Explore & Encounter the
Amazon
State of Amazonas.
The largest state of Brazil, located in the Amazon Region,
Amazonas was originated from a legendary tribe of warrior women.
An enormous tropical rain forest, interrupted by a gigantic
network of rivers, the Amazon is a tourist destination that
offers the exuberance of the jungle when explored in an
ecologically friendly way. The region offers intense cultural
life and exclsuive attractions, including the Folk Festival of
the Boi-Bumbás of Parintins and the Amazonas Opera Festival,
which translate the musicality and artistic expression of its
cheerful people. To visit the State of Amazonas is to surprise
oneself at each river branch and be enchanted at each street
corner of its modern capital, Manaus - the jungle metropolis.
Manaus keeps images of the golden times of its peak during the
rubber economic boom, including restored buildings and
monuments. Nestled in the middle of the forest, the city also
offers exotic hotels and resorts, a modern airport, a convention
center for business events, and state-of-the-art technology. The
allure of this paradise is exclusive. In Amazonas, the
exuberance of the tropical rain forest, associated with hot and
humid climate, are responsible for the largest biodiversity on
Earth. More than 98% of its 1, 5 million square kilometers
territory remains as untouched as when Brazil was discovered.
 Amazon
Rainforest. "The Green Inferno", the Amazon
jungle is the largest tropical rainforest on Earth and a World
Natural Heritage site. You will be awed and enlightened by the
grandeur, beauty and diversity of the Amazon Rainforest -
captivated by its wonder and wildness. The rainforest has a wide
variety of tree species, 250 species of mammals, 2000 fish
species and 1000 bird species to encounter. Small mammals,
birds, reptiles and exotic insects such as butterflies are
easily observed on jungle expeditions - canoe rides in small
creeks, jungle trekking, piranha fishing, alligator spotting,
lectures on medicinal plants, jungle survival courses, folkloric
night shows, bird watching, sport fishing, visit dwellings of
aborigines (Indians), and sunrise tours - so observe and listen
when the jungle wakes up in the morning. Beneath the light of
the moon, you watch your guide swiftly snatch an alligator out
of the dark Rio Negro, then pass it to you to hold on to. In the
Amazon jungle, you learn medicinal secrets of endangered and
often extinct indigenous tribes, snuggle sloths, drink water
from the trees, watch monkeys swing through the magnificent
branches of "the world's lungs", marvel at massive
lily-pads, eat fruits you never would have imagined existed,
canoe through the endless water world of the Amazon, fish for
piranhas, visit local river dwellers, capture dazzling sunsets,
and fall asleep at night hypnotized by the symphonic hum of the
ecosystem. Welcome to the Amazon, your destination for
adrenaline and rejuvenation! That Amazonian rainforest serves as
the lungs of the world providing enough oxygen for the whole
planet! [Top]
Amazon
River. The world's mightiest river, the Amazon flows
for 4,007 miles from the top of the Peruvian Andean Mountains
into the Atlantic Ocean. The Amazon River is the world's largest
river in volume of water - holding as much as all of the next 10
largest rivers in the world combined - pouring 8 trillion
gallons of water into the ocean every day, and the second in
length. The Amazon River holds 20% of all of the fresh water on
the planet. The Amazon's width is of 120 miles when it meets the
Atlantic, and its average depth is of 50 ft. Many of the world's
top 20 largest rivers, including the Rio Negro, flow into the
Amazon. The rare pink dolphin and a diversity of fish species
inhabit the mighty waters of the Amazonian rivers.
City of Manaus. Embedded in the Amazon Forest,
the beautiful city of Manaus impresses with its natural
resources, ecological parks, exuberant nature, endless green
spaces, wonderful restaurants and bars, busy port, exciting
nightlife, diverse shopping, museums, palaces, and myriad of
cultural attractions, such as Teatro Amazonas, an opera house
built in 1896, and Municipal Market. Located on the north bank
of the Rio Negro, 11 miles above the Meeting of the Waters where
the Rio Negro merges with Rio Solimões, Manaus - “The Paris
of the Jungle” - is the heart of Amazonia and the launch port
of eco-tourism for the Amazon rainforest and river tours and
cruises. El Cento features a variety of attractions, hotels,
shops, restaurants, a convention centers and the popular local
market. Nature lovers discover endless outdoor activities, such
as trips to an ecological park, visits to giant water lilies,
observation of the Meeting of the Waters, forest treks,
exploring caboclos settlements, and canoeing, fishing and
swimming on the rivers and lakes. Explore river banks and "igarapes",
swim and canoe in placid lakes, play on Ponta Negra Beach, and
spend the night in the lush forest. Founded in the late 17th
century, Manaus is the capital of Amazonas, the largest
Brazilian state. Eight airlines link Manuas to Brazilian
capitals, and operate direct flights to Miami, Caracas, Bogotá,
Santa Cruz and La Paz. [Top]
 Anavilhanas
Archipelago. The world’s largest fresh water
archipelago of river islands, Anavilhanas is located on the Rio
Negro in the Brazilian Amazon - 100 km upstream from Manaus. A
unique ecological system and preservation area of great
biodiversity, Anavilhanas is made up of 400 islands covered with
native forest - a natural labyrinth with diverse landscapes and
wildlife.Exploring the Anavilhanas Archipelago is an amazing
adventure full of wonder and awe. During the rainy season, half
of the islands are submerged, forming a boundless floating
forest of creeks and channels awaiting discovery. The compact
vegetation is shelter for diverse birds, butterflies, iguanas,
rodents, monkeys and snakes. With its impressive black waters,
Anavilhanas Archipelago has an extremely abundant aquatic life
with several species of fish, including the famous Pirarucu,
Tucunaré, and piranhas, as well as crocodiles, dolphins and
manatees. Anavilhanas is also the natural habitat of 232 bird
species and abundant avifauna. During the dry season, the
receding waters reveal white sand beaches and natural formations
of roots and trunks.
 Meeting
of the Waters. The meeting of the waters is natural
phenomenon caused from the confluence of dark waters of the Rio
Negro and clay waters of Rio Solimoes for about 5 miles (8 Km)
to form the Amazon River. A truly amazing spectacle to behold,
the warmer, clearer black waters of the Rio Negro run side by
side with the salty, muddy brown waters of Rio Solimoes for 6 km
without mixing - a spectacular phenomenon to witness. In Manaus,
in front of the Meeting of the Waters is a tourist structure,
which contains belvederes for the contemplation of this
magnificent natural phenomenon. [Top]
 Rio
Negro (Black River). Named for its dark waters, the Rio
Negro is the largest left tributary of the Amazon River and the
largest blackwater river in the world. The Rio Negro flows into
the Rio Solimões at the “Meeting of the Waters” to form the
silty Amazon River below Manaus, Brazil and is navigable for 450
miles. During the rainy season, April to October, the river is a
succession of lagoons, full of long islands, intricate channels,
cataracts, rapids and whirlpools. In the dry seaon season,
you’ll find many sandy beaches along the Rio Negro for
swimming, sunbathing and relaxing. The Rio Negro provides an
excellent mirror reflection of the dense rain forest, supports a
large fishing industry and has numerous turtle beaches. Travel
on the river by long canoe or motor boat and explore the Amazon,
carrying 1/5 of the world’s fresh water into the Atlantic
Ocean.
Teatro Amazonas. The most striking building in
Manaus and one of the most significant neoclassic monuments in
Brazil, Teatro Amazonas (Amazon Opera House) is a tribute to the
great wealth of the city from the rubber boom of the late-19th
and early-20th centuries. Built in 1896 as a copy the Grand
Opera de Paris, the magnificent theater is an landmark on Avenue
Eduardo Ribeiro that presents live performances and annual
festivals. The beautiful interior of Teatro Amazonas features
Portuguese and Italian marble in the entry hall and stairway, a
gold Venetian chandelier, a painted mural backdrop depicting the
Meeting of the Waters and a handcrafted floor made of 12,000
interlaced wooden panels. The only thing in the Opera House not
imported are the rich wooden hand runners and railings made from
Brazilian jacandara wood. From the outside, the theater’s
grandeur is punctuated by a central dome covered with 20,000
glazed tiles in the colors of Brazil. You can take a guided
20-minure tour or enjoy traditional presentations (Livro Vivo)
at 2 p.m. on Fridays and 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Saturdays. This
amazing theater also offers performances in the evenings and the
Festival of Opera during April and May, presenting performances
from national and international groups. [Top]
Ponta
Negra Beach (Praia de Ponte Negra). Located 13 km from
downtown Manaus, Ponta Negra Beach is the city’s most popular
river beach, a significant tourist attraction and a vibrant
nightlife area. This picturesque fine sand beach on the Rio
Negro River (Black River) is a destination of natural beauty and
artistic culture, and the sunsets from this beach are an
extraordinary sight. When the river is low, the sand at Ponta
Negra is uncovered to the river bed revealing a dramatic
contrast to the dark water. The Ponte Negra beachfront features
an intimate cove beach on the warm waters of the river, as well
as beach volleyball courts, a cycle way, a belvedere,
playground, and an expansive sidewalk with bars, restaurants and
snack bars. Ponte Negro Beach also has a modern amphitheatre
with a 15,000 people capacity for shows and exciting events.
Ponte Negra Beach is the perfect place to sit down with a beer
in the evenings, enjoy the boi dances performed in streetside
cafés, and watch the Rio Negro flow gently by. Beyond the sandy
beach at Ponte Negra, you’ll find an interesting zoo, an
orchid greenhouse and preserved woods that are open for public
visits.
Lago Janauari Ecological Park. Located about an
hour from Manaus, the Lago Janauary is a 9,000-acre eco-park of
wooded forest land and a unique Amazon experience. Take a boat
tour to the beautiful ecological park, which features elevated
boardwalks weaving through the trees, dry and flooded forests
and lowlands, and numerous exhibits of giant floating Vitoria
Regia water lilies measuring up to seven feet in diameter. Take
a trek through the park, famous for its wild flowers and plants,
to see the many animals and birds that have made this their
habitat. As you arrive, small children approach your boat with
rainforest creatures they've captured. [Top]
 Adolpho
Ducke Botanical Garden. Located east of Manaus, insidea
100 square kilometers ecological reserve, the Adolpho Ducke
Botanical Gardens is the world’s largest botanical garden with
an infinite number of plant and animal species. The massive
garden features a variety of scenic trails that wind through
vines, young and old trees, flowers, mushrooms, birds and
animals. Visitors can trek through the granes with a tour guide
as part of their Amazon jungle tour experience. The gardens are
conveniently located near Lake Janauari Ecological Park.
Presidente Figueiredo. Located 105 km from
Manaus, Presidente Figueiredo is a magical place of nature with
archaeological grottoes and caves, waterfalls, native scenery,
forests and rivers. Known as the Land of Waterfalls, this
natural attraction offers ecologic and adventure tours, jungle
walking trails, and boat tours on the lake of Balbina. Founded
in 1981, the county of Presidente Figueiredo was named in honor
of the first President from the Province of the Amazonas, João
Baptista de Figueiredo Tenreiro Aranha (1798-1861). [Top]
Municipal
Park of Mindú. Located in the November 10 Park
district of Manaus, Park of Mindú was created in 1992 as an
area of ecological interest. Covering 330,000 square miles of
forest lands remaining from the Township, Municipal Park of Mindú
is used for scientific, educational, cultural, and tourist
activities. The unique eco-park is one of the last habitats for
the sauim-de-coleira, a species of monkey that only exists in
the Manaus region and is threatened with extinction. Walk
through four distinct ecosystems in the park: land covered by
secondary growth, firm ground brush, sandbanks and degraded
areas that were illegally cleared in 1989. The Park also has a
Library, an environment information centre, an amphitheatre for
600 people, gardens planted with medicinal and aromatic herbs,
an orchid nursery, elevated trails and walkways, and signs to
environmental education programs.
Manaus CIGS Zoo. Managed by the Brazilian Army,
and part of the army's jungle warfare-training center, the
Manaus CIGS Zoo boasts approximately 300 species of
animalscaptured by soldiers from the Amazonas fauna. The
tremendous collection features black and spotted jaguars,
cougars, toucans, macaws, monkeys, wildcats, otters, snakes,
alligators, tapir, turtles and harpy eagles. Allow about 90
minutes to tour this very strange zoo, which is open to the
public throughout the year. [Top]
The
Science Grove. Located in the Amazonas National
Institute for Research area, the Science Grove provides
knowledge of the Amazonas environment, providing pleasant
moments while wandering along its beautiful trails and paths.
The Grove’s main attractions are: otter vivarium, manatee
hatchery, bee hives, Science House, educational trails,
alligator’s vivarium, botanical garden, above ground trail,
fauna, orchid nursery and bromeliad nursery.
Centro Cultural Palaçio Rio Negro. Built at
the height of the rubber boom, this gorgeous palace is one of
Manaus’ most impressive cultural centers and home to excellent
museums. Built by a Manaus rubber baron in the early 20th
century, the palace is wonderfully ornate with rich tropical
hardwoods floors, doors, and banisters. Some rooms are decorated
with period furnishings, while others display modern Brazilian
art and sculpture. The state governor's mansion for many years,
the palace also features artifacts from that period. The back
garden of the palace has been transformed into a permanent
People of the Forest Exhibit, which shows the lifestyle of
Amazon people with full-size re-creations of an Indian village,
a caboclo house, and farinha and rubber processing sheds. The
Indian village is staffed by members of Amazonian tribes that
put on a demonstration of indigenous culture, including dances
and welcome songs. In a smaller building, Pinacoteca do Estado,
the state art museum, houses beautiful artwork from Manaus
artists of the 19th and 20th centuries. The lower floor houses
Bernardo Ramos Numismatic Museum, which has 11 rooms of rare
coins from around the world. The Amazon Image and Sound Library
houses a vast collection of photographs and audio and video
recordings. [Top]
 Amazon
Jungle Hikes & Canopy Tours. Hike through the
Amazon jungle high up in a treetop canopy, tall observation
tower or suspended walkways that wind through the jungle. Most
of these hikes are associated with jungle lodges with beautiful
walkways like the Ariaú Jungle Towers, which offer suspended
trails and extensive facilities for leisure activities. Visitors
can also enjoy guided hikes on the jungle floor or walks through
city parks for photo safaris and bird-watching. An interesting
excursion is a hike out to one of the old seringais (rubber tree
groves), which still produce rubber. Tourists may also
experience nocturnal excursions by canoe or floating hotel that
take you out to sleep in the jungle on a hammock between two
trees. Amazon night tours can be an eerie experience and
you’ll need special supplies for this expedition.
Boi-Bumbás of Parintins Festival. Located on
the island of Tupinambarana, Parintins is a 200-year old village
with a rich Indian heritage on the Amazon River in Brazil, 420
km from Manaus. Held in Bumbódromo arena, Boi-Bumbá Festival
presents a grand spectacle of dance, music, drama, fireworks,
competition and special effects that drive 40,000 spectators
into a frenzy. June 28 - 30, the city is divided in two drum
groups - Boi Bumba Caprichoso (blue costumes) and Boi Bumba
Garantido (red) - that create a fantastic show of creativity and
beauty as they compete before judges. Fireworks mark the
beginning of the parade which features giant legends such as
Gigantic Juma and the Giant Serpent. See exhibitions on the
daily life of the Ribeirinho, the fisherman, and the rubber tree
workers that show life in the Amazon and attest to preservation
of nature and human rights. Native tribal rituals are
represented by the folk people of the Bumbás. Participants
dance to the drum beat and beautiful melody. [Top]
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