Manaus, Brazil: travel guide
Gateway to the Amazon rainforest. A gilded opera house rises from the jungle; the Meeting of the Waters flows nearby; jungle lodges begin minutes from the city centre.
- Country
- Brazil
- Currency
- BRL
- Time zone
- America/Manaus
- Nearest airport
- MAO
Top places to visit in Manaus
Encontro das Águas
Nature · 4.8 rating · about 2 h · entry BRL 80
Where the dark Rio Negro meets the sandy Amazon River, flowing side-by-side without mixing for 6km due to differences in temperature, speed and density.
Teatro Amazonas
Heritage · 4.8 rating · about 1 h · entry BRL 50
Opulent 1896 opera house in the heart of the Amazon — Italian marble, Venetian glass chandeliers and a dome painted in the colours of the Brazilian flag.
Mercado Municipal Adolpho Lisboa
Market · 4.4 rating · about 1 h
Ornate 1882 iron market — fresh Amazon fish, exotic fruits (cupuaçu, açaí, jambu), medicinal plants and artisanal crafts.
MUSA - Museu da Amazônia
Nature · 4.6 rating · about 3 h · entry BRL 50
192 hectares of primary Amazon rainforest inside Manaus, with a 42-metre canopy walk tower offering a unique aerial perspective of the jungle.
Things to do
- Meeting of Waters Boat Tour Nature · 3 h · from 90 per person
- Amazon Jungle Day Trip & Piranha Fishing Nature · 8 h · from 250 per person
Where to stay in Manaus
- Centro Histórico / Praça São Sebastião about BRL 220 per night
Walking distance to Teatro Amazonas, the market and the port. Most affordable area. Safe during the day — avoid walking at night.
Hotels
- Mercure Manaus Hotel 4-star · BRL 220 to BRL 480 per night
- Tropical Manaus Ecoresort 4-star · BRL 380 to BRL 1,100 per night
Where to eat
- Sorvetes Glacial ice-cream, dessert, regional · about BRL 20 per person
- Banzeiro amazon, contemporary, river-fish · about BRL 130 per person
- Choupana amazon, regional, river-fish · about BRL 65 per person
Getting around
- Boat main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Bus main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Ride Hail main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.
Safety and scams to avoid
Jungle Tour Fraud
Porto Flutuante waterfront
Operators sell "Amazon jungle tours" with no real equipment, unlicensed guides and transport. Tourists end up on a 30-minute boat ride to a non-jungle area.
How to avoid it: Book only with CADASTUR-registered tour operators or through your hotel. Check online reviews. Legitimate companies have offices, not just men approaching at the dock.
Currency Exchange Fraud
Centro and bus station
Money changers offer excellent exchange rates for USD/EUR. They use sleight of hand to swap bills or offer counterfeit reals.
How to avoid it: Exchange money only at official banks (Banco do Brasil, Bradesco) or authorised exchange houses with BACEN registration. Verify all notes received.