Choose from 15 Fun Things to Do in Amazon
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Sanctuary Waterfall
Located about 100 kilometers north of Manaus, the beautiful Sanctuary Waterfall is one of the top travel destinations for visitors to Presidente Figueiredo. Stationed along the Urubui River, where black waters meet the muddy Amazon, Sanctuary Waterfall is surrounded by thick rain forest and massive mossy rocks.
Its picture-perfect location is ideal for travelers who want to explore the natural beauty of Brazil, navigate the rainforest and learn more about the flora and fauna that’s indigenous to the region. Plus, its close proximity to Iracema Waterfall and the town of Presidente Figueiredo make it a perfect day-trip destination for outdoor adventurists.
Practical Info
Sanctuary Waterfall is located about and hour and a half north of Manaus and 16 kilometers outside of Presidente Figueiredo.
Address: Presidente Figueiredo, Brazil
From $ 137
Amazon Rainforest
Trying to fathom the Amazon’s size is a lesson in mental futility. You can read all the Amazon stats that you want—like the fact that the Amazon has more acres of land than China or India have people, or that 20% of the world’s oxygen is produced from the Amazon’s trees—but until you float down the Rio Negro and stare at the sea of green, or look out the window on a flight to Manaus at the endless landscape of trees, stats and figures about the mighty Amazon are only numbers on a page.
That all changes when you first catch sight of the Amazon’s muddy waters and realize how much of this liquid snake there really is to see. There are forests that teem with native wildlife and canopies alive in birdsong, and remote areas where indigenous tribes have yet to even be found. Granted, nearly all recreational visitors to the Amazon will stay pretty close to Manaus, where the chance of seeing jaguars and lost tribes is admittedly pretty slim. Nevertheless, there’s still a raw, quasi-developed sense of touristic infancy, where visitors can feel the indigenous influence simply by walking around town. Take a guided trek into the fringes of a forest that squawks and rustles with life, or board the deck of a river cruise to watch the waters of the Rio Negro converge with the muddy brown Amazon. If staying in Manaus, return at night to a comfortable city with hints of European splendor—knowing that despite the immediate comforts, hundreds of miles of untamed jungle surround you on every side.
Practical Info
Manaus is approximately 4 hours by plane from Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo, or a five day cruise up the Amazon River from the port of Belém on the coast.
Address: Manaus, Brazil
From $ 89
Adolpho Lisboa Municipal Market
The image of the art-nouveau cast-iron Adolpho Lisboa Municipal Market building is like a snapshot of the multiculturalism of Manaus as a whole. The building, inspired by Les Halles in Paris and constructed in 1882 during the Rubber Boom, is distinctly European, but when you step through the doors, there’s no mistaking you’re in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon.
As the city’s main market perched on the banks of the Rio Negro, vendors here sell a bit of everything, and for the visiting tourist, it’s a great place to sample exotic fruits, learn about traditional Amazonian medicines or shop for souvenirs, like leather goods and índio handcrafted items.
Practical Info
Come hungry, as the market has several places to sample regional specialties.
Address: Rua dos Barés, 46 - Centro, Manaus 69005-020, Brazil
From $ 80
January Ecological Park
Giant water lilies, flooded forests, fertile lowlands and rare wildlife are just part of what makes the 9,000-acre January Ecological Park a destination for travelers. Visitors can navigate the relaxing waters known for its massive lily pads—some measuring more than seven feet in diameter—while searching for rare tropical birds among the thick forests that line the river.
Playful monkeys, ferocious crocodiles and brightly colored butterflies are easy to stop on a trip through this extraordinary park. A handful of floating houses make for fantastic photo ops and a market selling traditional and handmade items by local artisans proves the perfect place to pick up handicrafts for friends back at home. And while it looks touristy at first glance, travelers agree January Ecological Park’s floating restaurant serves up local cuisine that’s worth stopping in for.
Practical Info
The January Ecological Park is located a short 45-minute boat ride from Manaus on the Rio Negro.
Address: Rio Negro, Brazil
From $ 89
Iracema Waterfall
Travelers to Brazil rank a trip to Iracema Waterfall among the top destination for visitors in search of an ecological adventure. Stationed deep in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest, a trip to see the thundering waters of Iracema is an ideal way to get up close with the indigenous wildlife while exploring the Urubui River. After hiking the surrounding trails that lead to this picturesque peak, head to the foot of the falls where shallow waters provide a welcome escape from the humidity and heat of the Amazon heat and a perfect place for a refreshing dip.
Practical Info
The prime season for visiting Iracema Waterfall is from July to December, when the waters are most spectacular. The falls are located in Presidente Figuiredo—referred to by locals as “the land of waterfalls”—about an hour and half north of Manaus.
Address: Presidente Figuiredo, Brazil
From $ 137
Presidente Figueiredo
Known as the Land of Waterfalls, the town of Presidente Figueiredo is a hub for Brazil’s natural wonders. Close proximity to the picturesque Sanctuary and Iracema falls, as well as its rushing rivers, jungle treks and dark caves make it the perfect destination for travelers seeking ecological escapism.
Visitors can hire a guide and explore the falls with local experts who are well informed about the plants, animals and landscape of the region. Or they can hop a taxi from the bus station and venture into the woods alone—a popular choice among visitors to Presidente Figueiredo.
A network of challenging trails winds through the thick forests surrounding the town, which was founded in 1981, and while most of these paths are free to visitors, several that enter private property may require travelers to pay a nominal fee. In addition to hiking, visitors can explore some of the popular caves near Presidente Figueiredo, including Arara, a local favorite that’s located near Iracema Falls.
Practical Info
Presidente Figueiredo is located about 100 kilometers north of Manaus. Buses depart regularly from Manaus and cost less than R$20. Temperatures range from 25 to 35 degrees Celsius and are accompanied by some serious humidity.
Address: Presidente Figueiredo, Brazil
From $ 137
Museu do Seringal Vila Paraíso (Rubber Museum)
Located on the site of a former rubber estate, the Museu do Seringal Vila Paraíso (Rubber Museum) is the last vestige of the Amazon’s once booming rubber industry, which brought an influx of riches to Manaus during the late 19th century. Marooned on the banks of the
Negro River and reachable only by boat, traveling to the museum is an experience in itself and the recreated rubber estate is one of the Amazon region’s most unique sights.
Exploring the reconstructed rubber-tapper shack and smokehouse, visitors can learn all about the rubber making process, unveiling the secrets of tapping the rubber from the trees and viewing the ships in which the rubber was transported from the Amazon to locations all
around the globe. As well as comparing the grand rubber baron’s home with the squalid workers’ living quarters (an eye-opening insight into the era’s rich-poor divide), the highlight of a visit is watching a live demonstration of extracting latex from a tree.
Practical Info
The Museu do Seringal Vila Paraíso is located on the Igarapé São João waterway, around 20 minutes by boat from Manaus. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8am to 4pm, and adult admission costs R$5.
Address: Igarapé São João waterway, Manaus, Brazil
Hours: Tues–Sun: 8am–4pm
Admission: Adults: R$5
From $ 90
Indian Museum
Operated by the Salesian Sisters, an order of nuns with missions in the Upper Amazon region, the Indian Museum (Museu do Índio) displays a collection of weapons, musical instruments, ritual masks, ceramics, tools and ceremonial clothing from the indigenous tribes of the Amazon rainforest, mostly from the states of Amazonas and Pará.
Apart from touring the collection to learn more about the region’s tribes, the museum also offers visitors the chance to shop for authentic índio handicrafts, like necklaces and baskets made from natural materials, in the small gift shop.
Practical Info
The Indian Museum is closed on Saturday afternoons and all day Sunday.
Address: Avenida Duque de Caxias, 296 - Centro, Manaus 69020-140, Brazil
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am-11:30am & 2pm-4:30pm; Sat 8-11:30am
Admission: $5
From $ 83
Rio Negro Palace
Built in 1903 as the home of wealthy German rubber tycoon Karl Waldemar Scholz and then auctioned off after the decline of the Rubber Boom, the Rio Negro Palace served as the state capital and governor’s residence for many years until it was converted into a cultural center in 1997.
Today, the main house and its outlying buildings contain galleries and performance spaces, including a coin museum and a fine art gallery. Visitors are free to wander the house on their own (most exhibits are marked with English explanations), but the Palace also offers free docent-led tours -- well worth it for those with an interest in Brazilian history.
Practical Info
The Rio Negro Palace is a free attraction. You should set aside 30 minutes to an hour for your visit.
Address: Avenida Koeller, 255 - Centro, Petrópolis, Manaus 25685-060, Brazil
Hours: Tues-Sat 9am-5pm
From $ 80
Encontro das Aguas
The city of Manaus lies at the confluence of two great rivers, the Solimões and the Black. Although borders on water are typically impossible to see, that is not the case in Manaus. Because of the different colors of the two rivers, it's possible to see precisely where they meet - which is what makes the "Meeting of Waters," or Encontro das Aguas, a checklist must-do for visitors to Manaus.
The Black River, or Rio Negro, gets its name from the color of the water. The Solimões River in Manaus is a sandy brownish color. This means you can see exactly where the two rivers come together. Not only that, each river on its own is a different temperature and run at a different speed, so when they come together the water doesn't just mix to create a muddy soup - instead, the rivers essentially run alongside one another.
The river "borders" are constantly moving and changing as the water flows, but a clear delineation between the two rivers is visible well beyond where they actually meet. In fact, you would need to travel for nearly four miles downstream before you saw the Solimões River and Black River finally starting to blend. When the two rivers do actually come together, they form the Amazon River.
The Black River, or Rio Negro, gets its name from the color of the water. The Solimões River in Manaus is a sandy brownish color. This means you can see exactly where the two rivers come together. Not only that, each river on its own is a different temperature and run at a different speed, so when they come together the water doesn't just mix to create a muddy soup - instead, the rivers essentially run alongside one another.
The river "borders" are constantly moving and changing as the water flows, but a clear delineation between the two rivers is visible well beyond where they actually meet. In fact, you would need to travel for nearly four miles downstream before you saw the Solimões River and Black River finally starting to blend. When the two rivers do actually come together, they form the Amazon River.
Address: Manaus, Brazil
From $ 89
Palace of Justice (Palácio de Justiça)
Located on the main square in Manaus, the Palace of Justice (Palácio de Justiça) was built during the term of Governor Eduardo Ribeiro, the state governor of Manaus during the golden years of the Rubber Boom in the final years of the nineteenth century. The palace, with its grand architecture inspired by the French Second Empire and Neo-classicism, is a testament to just how wealthy the region was during its heyday.
In 1987, the palace was converted into a cultural center. Today, the public can visit the building’s offices and court rooms and learn about the important decisions made there throughout the region’s history. One notably interesting feature of the palace is the statue of Themis, the Greek goddess of law and justice, on the roof. A departure from the typical likeness of Themis, this massive statue shows the goddess with her eyes uncovered and her scale tipped, suggesting that maybe justice isn’t so blind after all.
Practical Info
The Palace of Justice is free to visit.
Address: Manaus, Brazil
From $ 83
Port of Manaus (Porto Flutuante)
The city of Manaus is home to a busy commercial and cruise port, but luckily for visitors the port itself is right downtown. This means you can make the most of even a short stop in Manaus without spending too much time getting back and forth to and from your ship.
How to Get to Manaus:
As mentioned, the Port of Manaus is right in the downtown area, so once your ship gets in it is as simple as walking into the city center to enjoy the sights. Not all the attractions are downtown, of course, but from central Manaus you can take a bus or taxi to outlying destinations you might want to visit - like some of the river beaches or museums.
One Day in Manaus:
Because central Manaus is within walking distance of the port, it is easy to spend a day exploring the city center on your own. You can visit the beautiful Teatro Amazonas opera house, pick up some souvenirs at the Mercado Municipal and learn about the indigenous populations at the city's history museums. Getting to points that are further away, like the Natural Science Museum or the popular river beaches, would be easier with a tour so that you don't need to figure out transportation or worry about getting back to your boat in time if you are visiting from a cruise. If your stop in Manaus is at the end of your cruise, you can also book an Amazon tour. The two rivers that meet at Manaus form the Amazon, and boat tours leave regularly from the city.
Port Information:
The local language in Manaus is Brazilian Portuguese, and the currency is the Brazilian Real. You will need to exchange your money for the local currency, and be prepared to have smaller bills - many vendors cannot make change for large denominations. Note that although the port is within walking distance of central Manaus, the weather is typically very hot and humid, so be sure you have sunscreen and maybe a hat to protect yourself on your walk.
How to Get to Manaus:
As mentioned, the Port of Manaus is right in the downtown area, so once your ship gets in it is as simple as walking into the city center to enjoy the sights. Not all the attractions are downtown, of course, but from central Manaus you can take a bus or taxi to outlying destinations you might want to visit - like some of the river beaches or museums.
One Day in Manaus:
Because central Manaus is within walking distance of the port, it is easy to spend a day exploring the city center on your own. You can visit the beautiful Teatro Amazonas opera house, pick up some souvenirs at the Mercado Municipal and learn about the indigenous populations at the city's history museums. Getting to points that are further away, like the Natural Science Museum or the popular river beaches, would be easier with a tour so that you don't need to figure out transportation or worry about getting back to your boat in time if you are visiting from a cruise. If your stop in Manaus is at the end of your cruise, you can also book an Amazon tour. The two rivers that meet at Manaus form the Amazon, and boat tours leave regularly from the city.
Port Information:
The local language in Manaus is Brazilian Portuguese, and the currency is the Brazilian Real. You will need to exchange your money for the local currency, and be prepared to have smaller bills - many vendors cannot make change for large denominations. Note that although the port is within walking distance of central Manaus, the weather is typically very hot and humid, so be sure you have sunscreen and maybe a hat to protect yourself on your walk.
Address: Taqueirinha No. 25, Manaus, Brazil
From $ 83
Teatro Amazonas Opera House
Much of the wealth of Manaus came from its days as the region's major port city during the rubber boom. That era was also known for its beautiful architecture - and a fine example of that Belle Epoque style of the late 1800s is Manaus' opera house, the Teatro Amazonas.
The Teatro Amazonas was built between 1884 and 1896 and is a showcase of furnishings imported from far-off places like France and Italy, including nearly 200 Italian chandeliers and a painted curtain from Paris. The opera house's incredible dome is covered with 36,000 tiles painted in the colors of the Brazilian flag. The first ever performance in the Teatro Amazonas was the opera "La Gioconda" in January of 1897.
When the rubber boom dwindled, the theater lost its wealthy patrons and actually shut down for 90 years. In 2001 the government invested millions in renovations, and today the 700-seat Teatro Amazonas is home to the Amazonas Philharmonic Orchestra and an annual Amazonas Opera Festival. It is on the San Sebastian Square (Praça São Sebastião) in downtown Manaus, and visitors can either go on a guided tour of the theater when it's not in use, or consult the schedule to check out one of the many free performances.
The Teatro Amazonas was built between 1884 and 1896 and is a showcase of furnishings imported from far-off places like France and Italy, including nearly 200 Italian chandeliers and a painted curtain from Paris. The opera house's incredible dome is covered with 36,000 tiles painted in the colors of the Brazilian flag. The first ever performance in the Teatro Amazonas was the opera "La Gioconda" in January of 1897.
When the rubber boom dwindled, the theater lost its wealthy patrons and actually shut down for 90 years. In 2001 the government invested millions in renovations, and today the 700-seat Teatro Amazonas is home to the Amazonas Philharmonic Orchestra and an annual Amazonas Opera Festival. It is on the San Sebastian Square (Praça São Sebastião) in downtown Manaus, and visitors can either go on a guided tour of the theater when it's not in use, or consult the schedule to check out one of the many free performances.
Address: Praça São Sebatião, Centro, Manaus 69025, Brazil
Hours: Mon-Fri: 9am–5pm, Sat-Sun: Closed
Admission: R$10
From $ 8
Museu do Ándio
Learning about the indigenous population of a country like Brazil should be an interesting and engaging part of one's visit. The museum is run by a congregation of Salesian nuns, and it boasts a nice collection of artifacts.
Anyone curious about the history of the indigenous tribes of the Amazonas region would likely enjoy spending some time checking out the variety of everyday objects in the Museu do Ándio's collection - including pottery, tools, ritual masks and musical instruments. Descriptions are in English, Portuguese and German, and the museum is open varying hours from Monday-Saturday. Admission is R$5.
Anyone curious about the history of the indigenous tribes of the Amazonas region would likely enjoy spending some time checking out the variety of everyday objects in the Museu do Ándio's collection - including pottery, tools, ritual masks and musical instruments. Descriptions are in English, Portuguese and German, and the museum is open varying hours from Monday-Saturday. Admission is R$5.
Address: Rua Duque de Caxias 356, Manaus, Brazil
Hours: Mon-Fri: 8:30-11:30am & 2-4:30pm, Sat: 8-11:30am
Admission: R$5
From $ 83
Rio Negro
The Rio Negro is not only the largest tributary of the great Amazon River, it’s also the largest blackwater river in the world. Its color—which looks more like strong tea than a dark oil slick—comes from high concentrations of humic acid. Despite its unique color, the river supports more than 700 species of fish, making it a rich resource for communities located along its banks.
Travelers who navigate the flow of this winding river can see the diversity of the Amazon Rain Forest up close and bear witness to the Meeting of the Waters, where the muddy Amazon River mixes with the dark Rio Negro. Visitors can hire a guide, paddle a canoe or hop aboard one of the local motorized boats to explore this natural wonder, where black waters and tropical vegetation make for a memorable experience.
Practical Info
The Rio Negro borders Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil. It typically floods during the rainy season, between April and October, making it a bit more challenging to navigate.
Address: Manaus, Brazil
From $ 89