Manaus, Brazil
1562 map of Amazonas river
Manaus in 1865
Public Library of the Amazon
Public Market, 1906.
The Bridge Benjamin Constant built between 1892 and 1895 with parts imported from England.

Manaus

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Manaus Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 2-3 days

Best Time: July to September Read More

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"In the heart of the Jungle "

Manaus Tourism

Manaus, the capital of the state Amazonas, is located at the confluence of Negro and Solim_es river and is the second largest city in Northern region of Brazil. Located in the heart of Amazon rainforests, the cosmopolitan metropolis serves as the gateway to the world's largest tropical rainforests. The city with its old colonials buildings, a variety of flora and fauna and handicrafts is a great place to stock up and acclimatize with the tropical weather before you embark on a mission to explore the Amazon.

Situated at the heart of the world's largest rainforest, Manaus is a sprawling urban centre where one has so many options to choose from. The city reaped the benefits of rubber boom and reached tremendous heights of prosperity which is reflected in its numerous colonial mansions and buildings, most of which were constructed by wealthy rubber barons who imported construction materials all the way from Europe to get a homely feel in their Brazilian counterparts. An emerging destination for ecotourism, Manaus offers unique sights and travellers can take boat trips to explore a number of ecological parks and tropical rainforests situated in the vicinity of the city. The meeting of the two rivers Rio Negro and Rio Solim_es forms the Amazon river and is a splendid display of colours worth visiting. Even though the city serves as head off point for exploring the Amazon, a few days spent here are enough to captivate you. Do not miss out on the experience of staying in a jungle lodge or simply delving into the local handicrafts when in Manaus.

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Things To Do In Manaus

Teatro Amazonas

Teatro Amazonas
Ponta Negra

Ponta Negra
Encontro das Aguas

Encontro das Aguas
Anavilhanas Islands

Anavilhanas Islands
Palàcio Rio Negro

Palàcio Rio Negro
Parque Ecologico Januari

Parque Ecologico Januari
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Shopping in Manaus

When it comes to shopping, be prepared to be amazed by the range of options from local souvenirs to big shopping malls. Manaus is renowned for its handicrafts and there are plenty of places for purchasing souvenirs like Central de Artesanato Branco e Silva and Galeria Amazonica. Amazonas Shopping is one of the country's best shopping malls and has more than 300 stores and restaurants. Other notable shopping centres include Manauara shopping and Studio 5 Festival mall.

Currency in Manaus

Brazilian Real is the only accepted currency in the country. All major cards are accepted at hotels, restaurants and in few taxis as well. ATMs are easily available throughout the country, though it is advised to carry some Brazilian Real before entering the country. Keep the paper in money small denominations to avoid counterfeited large bills, also paying for goods in cash makes you eligible for some discounts.

Nightlife in Manaus

Being the largest urban centre of Amazon, Manaus does promise a lively nightlife . Most of the city's bars and clubs are located near Ponta Negra beach and people enjoy their drinks while taking a strolling through the wide boulevard. On weekdays, the timings are usually from 5:00 PM to 2:00 AM and it extends till 4:00 AM on weekends. Head to Bar do Armando for an evening drink or to the German's basement which is the best rock bar in town.

History of Manaus

Manaus's history can be traced back to 1669, when the Portuguese settlers here built a fort by the name of S o Jos_ da Barra do Rio Negro to safeguard them against the Dutch invasion. The settlements around the fort grew and the need of a place of worship was necessary and a small chapel was constructed near the fort. The settlement was elevated to a town in 1832 and came to be knows as Manaus which translates to 'Mother of Gods'. The population around the fort increased significantly and later in 1848, Manaus became the capital of Amazonas and a city by the name of Cidade da Barra do Rio Negro meaning the 'City of the Black river'. The city rose to its prominence in what is considered its golden period from late 19th century to early 20th century as result of boom in Rubber industry in the Amazon region and became an indispensable port to the country's river trade. However, when the rubber seeds were obtained by the other countries and Brazil no longer remained the sole player in the market, the city declined. The lives of its citizens were reduced to poverty until mid 20th century when the area was declared as a duty free zone, which brought its economy back on track. The city has flourished since then, with new industries of soap manufacturing and petrol refineries coming up. The serene natural beauty of the region made it an attractive eco tourism hub and a lot of new buildings and hotels have emerged to promote tourism in the city.

Language of Manaus

Portuguese is the official language of Brazil and a vast majority of the population speaks Portuguese as well. However, Brazilian Portuguese is slightly different from Portugal's. Not many people speak English here, even if you speak Spanish, you might be able to communicate only a little bit. Thus, it is advised to learn some basic Portuguese before you travel. Use 'Oi' for Hello, 'Por favour' for please, 'Bom Dia' for Good Morning and 'Boa Noite' for Good night. Your efforts to learn and speak Portuguese will be highly appreciated by the locals.

Manaus Customs

The people of Manaus are friendly and fun loving. Men shake hands and women kiss each other on the cheeks while greeting. Tipping is not expected in Brazil and generally not given. Restaurants have 10% service charge already included in the bill, however it is not compulsory. You can tip the housekeeping staff at the hotel at BRL 5 per day or beach vendors for their services.

Religion of Manaus

The key religion in Manaus is Christianity and majority of the population practises Catholicism.

Daily Budget for Manaus

A cheap budget to get you going would be upto BRL 200 and will include bus travel and decent food for two people. Mid-range budget ranges for BRL 275 and has more options such as nightclubs and other entertainment options. Luxury budgets with meals in top restaurants and taxi commute is somewhere around BRL 400.

Exchanging Money in Manaus

ATMs and banks are the best option for currency exchange and are can be located easily. Currency exchange desks 'Cambio' can be found in all tourist areas and offer better exchange than airports and are better than withdrawing cash from ATMs.

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How to Reach Manaus

How to Reach Overview

Due to its remote locations, the only options to reach Manaus is by air or by water. However, there are very few long distance bus services as well.

How to reach Manaus by flight

The city is served by the Eduardo Gomes International Airport which is located at a distance of 15 Kilometres from the city centre. The airport has connections to all major cities in South America and flights operating to Miami and Lisbon in Portugal. The main carriers here include TAP, TAM, GOL and LATAM Brasil. Taxis are readily available from the airport to the city centre at a fixed pirce of BRL 70.

How to reach Manaus by bus

Due to poor road connectivity, only a few options are available. Buses operate daily from Boa Vista in North Brazil to Manaus. There are also buses available from Santa Elena and Caracas in Venezuela.

How to reach Manaus by waterways

Boats are the second best form of transport of getting into the city, there are several boats available via the Amazon river to Porto Velho and Belem in northern Brazil. Further, there are conections via waterways from the nieghbouring countries of Colombia and Peru.

Local transport in Manaus

The best option for getting around is boat as the city is isolated and lies along the bank a river Negro. There are numerous boat rides and ferries available to take you to important attractions in the city as well as to the rainforest which is accessible only by boat. Manaus also has a bus network, however, the network is quite complex and requires guidance from locals or hotel staff before you board the bus. Few taxis can be hailed on the street for getting around or can be booked in advance by your hotel. Most of the area in downtown Manaus can be travelled on foot.

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FAQs on Manaus

What are the places near Manaus?

The top places near to Manaus are London which is 8273 km from Manaus, Dubai which is located 12697 km from Manaus, Amsterdam which is located 8627 km from Manaus, New york city which is located 5078 km from Manaus, Bali which is located 18636 km from Manaus

What are the things to do in Manaus?

The top things to do in Manaus are Teatro Amazonas, Ponta Negra, Encontro das Aguas, Anavilhanas Islands, Palàcio Rio Negro, Parque Ecologico Januari. You can see all the places to visit in Manaus here

What is the best way to reach Manaus?

Due to its remote locations, the only options to reach Manaus is by air or by water. However, there are very few long distance bus services as well.
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What is the local food in Manaus?

Manauss gastronomy is a unique blend of European and native influences. The cuisine here is rich, exotic, nutritious and amazingly delicious. The region is home to more than 2000 species of fishes which makes fish dishes a must try here. Some of the exciting dishes worth savouring here include farinha d'ögua, tapioquinha, Tacacö and Pamonha. Banzeiro and Choupana are famous fish cuisine. Castelinho, Casa do Pensador Churrascaria Bufalo are other big names in Manauss culinary scene.
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What is the best time to visit Manaus?

Located at the heart of Amazon rainforests, the climate here is humid throughout the year with average temperature ranging from 27 _ 32 degree Celsius. It rains in Manaus throughout the year and rainstorms occur daily in the afternoon even in the driest months. The best time to go is in the month of July to September when the humidity is relatively lower and the weather is ideal for exploring the city and rainforests. The best time depends a lot on your interests, if you are interested in exploring Amazon rainforests, then the period from December to March is excellent for wildlife spotting and the water level also recedes during this period. If you want to experience the festivities, then the months of June and July are host to many music festivals and February is host to the dazzling Amazonas carnival.
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