Manaus
Rising where the dark waters of the Rio Negro meet the sandy Solimões to form the Amazon River, Manaus pairs a gilded 1896 Rubber Boom opera house and cast-iron river market with canopy towers, flooded igapó forests, and pink river dolphins.
Quick decisions
- How many days? Plan 3 to 4 days for the historic centre, the Meeting of Waters, the MUSA canopy tower, and a day trip to Presidente Figueiredo or Anavilhanas; add 2 to 4 nights if staying at a remote jungle lodge.
- Where should I stay? Stay around Largo de São Sebastião in the Centro Histórico for walkable Belle Époque landmarks and evening dining, or choose Ponta Negra for riverfront resort pools and sunset views over the Rio Negro.
- Do I need a car? You do not need a car for central Manaus, MUSA, or boat excursions; Uber works reliably across the city, while a rented car or guided transfer is ideal for driving Highway BR-174 to Presidente Figueiredo or across the Rio Negro Bridge to Novo Airão.
- Best for: Amazonian river expeditions, nineteenth-century Rubber Boom architecture, rainforest birdwatching, freshwater beaches, and distinctive Northern Brazilian cuisine.
- Before you go: Pack lightweight breathable clothing, high-SPF sunblock, and a rain jacket; yellow fever vaccination is recommended for Amazonia, and cash or Pix is handy at river docks and tacacá stalls.
- Getting around: Walk between the opera house and riverfront market in daylight, use Uber for cross-town trips to MUSA or Marina do Davi, and board licensed regional boats at Porto de Manaus or Marina do Davi.
- Continue your trip: Pair Manaus with the modernist avenues of Brasília, the Afro-Brazilian heritage of Salvador, or the thundering cataracts of Foz do Iguaçu.
Overview
Set on the northern bank of the dark Rio Negro just above its confluence with the sandy Rio Solimões, Manaus is the cultural and logistical capital of the Brazilian Amazon. Founded by the Portuguese in 1669 as the Fort of São José da Barra do Rio Negro, the city rose to international prominence during the late nineteenth-century Rubber Boom (1879 to 1912), when monopoly exports of wild Hevea brasiliensis latex financed electric trams, cast-iron market halls from Scotland, and the 1896 Teatro Amazonas opera house. Today, home to more than two million residents, Manaus allows travellers to step from a marble-columned Belle Époque plaza straight onto a riverboat bound for flooded rainforest channels or freshwater island archipelagos.
Getting there
Eduardo Gomes International Airport (MAO) sits 14 kilometres north of the historic centre with direct flights from Brasília, São Paulo, Belém, Bogotá, Panama City, and Miami. Regional riverboats and fast catamarans also connect Porto de Manaus with Santarém, Belém, and Tabatinga.
Where to stay
Stay near Largo de São Sebastião in the Centro Histórico for boutique heritage hotels within steps of Teatro Amazonas, in Ponta Negra for riverfront resorts and sunset boardwalks, or in Adrianópolis for modern comforts near INPA and MUSA.
Things to do
Tour the 1896 Teatro Amazonas, boat across the two-toned Encontro das Águas, climb the 42-metre canopy tower at MUSA, and take a day trip to Anavilhanas National Park or the Presidente Figueiredo waterfalls.
Food and drink
Taste steaming tacacá with mouth-tingling jambu leaves on Largo de São Sebastião, charcoal-grilled costela de tambaqui, baked pirarucu de casaca, and breakfast x-caboquinho sandwiches stuffed with tucumã palm fruit.
Culture
Every spring, the internationally acclaimed Festival Amazonas de Ópera brings world-class productions to Teatro Amazonas, while late June celebrates Amazonian folklore across the state during the Boi-Bumbá festival season.
Weather by month
Manaus is warmest in September, with average highs around 34°C, and coldest in February, when nights drop to about 23°C. March is the wettest month, with rain on about 22 days.
| Month | Low | Range | High | Rain | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24°C | 31°C | 147 mm | 21 d | |
| Feb | 23°C | 31°C | 140 mm | 20 d | |
| Mar | 24°C | 31°C | 154 mm | 22 d | |
| Apr | 24°C | 31°C | 147 mm | 21 d | |
| May | 24°C | 31°C | 133 mm | 19 d | |
| Jun | 24°C | 32°C | 84 mm | 12 d | |
| Jul | 23°C | 32°C | 56 mm | 8 d | |
| Aug | 24°C | 33°C | 42 mm | 6 d | |
| Sep | 24°C | 34°C | 49 mm | 7 d | |
| Oct | 24°C | 34°C | 70 mm | 10 d | |
| Nov | 24°C | 33°C | 91 mm | 13 d | |
| Dec | 24°C | 32°C | 126 mm | 18 d |
Averages of daily values from 2015 to 2024. Rainy days are days with at least 1 mm of rain. Source: Open-Meteo · Compare destinations by month.
Manaus on the map
Every place we cover in Manaus. Tap a category or pin to explore.
In-depth Manaus guides
Browse the guides grouped by topic: sights, neighbourhoods, food, transport, day trips and trip planning.
Sights, Landmarks & Parks
Key monuments, viewpoints, museums and nature trails.
- Best Things to Do in Manaus: Opera House, River Confluence & Canopy TowersDiscover the best things to do in Manaus: tour Teatro Amazonas, boat across the Meeting of Waters, climb the 42m MUSA canopy tower, and swim in waterfalls.
- Manaus 3-Day Itinerary: Belle Époque Heritage, Two Rivers & Rainforest CanopyFollow our day-by-day 3-day Manaus itinerary covering Teatro Amazonas, the Meeting of Waters, MUSA canopy tower, INPA manatees, and Rio Negro beaches.
- Teatro Amazonas & Largo de São Sebastião Guide: Manaus's Belle Époque HeartVisit Teatro Amazonas and Largo de São Sebastião in Manaus: explore the 1896 opera house dome, gilded auditorium, wave-patterned square, and Palácio Rio Negro.
- Encontro das Águas & Janauari Ecological Park: Where Two Rivers Form the AmazonPlan your boat trip to the Meeting of Waters (Encontro das Águas) and Janauari Ecological Park in Manaus to see the Rio Negro, Solimões, and giant water lilies.
- Mercado Adolpho Lisboa & Porto de Manaus: Cast-Iron Pavilions & Floating DocksExplore Mercado Municipal Adolpho Lisboa and the 1902 floating Porto de Manaus: 19th-century Scottish iron architecture, Amazonian herbs, and riverboats.
- MUSA (Museu da Amazônia) & Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve: 42m Above the CanopyVisit MUSA (Museu da Amazônia) in Manaus: climb the 42-metre steel canopy tower in the Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve for sunrise birding and rainforest trails.
- Ponta Negra, Praia da Lua & Rio Negro Beaches Guide: White Sand on Dark WatersDiscover the best freshwater beaches in Manaus: stroll the Ponta Negra boardwalk and take a boat from Marina do Davi to Praia da Lua and Praia do Tupé.
- INPA Bosque da Ciência & Amazonian Wildlife Guide: Manatees & Giant OttersVisit INPA Bosque da Ciência in Manaus to see rescued Amazonian manatees, giant river otters, free-ranging monkeys, and a 600-year-old rainforest tree.
Neighbourhoods & Where to Stay
Districts, historic quarters and the best bases for your stay.
- Manaus: Essential Planning for the Heart of the AmazonPlan your visit to Manaus, Brazil with our practical travel guide covering the Rubber Boom historic centre, Rio Negro boat trips, and rainforest reserves.
- Best Time to Visit Manaus: High Water vs River Beach Season ExplainedFind the best time to visit Manaus, Brazil using official 1991-2020 climate normals and the Rio Negro water-level calendar for flooded forests and beaches.
- Where to Stay in Manaus: Historic Centre, Ponta Negra & Jungle LodgesCompare the best areas to stay in Manaus, Brazil: heritage hotels near Teatro Amazonas, riverfront resorts in Ponta Negra, Adrianópolis, and Amazon lodges.
Food & Drink
Local dishes, markets, cafés and dining districts.
Getting Around & Arrival
Airport transfers, public transit, passes and driving rules.
Day Trips & Excursions
Easy half-day and full-day trips from the city.
- Anavilhanas National Park & Novo Airão Guide: 400 Islands on the Rio NegroPlan a trip from Manaus to Novo Airão and Anavilhanas National Park: explore 400 freshwater islands, flooded igapó trails, and wild pink river dolphins.
- Presidente Figueiredo Waterfalls & Caves Guide: Day Trip North of ManausExplore Presidente Figueiredo, 107 km north of Manaus on Highway BR-174: swim at Santuário and Iracema waterfalls and hike through Maroaga Cave.
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