Places of Interest - Brazil

"amazone NP" ("Manaus")




introduction


Approximately 3 million people live in the Amazon area of which more than half live in the city of "Manaus". The city is big, filthy, hot with a high humidity and in itself it has little or no reason to stay here long if it were not that this is the place to arrange your jungle trip into the Amazone. In 1669, Portuguese colonists built the fort "Sao Jose da Barra" on the spot where the city of Manaus is now located. A century and a half later, the fort with the neighboring town was renamed as "Manaus" to the Indian tribe that lived nearby. The city flourished at the time of the rubber tree and palaces were built, as also the famous "Teatro Amazones". A free trade zone was the only thing that would help not to decline the city in the years after the rubber boost Nowadays most electronic Brazilian devices come from this region and it remains the most important hub for trips into the jungle. 


highlights


Jungle trip

An essential element of your arrival to the Amazon is a jungle trip. Various providers with different activities, so "shop" around well before you decide to go and pay. Because the "jungle" is a bit further away than you think it is wise to book a few days trip so you can enjoy it to the fullest. Activities can be; a walk and night in the jungle (in a tent, under a mosquito net or with local people at home), a boat trip, fishing for piranhas, in the evening looking for young alligators, swimming and a look in the house, yard and farmland at local people. 

 

Other attractions:

Teatro Amazones and the Porto Flutuante (floating dock).



TIps & advice (2011)


Boat trip Manaus - Santarem:

  • Duration: two days (30-36 hours).
  • Bring: a hammock (you can also rent this);
  • Where: at the harbor are several "stands" where you can buy tickets.

  • Name: Pension "Sulista"

Address: Av Joaquim Nabuco 347

Price: 45 R (double incl. Breakfast)

 

Content:

This is a great hostel, clean and reasonable in the center in a relatively safe but busy street. They have different rooms with various prices and a breakfast room where the guests eat together in the morning (breakfast is included). There are, as everywhere here, people around who want to arrange "tours" into the Amazone jungle.



see also: