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Manaus
—  Municipality  —
The Municipality of Manaus
Manaus Skyline.
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): "A Paris dos Trópicos" ("The Paris of the Tropics")
Manaus Location in Brazil
Coordinates: 03°06′0″S 60°01′0″W / 3.1°S 60.016667°W / -3.1; -60.016667
Country	Brazil
Region	North
State	Amazonas
Founded	1669
Government
- Mayor	Amazonino Mendes (PTB)
Area
- Total	11,401 km2 (4,402 sq mi)
Elevation	92 m (302 ft)
Population (2009)
- Total	1,738,641 (8th)
- Density	144.2/km2 (373.5/sq mi)
Time zone	AST (UTC-4)
- Summer (DST)	DST no longer used (UTC-4)
Postal Code	69000-000
HDI (2000)	0.774 – medium
Website	Manaus, Amazonas

Coordinates: 03°06′00″S 60°01′00″W / 3.1°S 60.0166667°W / -3.1; -60.0166667

Manaus is a city in Brazil, the capital of the state of Amazonas. It is situated at the confluence of the Negro and Solimões rivers. It is the most populous city of Amazonas, according to the statistics of Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, and is a popular ecotourist destination. Manaus belongs to mesoregion Center Amazonense and microregion Manaus. It is located in northern Brazil, 1,932 kilometers (1,200 miles) from the federal capital, Brasília.

The city was founded in 1669 as the Fort of São José do Rio Negro.^[1] It was elevated to a town in 1832 with the name of "Manaus", which means "mother of the gods" in tribute to the indigenous nation of Manaós, and legally transformed into a city on October 24 of 1848 with the name of Cidade da Barra do Rio Negro, Portuguese for "The City of the Margins of Black River". Only on September 4 of 1856 did it revert to its current name.^[2]

It was known at the beginning of the century, as Heart of the Amazon and City of the Forest.^[3] Currently its main economic engine is the Industrial Pool of Manaus.

It is the second largest metropolitan area in the Northern Brazil and the twelfth in all of Brazil, with 2,006,870 inhabitants (IBGE/2008). The population at 2008 was of 1.71 million people and it is the eighth most populous city of Brazil according to data from Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, the IBGE. The city gradually increased its participation in the GDP of Brazil in recent years, rising to account for 1.4% of the economy of the country. Currently, the city is one of 12 most influential cities of the country. Manaus alone represents 10.89% of the population of the whole Northern Brazil and 49.9% of the population of the Amazon.^[4]

History

Manaus in 1865.

Early settling

The history of European colonization of Manaus started in 1669 with a building of fort in rock and clay, with four cannons guarding the curtains. The Fort of São José da Barra do Rio Negro was built to ensure predominance of the crown of Portugal in the region, especially against the invasion of Dutch at the time headquartered where it is today the Suriname, that function for more than 114 years. Next to the fort there were many indigenous people mestizo, which helped in its construction and began to live around them. The population grew so much that to help catechism in 1695 the missionaries (Carmelite, Jesuit is Franciscan s) resolved erect a chapel , near the high of Our Lady, the patron saint of the city.^[5]

Amazon Region Map in 1562.

The Royal Charter of March 3 of 1755, created the Capitania of Sao Jose do Rio Negro, with headquarters in Mariuá (now Barcelos), but the governor Lobo D'Almada, fearing Spanish invasions, the seat went back to the bar in place of 1791, being located at the confluence of the rivers Black and Amazon it was a strategic point. In November 13 of 1832, the place of the bar became the category of town with the name of the town of Manaus and in October 24 of 1848, with Law 145 of the Provincial Assembly Paraense, acquired the name of the Bar of the City of Rio Negro. On September 4 of 1856 the governor Herculano Ferreira Pena finally gave him the name "Manaus".

Cabanagem

The Cabanagem was the revolt in which blacks, Indians and mestizo protested against the political elite and took power in 1835. The entry of the High Amazonas (Manaus today, which was the cradle of the manifest in the Western Amazon) in Cabanagem was crucial for the birth of the current state of the Amazon. During the period of revolution, the Cabanos of the High Amazon, bands of rebels, roamed throughout the region, and in most settlements their arrival was greeted by the non-white population's spontaneously joining their ranks and there was a greater number of adherents to the movement. With that there was an integration of people surrounding thus forming the state, thanks to Cabanagem.^[6]

Geography

The natural phenomenon of the confluence of the Negro River's water and the Solimões River's water.

Largest city in northern Brazil, Manaus occupies an area of 11,401.058 square kilometers, with a density of 144.4 inhabitants/km ². It is the neighboring city of Presidente Figueiredo, Careiro, Iranduba, Rio Preto da Eva, Itacoatiara and Novo Airão.

Climate

Manaus has an equatorial climate, but rainfall intensity is somewhat seasonal, with one half of the year (coinciding with the Southern Winter) being half as rainy as the other. The Köppen climate classification for the city is "Am", monsoon rainforest.

Vegetation

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.^[8] As the largest tract of tropical rainforest in the Americas, the Amazonian rainforests have unparalleled biodiversity. More than 1/3 of all species in the world live in the Amazon Rainforest.^[9]

Green Areas

Despite being located in the Amazon, Manaus has few green areas. The city's stock has been frequent in recent years. The largest green areas of the city:

• Park of Mindu: Located in the Center-South of the city, the district Park 10, the Park of Mindú is now one of the largest and most visited parks of the city Amazon. It was created in 1989, through a popular manifesto initiated by the residents of the neighborhood Park on November 10.

• Park of Bilhares: Established recently in 2005/2006, the Park of Bilhares is located in south-central region of Manaus, in the neighborhood of Plateau in the direction neighborhood-Center. The park is one of the attractions of the city.

• Area of the green hill of Aleixo: Created in the 1980s, the green area of the Hill Aleixo is located in the east of the city and is one of the largest urban green areas. It is not open to visits by constant invasions of landless.

• Park Sumaúma: It is a state park located in the north of Manaus, in the district New Town. It is the smallest state park of the Amazon.

Demography

Matriz Church.

Customs Building

Adolpho Lisboa Municipal Market

According to the IBGE of 2008, there were 1,709,010 people residing in the city, and 2,006,870 people residing in the Metropolitan Region of Manaus. The population density was 149.9 inhabitants per square kilometre (388 /sq mi). The racial makeup of the city was 63.93% Brown (Multiracial), 31.88% White, 2.43% Black, 0.87% Asian or Amerindian.^[10]

• Total population: 1,709,010 inhabitants (87% urban, 13% rural, women 52.07% and 47.93% men)
• Population density: 144.4 inhabitants per square km
• Infant mortality up to five years of age: 21.26 for each thousand children
• Fertility rate: 3.74 children per woman
• Literacy rate: 94.63%
• Human Development Index (HDI-M): 0.788
  • HDI-M Income: 0.846
  • HDI-M Longevity: 0.776
  • HDI-M Education: 0.946

The population of Manaus is 1,709,010 inhabitants (as performed by counting IBGE in 2008), making it the eighth largest city in the Brazil, after São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Brasilia, Fortaleza, Belo Horizonte and Curitiba. The city's population growth is above the national average, and 10% above the average for the capital of the country. Most of the population is located in the North and East regions of the city, and the New Town (northern area) the neighborhood is the most populous, with more than 260,000 residents. According to the results of the last census, the city's population increased from 343,038 inhabitants in 1960 to 622,733 inhabitants in 1970. Hence by 1990 the population grew to 1,025,979 inhabitants, increasing its density to 90.0 inhabitants / km ². In percentage terms, the city's population increase between 1960 and 1970 was 40% while from 1970 to 1980 was 94%. The city has good indices, and is an attractive locus for investment. The HDI-M is 0.774 and the ICV is 0.835. Life expectancy in the city is above the age of 63. 76.9% of households are served by the electricity distribution network, 64.61% by the sewage network and 86.54% have access to garbage collection. 68.61% have access to the city water supply.

Religion

São Sebastião Church.

Although it has been developed along a predominantly Catholic social matrix, both because of colonization and immigration - even today the majority of Manauenses is Catholic, one can find dozens of different Protestant denominations in the city, as well as the practice of Judaism, Candomblé, Islam and spiritualism, among others. In recent years, Buddhism, Mormonism and Eastern religions have grown considerably in the city.

The city has a very diverse presence of Protestant or Reformed faiths, such as the Presbyterian Church, For Christ International Church of Grace of God, Pentecostal Church of God in Brazil, Methodist Church, the Episcopal Anglican Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, the Baptist Church, am Assembly of God Church, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, the Jehovah's Witnesses among others. These churches are experiencing considerable growth, mainly in the outskirts of the city. A Mormon temple has been built in the city, the 6th in Brazil.^[11]

Districts and regions

Satellite view of the city

Adrianópolis neighborhood

Metropolitan region

The Metropolitan Region of Manaus (RMM), which has 2,006,870 inhabitants (counting the population IBGE in 2008) is a metropolitan area of Brazil that comprises eight citys of the Amazonas state, but without conurbation.

Regions

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).^[12] The northern region of the city that has 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.^[13]

Neighborhoods

The first neighborhood established in Manaus was Educandos. From there, other areas of the city began receiving human occupation, with the arrival of migrants from other regions of Brazil.

Manaus has the largest neighborhood of Latin America, the neighborhood New Town, which has 264,449 inhabitants, but it is estimated that the population exceeds 300,000 inhabitants. The New Town 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 various regions of the Brazil. Many neighborhoods appeared in the city in a disorganized manner, and those are called invasions.

Economy

Downtown Manaus in the afternoon.

Adriano Jorge Hospital Foundation.

Although the main industry of Manaus through much of the 20th century was rubber, its importance has declined. Given its location, timber 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 have 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, the manufacture of electronics equipment, and petroleum refining of oil brought in by barge and tourism.^[14]

The mobile phone companies Nokia, Siemens, Sagem, Gradiente and BenQ-Siemens run mobile phone manufacturing plants in Manaus.^[15][16] Also, many other major electronics manufacturers such as Samsung, Sony and LG have plants in Manaus. Plastic lens manufacturer Essilor also has a plant here. The Brazilian sport utility vehicle manufacturer Amazon Veiculos is headquartered in Manaus.^[17]

The GDP for the city was R$ 31,916,257,000 (2006).^[18]

The per capita income for the city was R$ 18,902 (2006).^[19]

Education

Manaus is the most important educational centre of the state.

Natural Sciences of the Amazon Museum.

The city has several universities:

• Federal University of Amazonas - Universidade Federal do Amazonas;
• University of the State of Amazonas - Universidade do Estado do Amazonas;
• Federal Center of Technological Education - Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica;
• Centro Universitário do Norte - UNINORTE;
• Lutheran University of Brazil - Universidade Luterana do Brasil;
• Centro de Educação Integrada Martha Falcão;
• Centro de Ensino Superior Nilton Lins;
• Centro Universitário de Educação Superior do Amazonas - CIESA;
• Escola Superior Batista do Amazonas;
• Faculdade Boas Novas;
• Faculdade Metropolitana de Manaus;
• Universidade Paulista.

Transportation

Airports

Eduardo Gomes International Airport (MAO).

Eduardo Gomes International Airport (MAO).

Eduardo Gomes International Airport is the airport serving Manaus. Responsible The airport has two passenger terminals, one for scheduled flights and the other for regional aviation. It also has three cargo terminals: Terminal I was opened in 1976, Terminal II in 1980 and Terminal III in 2004.

Eduardo Gomes International Airport is Brazil's third largest in freight movement,^[20] 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.

Manaus Aerotáxi, an air taxi serving jungle cities in northern Brazil, has its main office on the grounds of the International Airport.^[21]

Manaus Air Force Base, a base of the Brazilian Air Force is at the former Ponta Pelada Airport.

Highways

There are two federal highways connecting the city to the rest of the country. There is a paved road going North (BR-174) connecting Manaus to Boa Vista, capital of the State of Roraima, and to Venezuela. The BR-319 goes South connecting Manaus to Porto Velho, Rondônia.

Port

Port of Manaus.

Shore and boats in Manaus.

Ships dock at the main port in Manaus directly downtown. Lying on the banks of the Negro River, it's 1,450 kilometers (900 miles) inland in the heart of the Amazon rain forest. The terraced city is home to a network of bridged channels that divide it into several compartments. Several mobile phone companies have manufacturing plants in the Port of Manaus, and other major electronics manufacturers have plants there. Major exports include Brazil nuts, chemicals, petroleum, electrical equipment, and forest products, and eco-tourism is an increasingly important source of income for the city. The recent discovery of petroleum in the area brings great promise of further wealth and commerce to the Port of Manaus.

Today, the Port of Manaus is an important commercial center for ocean-going vessels traveling the Amazon. In fact, it is the main transport hub for the entire upper Amazon Basin. It imports beef from the hinterlands and exports hides and leather. Important industries in the Port of Manaus include manufacturing of soap, chemicals, electronics equipment as well as shipbuilding, brewing, and petroleum refining. With so much industry and commerce, the Port of Manaus has become a sophisticated cosmopolitan center. Located next to the Amazon rain forest, it also attracts crowds of tourists who find a variety of land and boat trips into the jungle. Wildlife is plentiful, even within the city, and it is home to the Pied Tamarin, one of Brazil's most endangered primates. Tour boats take visitors to see the point where the black waters of the Rio Negro meet the Solimões River's brown waters, flowing together without mixing for nine kilometers (5.5 miles).^[22]

Events and Holidays

• February – Amazonas Carnival – samba schools parade at the "sambódromo" in the Convention Center
• May – Ponta Negra’s Music Festival
• May - Amazonas Opera Festival
• June – Amazonas Folklore Festival
• July - Amazonas Jazz Festival
• June 29 – São Pedro Fluvial Procession
• September 5 - Elevation of Amazonas to the catergory of Brazilian Province
• October 24 – Anniversary of Manaus
• November - Amazonas Film Festival
• December 31 – Ponta Negra's New Year's Eve Party

Sights and attractions

Teatro Amazonas.

Sunset, Negro River.

Satellite view of the city.

Forest in Manaus.

Victoria amazonica.

Municipal Market.

Aerial view.

Manaus in the morning.

Negro River.

Manaus is a cosmopolitan city, and, because of its location next to the Amazon rain forest, it attracts a substantial number of Brazilian and foreign tourists, who can find plenty of boat and land trips into the surrounding jungle. A great diversity of wildlife can be found even in the surroundings of Manaus. It is also home to one of the most endangered primates in Brazil, the Pied tamarin.

Tour boats leave Manaus to see the Meeting of the Waters, where the black waters of the Negro River meet the brown waters of the Solimoes River, flowing side by side without mixing for about 9 km. Visitors can also explore river banks and "igarapes", swim and canoe in placid lakes or simply walk in the lush forest or stay at hotels in the jungle.

About 18 km (11 mi) from downtown is Ponta Negra beach, a neighbourhood that has a beachfront and popular nightlife area. A luxurious hotel is located at the west end of Ponta Negra; its small but very interesting zoo and orchid greenhouse as well as preserved woods and beach are open for public visits.

The Mercado Adolpho Lisboa, founded in 1882, is the city's oldest marketplace, trading in fruit, vegetables, and especially fish. It is a copy of the Les Halles market of Paris. Other interesting historical sites include the customs building, of mixed styles and medieval inspiration; the Rio Negro Palace cultural center; and the Justice Palace, right next to the Amazonas Opera House.

Manaus has also many large parks with native forest preservation areas, such as the Bosque da Ciência and Parque do Mindú. The largest urban forest in the world is located within Federal University of Amazonas, which was founded in January 17, 1909 and is the oldest federal university of Brazil.

The city has a busy cultural calendar throughout the year, including the Opera, Theater, Jazz and Cinema festivals, as well as Boi Manaus (usually held around Manaus' anniversary on the 24th of October), which is a great celebration of Northern Brazilian culture through Boi-Bumbá music.

Amazonas Opera House

The Amazonas Opera House has 700 seats and was constructed with bricks brought over from Europe, French glass and Italian marble. Several important opera and theater companies, as well as international orchestras, have already performed there.^[23]

Parks

Ponta Negra Cultural, Sport and Leisure Park

Ponta Negra beach, located 13 km (8 mi) from downtown Manaus, is one of the city's most important tourist attctions. It also has an amphitheater with capacity for 15.000 people.

Adolpho Ducke Botanical Garden

The Adolpho Ducke Botanical Garden, inside a 100 km² ecological reserve, holds a huge number of plant and animal species.^[24]

Municipal Park of Mindú

It is located in an urban area, in the November 10 Park district. It was created in 1992 to be an area of ecological interest. It covers an area of 330.000 m² (33 ha) of forest remaining from the Township, and is used for scientific, educational, cultural and tourist activities. It 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. It is possible to 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. It also has an amphitheater for 600 people, gardens planted with medicinal and aromatic herbs, orchid nursery, aerial trails and signs aiming to develop environmental education programs.^[25]

Public Swimming Areas

The Tarumã, Tarumãzinho and Cachoeira das Almas bayous (branches of rivers), located near the city, are leisure spots for the population on weekends. Manaus has several public |swimming areas that are being remodeled and urbanized lately. There are also many private clubs that can be visited.

Meeting of the Waters

This natural phenomenon is caused by the confluence of the Negro River's dark water and the Solimões River's muddy brown water that come together to form the Amazonas River. For 6 km (3.7 mi), both rivers waters run side by side, without mixing. This phenomenon is caused by the great difference between the water temperatures and current speeds. The Negro River flows approximately 2 km/h (1.2 mi/h) at 28°C (82°F), while the Solimões River flows 4 to 6 km/h (2.4 to 3.7 mi/h) at 22°C (71°F).^[26]

CIGS Zoo

The zoo is open to the public. It is managed by the Brazilian Army and has approximately 300 species of animals from the Amazon fauna.^[27]

Beaches and Waterfalls

For outings to beaches and parks situated near the city, it is often necessary to use boats. The beaches are formed right after the river water level starts dropping, which lasts from August to November. Starting in December, as the river rises, the waters invade the sand and the woods on the banks. The Paricatuba Waterfall, located 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 located in the Guedes bayou, with cold and crystal clear water, is accessible only by boat and, then, hiking through the forest.

Tupé Beach is approximately 34 km (21 mi) from Manaus, this beach is well frequented by bathers on holidays and weekends. It is accessible only by boat. Moon Beach is located on the left bank of the Negro River, 23 km (14 mi) from Manaus. It is accessed only by boat. The beach is shaped like a crescent moon and is surrounded by rare vegetation, with a great stretch of sand and clear, cold water. Lion waterfall is located on km 34 of the AM-010 highway (Manaus-Itacoatiara). Bathing in the cold and clear waterfall is allowed.

Sports

Football

Vivaldão, the Project for the crown in 2014.

In football, the leading club in Manaus is the San Raimundo Sports Club – the Typhoon Hill (Tufão da Colina), founded in November 18, 1918, participant of the Series B (2nd division) of the Brazilian Championship until 2006, when it was demoted. It is a 7-times states champion, 3-times North Cup champion. Due to its rise to the second division. There was a big increase in fans attendance, and thus São Raimundo became the largest among the crowd attendance in the state of Amazonas. It participated in a Conmebol Cup and thus its name is remembered outside the country.

There is also Nacional Football Club, founded on January 9, 1913, and called "Leão da Colina," the Athletic Club Rio Negro, called "Galo da Praça da Saudade" (Saudade Square Rooster) or "Barriga Preta" club (Black Belly), also founded in 1913, but in November, which is the second largest holder of state titles, and the National Fast Club, the Tricolor of the Boulevard" or "roll", founded in the early 40 years from a dissident's National Football Club, which has won six state championships, in addition to being Northern Region champion and North-Northeast Championshio runner-up in 1970.

Besides the "Colina" stadium, which has a capacity for 18.000 people, the largest stadium of Manaus is Vivaldo Lima (Vivaldão), which was inaugurated in 1970 by the Brazilian National Team in their last game in the country before the conquest of the thrice-world championship Mexico. It can receive up to 38,000 fans. Manaus is one of the host cities of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Manaus is the origin of several world-champion Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts, mixed martial artists and submission grapplers. Champions such as Wallid Ismail, Saulo Ribeiro, Alexandre Ribeiro, Ronaldo Souza,and Bibiano Fernandes hail from Manaus.

International relations

Sister-cities

• Charlotte, USA
• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Goiânia, Brazil
• Hamamatsu, Japan
• Salt Lake City, USA
• Mesa, USA
• Shangai, China
• Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

It is also considered city partner:

• Belém, Brazil

Notable people

• Cláudio Santoro - conductor and composer of classical music
• Márcio Souza - writer and novelist
• Antonio Pizzonia - Formula 1 driver
• Bibiano Fernandes - Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitor
• Malvino Salvador - actor
• Helda Castro - President of the Nation Mestiça
• Vinícius Canterbury - singer and composer
• Terezinha Morango - Miss Brazil 1957
• Arthur Virgilio Neto - diplomat and politician
• Jefferson Peres - politician
• Valéria Santarém Lira - swimmer
• Wallid Ismail - Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and mixed martial arts athlete
• César Manaus - actor
• Carlos Frederico Rodrigues - actor, producer, composer and director
• Saulo Ribeiro - Brazilian Jiu Jitsu world champion
• Xande Ribeiro - Brazilian Jiu Jitsu world champion
• Ronaldo Souza - Brazilian Jiu Jitsu world champion,ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship and a MMA-athlete

References

External links

• The Best from Manaus (Portuguese)
• Manaus Official Site (Portuguese)
• Globo Site Manaus Online – portal for Manaus (Portuguese)
• Historic Teatro Amazonas.
• National Institute of Amazonian Research website (in Portuguese and English).
• / Newspapers of Manaus(Portuguese)
• Manaus travel guide from Wikitravel

From Wikitravel

Manaus is a Brazilian city of about 2.5 million, located on the Rio Negro a few miles before it meets the Rio Solimões to form the Amazon River proper. 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.

Panoramic view of Manaus

Understand

The wealth of the primeval forest becomes visible first of all in the architecture of the city. The city enriched and the rubber barons afforded the biggest luxury from Europe, a copy 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 Rio Palacio Negro, located among fascinating Portuguese facades. Today Manaus is a foreign trade zone. Foreign enterprises must pay here no 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 for the care of 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 sandban

Get in

By plane

Manaus is about four hours by air from São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro. The Brazilian airline TAM also flies once daily direct Miami - Manaus which takes less than 5 hours in a Boeing 767-300. Copa Airlines also flies to Miami-Manaus by way of Panama in a Embraer 190. Delta Air Lines now has direct service from Atlanta. TAME flies from Quito to Manaus once a week, Azul Airlines plans to start frequent flights to Campinas late April.

By boat

Manaus is a major destination for boats on the Amazon River. From Belém 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.

By bus

Due to road conditions, there is very little (if any) long-distance bus service originating from major cities in Brazil. There are daily buses to Boa Vista in the north and to destinations in Venezuela. The bus from Caracas in Venezula takes about 36 hours, but it is air-conditioned, has comfortable reclining seats and a toilet.

Teatro Amazonas

• Opera House (Teatro Amazonas). n/n Praça São Sebastião, Center, +55 92 3622-1880. 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.

• Mercado Municipal. n/n Rua dos Barés, +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 (Museu de Ciencias Naturais da Amazônia). n/n Estrada Belem , Colonia Cachoeria 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 , +55 92 3232-4450. 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 Jaú 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 (formlands)is divided in two: (1) large flat tops separated by shallow valleys occupying the largest area, and (2) 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 (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 paxiúbas (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) and sucupira (Bowdichia virgilioides) and others.

For details on the Jaú National Park and other nearby attractions, see the Get out section below.

Do

Tour Operators

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.

• Amazon Tree Climbing [1]Ecotourism, Nature and Adventure Travel or/and Sustainable Tourism. ATC is specialized in Tree Climbing and boat expeditions at the Brazilian Amazon. Working with small closed groups, they take you to explore the jungle and it's highest tree canopies. Headquartered in the heart of the forest, ATC 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 it’s natural habitat. Their services include multilingual guides with solid cultural background, and top quality equipment. They offer trips varying from one day to customized boat expeditions at the rio Negro basin. Phone (55)(92)8195 8585 info@amazontreeclimbing.com

• Amazon Eco Tour [2]. They organize customized boat trip around the river in the Amazon region. They organize all the trip according to your preferences. The areas where normally the go to ( by boat) - Anavilhanas Archipelago, Jaú Park,Janauary Ecological Park, Novo Airão,Barcelos. They also have a special option of tour called: Tree Climbing, is amazing, taking a boat trip deep the jungle, a specialized guide , with profesional equipament,by TCI - Inernational, guides you in the forest looking for big trees, where we can climb and do a special safari in the tree. You will be climbing in a centenary tree that will range from 100 to 200 feet tall. At the tree top, there will be a cordura “Treeboat©” waiting for you to rest, relax, and take in the peace of the canopy. A “Treeboat©” is a heavy-duty cordura hammock specially designed for tree top camping, rated to carry thousands of pounds. It is also equipped with a zippered mosquito net and a rain cover (if needed). For this adventure there is no need of prior climbing experience. The effort of tree climbing is compared to hiking with a day pack. You are set in a specially designed Tree Climbing harness, that will be adjusted for your personal size, to better suit you. Security is a priority!

• Swallows and Amazons [3]. Reasonably priced classic-style riverboats for exploring the Amazon and Negro Rivers on trips ranging from 1 to 15 days. The “riverboat” is complete with hammocks (or day-beds), bathroom, shower, captain, cook, an English speaking professional guide, all food and drink (except alcohol), camping and fishing equipment. A motor canoe is sometimes used to reach more remote locations on the tour at the discretion of the guide. A “houseboat” offers the same but with double or cot style beds. Multi-day trips (including a 7 night package) explore the Amazon and Negro Rivers and the Anavilhanas Archipelago and offer trekking, canoeing, camping, swimming, alligator hunting and piranha fishing, as well as visits with the local river people. An eleven night package adds Jau National Park on the Middle Negro River and a 15 night package adds the Lower Branco, as well as more locations on the middle Rio Negro.

• Amazon Clipper [4]– A “filtered” experience by comparison and less ambient adventure. Offers regular guaranteed tours departing on Mondays (3 days/2 nights), Wednesdays (4 days/3 nights) and the full cruise from Mondays to Saturdays (6 days/5 nights). All tours depart and arrive at the Pier of the Hotel Tropical in Manaus. A typical tour includes some "igarapes" (river creeks) and "igapos" (flooded forests) by powered canoes, visit the natives and see their way of life, hike in the forest, as well as fishing, bird watching, swimming in the river, and lectures on the Amazon.

• Amazonriders [5]– Official Embratur (Brazilian Tourism Ministry) operator specialized in adventure tours to Maues, the land of the Guarana and Satere Mawe Indians, 267 km from Manaus. Visitors will explore virgin jungle with indigenous, observe them on their hunting and fishing expeditions for survival and visit the indian reserve of the Satere-Mawe tribe.

• Amazon Backpackers Tour [6]– Group of experienced guides, registered with EMBRATUR and spealized in survival expeditions. They operate in the Mamori Lake and Juma Reserve area, which has still primary jungle and offers the best chances to spot aligators and wildlife.

• Jungle Lodge [7] - If you want to make nature-based jungle tours in the Amazon take a traditional lodge in the middle of the rain forest. There are a number of "Jungle Lodges" set up in the 2-3 hours (by boat) vicinity of Manaus. Typically, you would be transported from Manaus (airport) via regional boat and later by motorized canoe to the Lodge. Here you can expect to stay in hut accommodation, all meals included, taken on to guided tours and excursions on boat and foot, fish piranhas, search for alligators, visit native "Caboclo" dwelling and so on.

• Amazon Village Jungle Lodge [8]- Amazon jungle lodge. The authentic jungle lodge located in the heart of the tropical rain forest of Brazil. The most exciting and wonderful tours in the amazon rain forest. They offer complete two, three and four-days overnight packages with guided tours and excursions, including full board & lodging, and transportation since Manaus. Lots of activities and nature tours, according to package choice. The Amazon Village Jungle Lodge is a remote and exclusive lodge classified as "Special Ecological Lodging" by Embratur - The Brazilian Tourism Bureau. The Village consists of a central "open air" lodge surrounded by 21 bungalows, all the bungalows are attractively designed with local wood in the native maloca style and discretely integrated into the surrounding of the local Jungle.

Eat

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 tucumã palm fruit and farmer’s cheese. Or tacacá, an Amazon local soup. Or pamonha, made from green corn and coconut milk boiled in corn husks. Or bolo de macaxeira, a tasty glutinous translucent cake made from manioc. Or sugar cane juice, a favorite drink among locals. The region is also known for its exotic fruits like creamy white cupuaçú and iron-rich açaí.

• Chez Charufe Grill - Address: Ponta Negra Park, close to the Tropical Hotel. Best view of the Negro River. Phone: 55 (92) 3658-5101 after 5PM. E-mail: lincolntz@hotmail.com. Open 6 to 12PM. Unique view of the Negro River. Regional fish dishes, paella and barbecue. Local fruit juices, wines, beers and soft drinks. Menus also in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian. English spoken. Mastercard, Diner's, Maestro and American Express accepted.
• Charufe Lunch Time - Address: 26 Maceio Street- Adrianopolis (Rua Maceió, 26, entre o Min. da Agricultura e o Churraskito). Best lebanese food in town and special local and homely dishes. Open for lunch Monday to Friday. Phone nr. 55 (92) 9202-0850. E-mail: charufenasser@hotmail.com. Only American Express card accepted. English spoken.
• Açaí e Companhia, Address: Rua Acre, 98 - Vieiralves, phone number (Phone: 55-(92) 3635-3637). Open 10AM to 12AM. Nice atmosphere. Regional dishes. Good service. Sometimes live music.
• Canto da Peixada, Address: Rua Emílio Moreira, 1677 - Praça 14, Phone: 55-(92) 3234-3021. Great local fish selection.
• 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 Câmbio.

• Dancing Upscale: the Tropical Hotel’s dance floor. Middle class: Tukannu’s, Coração Blue near the Ponta Negra. General public: Deus Me Livre, Municipal, Meu Dengo, Kitabom. Most adventurous: the Casa do Terror, a cobwebbed hole-in-the-wall near the Bola da SUFRAMA where a shirtless Cearense in a cowboy hat spins old LP’s of boleros and bregas.

Crocodillo in O centro is a dance club with decent music and reasonable drink prices.

• Festivals Festivals are usually held in the Sambódromo, a huge stadium on Rua Constantino Nery. Carnaval is held here as well as many other festivals, including Manaus’s popular Boi.
• Manaus also has a surprisingly large gay community. The two main clubs are "Humps" and A2, both located in the city centre.

• Ariau Towers, Amazon Rain Forest - Manaus, Brazil, ☎ 305-371-7871, [9]. High above the Amazon Rainforest - 35 miles from Manaus, Brazil, Ariau Amazon Towers is a luxury, eco-friendly treetop hotel in Brazil, built in the treetop canopy of the Amazon Jungle, with unique treetop suites, elevated catwalks and Amazon vacation packages.  edit

Budget

Lots of cheap hotels and pensões can be found in the area around Av. Joaquim Nabuco. Email:

• Hotel Itália: Rua Guilherme moreira, n. 325 - Downtown. Email: Email.
• Amazon Backpackers: Avenida Joaquim Nabuco 204 City Center.
• Hostel Manaus: Rua Lauro Cavalcante 231 - Centro. [10] E-Mail
• Hostel Trip Tour:Rua Costa Azevedo,63- Centro

• Alvorada:Rua Quintinho Bocaiúva nº 583, Manaus Center

Brazil Phone: 55 92xx30824732 Email: E-Mail

• Hotel Brasil Av. Getúlio Vargas, 657 - Centro Manaus, Phone: 55 92 xx 30824732, Email: E-Mail. Central location. about 75-80R per night
• Continental, Rua Coronel Sergio Pessoa 189, 233-3342. A few blocks removed from the main strip; pleasant and economical.
• Estrela, Center, Rua Pedro Botelho, 162, Phone (55-92-xx) 3233-4538, clean and cheap: Us$ 15/single, good place to find amazon jungle tours and trips in and out of Manaus.
• Jangada, Rua dos Andradas, opposite Rio Branco. Rooms with private bathroom, a/c and tv for 35 reais. Very clean.Brazil Phone: 55 92 xx 30824732 Email: E-Mail

good place to find amazon eco tours

• Pensão Sulista, Av. Joaquim Nabuco 347, 3082 4732.
• 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, brekfeast and room service

• Continental Hotel, Estrada dos Japoneses, n.238, Parque 10, Phone:92-3642-6232 E-Mail. Rooms have Minibar, cable TV and Broadband Wifi Internet Service, 24 hour Room service, Single with breakfast US$29.99.

• Tropical Manaus Eco Resort - Av Coronel Teixeira, 1320, phone 00-XX-55-92-3658-3899. [11], E-Mail. It is Brazil’s most luxurious hotel, located in the heart of the Amazon Forest, on the banks of the Negro River. It has 588 apartments and the largest complex of hotel, events, sports, and tourism and leisure services. It is only 10 km from the Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes International Airport and 16 km from downtown Manaus.

• Novotel Manaus - Av. Mandii, 04 - Distrito Industrial, phone: 00-XX-55-92-2123-1211. [12]

• Sleep Inn Manaus - Av. Rodrigo Otávio , 3373, Distrito Industrial, phone: 00-XX-55-92-3321-8800. [13], E-Mail

Stay healthy

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, so wear long sleeve shirts and pants and insect repellent. 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.

Stay safe

Violent crime against tourists in Manaus is highly uncommon. However, avoid robbery by avoiding crowded or deserted places. From 5-7PM and 7-8PM, the buses are packed with people going to and from work, so avoid public transportation during this time. Pick-pocketing takes many forms: it could be a well-dressed teenager on a crowded bus, or 2 middle-aged women pretending to look at wooden spoons in the market. Avoid the east zone, it has a bad reputation in Manaus for being dangerous

Be very careful of other drivers, because of the bad traffic in the city they drive for a long time to reach their destination (thus very fast).

Do not buy tours from people at the airport or on the street in Manaus. Not only are you likely to get ripped off, you will never get your money back. 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. Do not believe agents who claim to work in partnership. It's also not true. Prices vary, so take your time to search.

• 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.
• Aruba, Curacao - TAF flies on the weekends to those destinations, 650 USD return.
• Boa Vista - By bus or with the national airlines, from Boa vista you can fly to Guyana and Suriname.
• Praia do Tupé – nearby white sand beach
• Manacapurú – Paraiso d’Angelo chalets on black water
• Parintins – boi festival in June
• Mauês – guaraná festival
• Venezuela by bus, 16 hours, Caracas 36 hours, TAM flies to Caracas 500 USD return.
• Jau National Park - Jungle expeditions leave Manaus for this huge park located between the cities of Novo Airão and Barcelos. The Park is a World Heritage site and stands out in the state of Amazonas. The closest city is Novo Airão, which is 150 km from the capital. The park itself is 220 km on a straight-line from Manaus.
• Manaus also offers Eco Tours for Mamori River AND Mamirauá at the south of the city near the Amazonas river reached by the Transamazônica road (an extension of the Pan-American road), for good Rainforest Tours.

Adventure trips to the rainforest

There is a number of companies operating jungle adventure trips from Manaus, but only a few seem to be more established and reputable. Here the word "reputable" is used in a very relative way. Alas, if you want an adventure, the first part of it has to be to find your tour operator. The people from Gero Amazonas Tours give the impression that one deals with a solid company. The reason Gero might not suit everyone is that they seem to offer a very well-controlled and relatively gentle encounter with the jungle. If what you want is safety above all, they are a viable option. Else, it might be worth checking out other places as well.

• Location of trip

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 is a tour operator called Iguana Tours which regularly takes toursts there.

• Time of travel

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.

• Equipment

If you travel during the wet season, keep your important things like documents in (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 (indeed, 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.

• Dictionary of trip operators:
  • 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 (see native people). 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.

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

English

Etymology

After the Manáo, a native Amazon tribe. Manáo is said to mean Mother of the gods.

Alternative spellings

• Manáos (older name)

Proper noun

Manaus

1. State capital of Amazonas (Brazil).

Translations

• German: Manaus de(de)

See also

• Manaus — Wikipedia