Manaus Holidays

Manaus is the departure point for Amazon cruises with options to sail on vessels from traditional riverboats to clippers or schooners and even modern cruise ships. Before and after your jungle voyage, there’s plenty to do. See fascinating wildlife islands and colour-matching waters in the Rio Negro. Wander a town filled with magnificent buildings from the golden age of the rubber barons, many now repurposed for public use.

Discover the secrets of the rainforest at the largely outdoor Museu da Amazonia and uncover the cultures of the region at the Museu do Homem do Norte and the Museu do Indio. Taste delicious barbecue, sumptuous Amazonian fruit, and the national cocktail of caipirinha. Time to relax? Head to Praia de Ponta Negra for a day on the sand, dinner by the water, and a bar-hopping night.

When Manaus made its fortune in the rubber boom of the late 1800s, it exploded into ‘one of the gaudiest cities of the world’ where wealthy residents would refuse ‘no extravagance, however absurd’. Wander its riverside streets today and find that century-old decadence is still on display. Visit the Teatro Amazonas to find Italian marble, English wrought iron, German tiles, and Venetian chandeliers, all imported at great expense.

Cross the street to explore Manaus’ legal history in the ornate Palácio de Justiça. Shop with locals under stained glass built in an iron framework from Gustave Eiffel at Mercado Adolpho Lisboa. Watch concerts and browse exhibits in the grand Palácio Rio Negro. Step inside the beautifully preserved Paróquia de São Sebastião. Wherever you stroll, the legacy of the past is there to see.

Built on the banks of the Rio Negro, the largest tributary of the world’s greatest river, it’s no surprise some of Manaus’ best attractions are on the water. Cruise a short distance to witness the Encontro das Águas, a four-mile stretch where the muddy water of the Rio Solimões runs side-by-side with the dark blue Rio Negro before mixing to become the Amazon.

Head upstream to discover the Anavilhanas Archipelago, 400 islands populated with monkeys, sloths, caimans, and colourful birds during the high-water season plus jaguars, ocelots, and bush dogs once the water levels fall. Keep a look out for dolphins and otters in the river as you sail. Ride a motorboat through the varied ecosystems of Parque Ecológico Janauari to find huge two-metre floating Victoria Amazonica lilies which turn white, purple, and red over just a few days.

No matter what time you travel, you’ll soon learn why they call it the rainforest. Manaus and the Amazon around it is hot, humid, and prone to afternoon storms all year round. Expect average temperatures of 25°C to 30°C most months and be prepared for short, heavy downpours which dry up as quickly as they start.

June to November is the coolest and driest time of the year while the wet season runs from December to May. Wildlife spotting at the start of the wet season is excellent as the river levels recede. June can be a fantastic month to arrive, just after the rains begin to fade while the jungle is still at its most abundant. Carnival season at Easter and music festivals during June and July bring boosts of energy, music, and colour to the city, just as they do across Brazil.