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| The independent site for visitors to Manaus and the Amazon |
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| The independent site for visitors to Manaus and the Amazon |
| RANK | Attraction | Why you should visit | How to visit |
| 1 |  |
The Teatro Amazonas | |
| Designed by the Portuguese Engineering Academy of Lisbon and constructed in a neoclassical style with materials imported from Europe, the theatre opened on new year’s eve 1896 with a performance of the Italian opera La Gioconda. The building has been beautifully restored, and the distinctive dome, with 36,000 enamelled ceramic tiles in the colours of the Brazilian flag, is particularly noteworthy. Inside, one of the main features of the auditorium is the painted ceiling and four painted pillars, created to give the impression of looking up from directly beneath the Eiffel Tower. | Together with the Meeting of the Waters, the theatre is synonymous with Manaus. In addition to getting to see this startling building, which gives an interesting insight into the short-lived boom-and-bust rubber era, the surrounding area is a logical focal point for tourists. You can find somewhere nearby for a drink or a meal and exploring the rest of Manaus from here is simple (alternatively, it is a good spot to meet or arrange a pick-up at the end of your day). | The theatre is in the Praça São Sebastião and is open Monday to Saturday, 9:00am to 5:00 p.m., however there is no access to the public except accompanied by a guide. Tours are available in Portuguese and English for R$10 (students half price). They are officially supposed to run every 15 minutes, but rarely do - so if you want a tour, be prepared to wait (or go for a coffee and come back). | |
| 2 |  |
The Meeting of the Waters | |
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(Nearly) everyone wants to see the ‘meeting of the
waters’, or more technically the confluence of the
rivers Negro and Solimões. The Solimões is the name
given locally to that part of the Amazon river that
flows from the border with Peru down to Manaus, at which
point it is joined by the Rio Negro, which is really
just a tributary (a pretty impressive one, but just a
tributary nonetheless) - and from there to the Atlantic
Ocean, it is known as the Amazon. The Solimões is a muddy brown, while the Negro is a fine black colour, and when they meet they appear to flow side by side for several kilometres before mixing. |
A weird and impressive sight, and you shouldn´t come to Manaus without seeing it. Really. | There are various
ways to see the confluence: as part of an organised
tour; en-route to a jungle lodge; by private boat; by
river bus; by ferry to Careiro; by air etc. Boats leave on tours from the Port of Manaus, while most river taxis (small, fast, passenger boats) crossing the waters leave from the Port of CEASA (you can also hire a whole small river taxi for yourself if you’re prepared to talk to the operators at CEASA). Organised tours often include the Waters and the nearby Lago Janauari and can be good value if you have the time to spare. |
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| 3 |
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Lago Janauari | |
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Lake Janauari (note that the name is Jan-a-wa-ri and not
“january”) is just to the south of Manaus, across the
river Negro on the Iranduba peninsula. At low water, the lake is heavily influenced by the black water of the Rio Negro, whereas at high water the system fills with white water pushing in from the Solimões. The result is an interesting mix of flora and fauna, and the lake also boasts a couple of nice floating bars/restaurants . |
The
most accessible place to get a basic idea of the
rainforest and the rivers. Obviously not the wild
jungle, but the combination of ease of access, location
and decent infrastructure make it a no-brainer for
anyone with half a day free. It is possible to see the Vitoria Regia lilies, monkeys, caiman and lots of birds, depending on the time of day and the season. |
Accessible any time except at very low water (October, November principally). Take a river taxi from the port of Manaus, or an organised excursion which includes the meeting of the waters (there are plenty about). A speedboat can get you there in 15 minutes; excursions usually take a half day and include lunch at one of the restaurants (food is generally excellent). TIP: at high water, try to find someone who will take you there through the flooded forest and also show you both the white water and black water eco-systems. | |
| 4 |
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The Municipal Market | |
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The old market was built on the banks of the Rio Negro
in an art-nouveau style, and was inaugurated in 1882.
The intricate cast-iron work is an impressive feature of
the building, whose architecture is sometimes compared
to that of Paris’ Les Halles market. At the moment the building is closed for restoration work, but the daily market continues behind it, right along the river front. |
Like most large markets, this is a great place to feel the pulse of Manaus. Fish, fruit and a thousand-and-one other things can be found in or near the market, and in spite of the chaotic and frenetic activity on market days, the area has always been remarkably safe for tourists - as with market traders throughout the world, generally people are a warm and friendly bunch. The market also has an interesting back-drop, as the riverside here is one of the busiest informal passenger ports. |
Visit any time, bearing in mind that like other markets
there are busy times (Saturday morning, for example) and
quieter times, and it is probably not somewhere you
would want to be late at night. Easy to find: with your back to the river at the Port of Manaus, turn right and follow the riverside for about half a kilometre |
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| 5 |  |
The Rubber Museum | |
| The Rubber Museum lies to the northwest of Manaus, on the Rio Tarumã Mirim, and is accessible only from the river. It is a reconstruction of a real plantation - Seringal Vila Paraiso - which existed near Humaitá at that time. The buildings are faithful replicas of what would have existed in and around 1912, and most of the artefacts are genuine, having been acquired from or donated by descendants of the rubber families who remain in the region to this day. There is also a short path through the forest where visitors are shown how latex is extracted from the rubber trees | Probably the most under-rated attraction in Manaus. Never crowded, well maintained, enthusiastically managed and generally under-funded. Gives an excellent idea of the period and the contrast between the super-rich (think Gates, Branson etc) and the poor. |
Cheap river taxis can be taken to the Museum from the
Marina Daví (beyond the Hotel Tropical,, reached by a
road which is a continuation of the Ponta Negra). The Museum is open daylight hours 7 days a week, and admission is R$5. |
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| 6 |  |
The Bosque da Ciência | |
| The Bosque (wood, or forest) is located in 13 hectares within the city limits, and belongs to INPA – the National Institute of Research in Amazonia. It houses many examples of Amazonian fauna and flora, including giant otters, manatee, bees, an electric fish called the poraque, caiman, and monkeys. Among the trees you may with luck also spot sloths and agouti living wild. There are several interesting structures within the grounds, many of which have been or are being refurbished, and these include a science centre and a timber centre. The facility also has a lake and a series of trails. Refreshments can also be purchased at a small shop/café and a popular sorveteria sells some rather nice ice cream. |
If you´re worried you won´t see any animals in the
jungle, this place is worth visiting. Access is easy,
and it is a pleasant place to while away a few hours.
What you see on the day will be a function of what they currently have, but it is fairly well organised, the grounds are pleasant and you´ll almost certainly find something worth the trip. |
The Science Park is open Tuesday to Friday 9:00am to
4:00pm and on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from
9:00am to 4:00pm. Telephone 3643 3192 and 3643 3135. A
small admission fee of R$4 is normally charged (children
under 12 go free), although we are told that admission
on Wednesdays is free. The Bosque can be found just off the main road Avenida André Araújo, near the new underpass still referred to as the Coroado roundabout (Bola do Coroado), in the Adrianópolis district to the north of the city centre. |
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| 7 |  |
The Ponta Negra | |
| The Ponta Negra area, some 14km west of the city centre, is one of the best-known areas of Manaus. During low water, the beach is more than 2 km long, but disappears almost completely from March to June, when the river level approaches its peak. A boulevard-style paved area runs the length of the beach, with various bars and restaurants, as well as public toilets and first aid facilities. Half-way along the Ponta Negra is a large open-air amphitheatre with seating for 15,000, and which hosts a variety of free performances. |
An excellent place from which to watch the sunset over
the Rio Negro and the forest beyond. Safe, secure, easy
to get to. Don´t forget to investigate the smaller bars at the river front, to which you need to descend from street-level. These are a hotch-potch of small units all playing their own loud music within inches of their neighbour’s (equally loud) music. Extremely noisy, typically Manauense, and usually relaxed and friendly. |
Buses leave regularly (every 15mins from the centre) to the Ponta Negra, and all the taxi drivers know the place well (but expect to pay around R$50 for a taxi from the centre). Quiet during the day, busier at night, especially at weekends. Currently undergoing refurbishment, so some of the restaurants and bars have disappeared, but still worth thinking about. TIP: combine this with a look around the Hotel Tropical grounds with its small private zoo – all open to the public. | |
| 8 |  |
Rio Negro beaches or flooded forest |
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| Depending on the river level, the margins of the Rio Negro offer either access to flooded forest, or extensive white sandy beaches – but you can´t have both. |
The Rio Negro beaches can be quite stunning – great for
relaxing on, and many come with bars (and loud music).
Easy access to the closest, of which the Praia da Lua
(Moon beach) is the most popular. At high water, investigate either the area 20km upstream around the “estreito” (narrows), or the Furo Grande (a flooded forest route into Lago Janauari) – both can provide animal and bird sightings and offer a nice taste of the flooded forest. |
Access to the nearby beaches generally from the public
Marina Davi, near the Hotel Tropical. For beaches
further afield, you will probably need to hire a boat
(can also be done at the Davi). Closest beaches are very
crowded at weekends, but often good fun, and the water
is fine for bathing. To get into the flooded forest, try hiring a boat from the Marina Davi (for the estreito) or from the Port of Manaus (for Furo Grande). |
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| 9 |  |
Presidente Figueredo | |
| Presidente Figueredo lies approximately 100km north of Manaus on the BR174 interstate road to Boa Vista. It is an interesting little town, and the area around it, being somewhat higher than the main rivers in the Amazon Basin, has numerous waterfalls and caves, as well as some excellent fairly unspoilt forest. The area is well known both for these features and for being home to the bright orange Cock-of-the-rock and to a lot of Macaws, as well has having many orchids and bromeliads. |
Okay, so it´s not “The Amazon” per se – on the other hand you
may see more unspoilt rainforest and animal and bird life
here than in many areas around Manaus. And those
waterfalls and streams are soo good for a dip. If you have the time, well worth spending a day or two exploring the area. |
If you want to take full advantage of the area you
should note that you will need at least a day to get the
best out of the various trails and waterfalls, and you
should be reasonably fit for some of them. The town has a lot of pousada- (guesthouse-) based accommodation, as well as one or two hotels. There is a regular bus service leaving from the Manaus coach station, with a journey time of approximately 1.5 - 2 hours. |
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| 10 |
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Novo Airão and the Anavilhanas | |
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Novo Airão lies 100km to the northwest of Manaus, on the
banks of the Rio Negro, and is reachable both by river
and road. There’s not actually that much to the town
itself, and the chief reason for visiting is potentially
for access to the surrounding area and - more recently
- to feed and/or swim with the dolphins. The latter
facility is offered at a small floating café down at the
harbour. The Anavilhanas archipelago is the largest fresh water archipelago in the world, and is a Brazilian nature reserve. |
Swimming with the dolphins is great fun, especially for kids aged 8 – 88, while the pristine Anavilhanas area is simply stunning. | Because of the current bus and boat schedules, it is difficult to make a day trip to Novo Airão, and you should plan to spend at least a night there. There are a few pousadas in the town, of variable quality, with one that has been consistently recommended by visitors. Buses leave from Manaus coach terminal early in the morning and boats from the Port of Manaus in the evening. Note: once the bridge is completed, Novo Airão will be much easier and quicker to reach. | |