The city of Manaus, located in the northern part of Brazil, is the capital of Amazonas State, the largest state of Brazil. It is located near the confluence of Rio Negro and Rio Solimoes, which is also popularly known as the Amazon River. Manaus is the hub and the chief port of the widespread river system of this region. With its central location and good value Manaus hotels, it is a popular departure point for tourists who are visiting the Amazon region, and also where most Amazon tour operators are based.
Manaus has become a prominent place for ecotourism because of its natural beauty, native traditions and the wide range of Amazon tours it offers.
The town of Manaus was founded in 1669 around the Sao Jose do Rio Negro Fort, which was made to protect the people against probable Dutch invasion. The city was renamed Manaus in 1856. This name was derived from the name of an Indian tribe called Manao or Manau, who lived upstream on the banks of River Rio Negro (which means "Black River"). The lodges and hotels in Manaus are well equipped and cater efficiently to people coming from different parts of the country and abroad. You can also use our Manaus map to choose your Manaus hotel based on its location.
There is a lot to see and do in Manaus and its surrounding areas. It is a base for tourists who go on excursions and Manaus tours to explore the mid-Amazon region. You can make day trips by boat to see the villages that are built on stilts or opt for a trek through the jungle by foot. A wide range of rainforest tours in Manaus are recommended by several jungle lodges in Manaus located in the surrounding area. You can watch the "Meeting of the Waters" while cruising down the river. This place is about 12 miles/20 km away from the town. The light yellow waters of the Rio Solimoes and the muddy dark waters of the Rio Negro merging to become the mighty Amazon River is an amazing sight to watch. Travellers who are fond of adventure can opt for the long-distance journey to and from Belem by boat.
Manaus is the central point from where you can take Manaus tours to four important places in the Amazon area. The four main places worth seeing are Juma e Janauaca in the south of Mamori, Rio Negro and Jau National Park in the east, Presidente Figueiredo in the extreme north and Rio Urubu in the west. These regions are comprised of open and dense tropical forests, which form the major part of vegetation there. The city itself is rather dirty but it is definitely worth exploring on your own or on a Manaus tour. The inland coastline of Manaus is 1,000 miles/1,600 km long. Manaus is a distribution point for huge cargo ships, which dock here to distribute their cargo all over the Amazon basin.
You can get a glimpse of Amazon wildlife at the CIGS Zoo. The Municipal Market near the river side is very lively and colourful, with medicines, native crafts and herbs being sold in plenty. The sight of fishermen arriving and unloading their catch is worth watching. You can visit the remnants of forests here and you may even chance upon some wild life. However, you will need at least two weeks to explore the unknown forest areas fully. Manaus tour boats operating in these areas carry 15 to 30 people at a time. These boats are economical, accommodating and comfortable. Large boats carrying more than hundreds ply across the river but do not stop between the ports.
Manaus has a population of about one and a half million people. Being centrally located, it serves as a distribution and travel centre for the upper Amazon River areas. It is on the southern side of the highway and is a major tourist destination and flourishing river harbour. As such it has a wide range of lodges and Manaus hotels, as well as a variety of Manaus restaurants to cater to its visitors. A huge number of ships and boats of all sizes ply their way upstream and downstream to all the townships located on the banks of the mighty Amazon River.
During the days of the Amazon rubber boom (before synthetic rubber was invented) Manaus was popularly known as the Paris of the Jungle. Now it is famous as the "rubber metropolis". Except for the magnificent Teatro Amazonas, the huge 19th century opera house for which materials (like Murano glass, Scottish wrought iron and Italian marble) were procured from all over Europe, and the impressive colonial buildings, remnants of those magnificent days no longer exist. However, important Brazilian industries manufacturing clocks and watches, motorcycles, electric/ electronic appliances and bicycles are based in Manaus. A huge range of high technology products at low prices are available locally.
Manaus is a beautiful and friendly city. This enthusiasm is evident at festivals like boi-bumba, among others. The boi-bumba festivals, with their 20th century origins, have been given a new form that has made them extremely popular with Brazilians as well as visitors from abroad. Manaus is a hospitable city where modern beliefs and traditional values coexist. We are a locally based company who know all there is to know about Manaus. Choose from our wide range of personally recommended lodges and hotels in Manaus, as well as our eco-friendly tours in Manaus and let us help you plan your perfect Manaus holiday!
