Holiday in Manaus

About Manaus

Manaus is the capital of the Brazilian state of Amazonas and the gateway to the largest rainforest on Earth. The city of millions is located in the middle of the Amazon Basin, at the confluence of the Rio Negro and the Rio Solimões, which together form the Amazon. Access is only possible by airplane or boat — no road connects Manaus to the rest of Brazil. The Encontro das Aguas (Meeting of the Waters) is a unique natural phenomenon: the dark Rio Negro and the light brown Rio Solimões flow alongside each other for kilometers without mixing — caused by different temperatures, speeds, and chemical compositions. This spectacle can be experienced by boat. The Teatro Amazonas is Manaus' architectural jewel: a magnificent opera house in Renaissance style, built in 1896 during the rubber boom, featuring Italian marble, French crystal chandeliers, and 36,000 decorated ceramic tiles on the dome. The rubber boom made Manaus one of the richest cities in the world by the end of the 19th century. Jungle lodges in the surrounding area offer multi-day expeditions: piranha fishing, observing caimans at night, swimming with pink river dolphins, and hiking through the primary rainforest with indigenous guides. The biodiversity is overwhelming — a single tree can host more ant species than all of Great Britain. The Mercado Municipal Adolpho Lisboa, Manaus' central market at the port, is inspired by Les Halles in Paris and offers exotic Amazon fruits, fish, and medicinal plants from indigenous peoples.