service, Single with breakfast US$49.99.
Hotel Plaza, Av. Getulio Vargas, 215, Centro. Budget hotel in the historic center. Suites with a/c, cable TV, fridge, Internet, continental breakfast, american bar, swimming pool and free parking. Single 99 Reais, double/twin 119 Reais, triple 139 Reais.
Hotel Adrianopolis All Suites - St. Salvador, 195 - Adrianópolis.Located at a noble neighborhood of the city, Hotel All Suites Adrianópolis, the most exclusive of Manaus Hoteis Network, is 5 minutes of Manauara Shopping and is an excellent choice for executives and families seeking the ultimate in comfort, space and practicality.
It features rooftop swimming pool with panoramic city view, full fitness center and sauna.
Hotel Millennium - Av. Djalma Batista, 1661 - Chapada. Conveniently located between the two main avenues of Manaus, Hotel Millennium is integrated with Millennium Mall offering a range of leisure, food and entertainment,more than 100 shops and 8 cinemas.Are 135 spacious apartments of 25sqm, balcony, desk, chair, free Wi-Fi, LCD cable TV, fridge, microwave and safe.
Tropical Manaus Eco Resort - Av Coronel Teixeira, 1320, Ponta Negra. In the Amazon Forest, on the banks of the Negro River. It has 588 apartments and a large complex of hotel, events, sports, and tourism and leisure services.
It is 10 km from the Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes International Airport and 16 km from downtown Manaus.
The climate is very hot and humid. Packing thin, light-colored clothing will help you suffer the least during the day. There are also many mosquitoes known to carry malaria and yellow fever, so wear long sleeve shirts and pants and insect repellent.
The vaccine against yellow fever is free in Brazilian public health centers and international airports and must be taken at least 10 days before going to endemic areas.
There is little cotton or natural fiber clothing available in Manaus, so don’t count on being able to pick up something on short notice.
People seem to prefer synthetic materials, which have the advantage of drying easily without molding.
Manaus is fairly safe for a Brazilian city of its size. As always, deserted streets are a bad idea after dark. Avoid the east zone, it has a really bad reputation.
Bus station - Manaus' bus terminal is located to the north of the city. To get here by public transport from the "Centro", take any of the buses numbered 300, 448, 500, 560 or 640 and get out at the stop AFTER you pass the stadium - NOT in front of the stadium.
You will pass the stadium on your left, the bus stop is in front of a cheap-looking hotel. Walk across the road towards the hotel, then along the sidewalk in the direction of the bus to petrol station at the corner. Turn right and cross the street using the overpass, the bus station is on the other side. R$3.
Presidente Figueiredo – 105 km from Manaus, offers archaeological grottoes and caves, waterfalls, and native scenery.
Sao Gabriel da Cachoeira - Home of many Indian tribes and the Pico da Neblina, the highest mountain in Brazil.
Barcelos - Small town up the Rio Negro famous for white beaches, sport fishing and the highest waterfall in Brazil.
Boa Vista - By bus or with the national airlines, from Boa vista you can fly to Guyana and Suriname. Also buses to Venezuela.
Praia do Tupe – nearby white sand beach
Manacapuru – Paraiso d’Angelo chalets on black water
Parintins – boi festival in June
Maues – guarana festival
Jau National Park - Jungle expeditions leave Manaus for this huge park near Novo Airao. The Park is a World Heritage site and stands out in the state of Amazonas.
Rainforest ours for Mamori River and Mamiraua south of the city near the Amazonas river reached by the Transamazonica road.
Areas near Manaus that offer lodging in the jungle rather than in a town, include:
- Iranduba, including the Ariau river, pioneering in jungle tourism. Ever more accessible by the new bridge from Manaus, although the jungle lodges are mostly reached by boat.
- The Mamori river, accessible by the BR 319 highway, across the river from Manaus
- The Juma river, somewhat off the BR 319
- The Tupana river, further south on the BR 319
Tourism Observer
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