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Attractions

The Amazon's attractions are few, if you're looking for bustling nightlife, luxury shopping trips, and fancy restaurants. If you're looking for natural wonders though, there are more things to see and do in the Amazon than one person could do in a lifetime.

The Amazon is one of the world's greatest natural wonders, home to 2.5 million insect species, tens of thousands of plants, and some 2,000 different kinds of birds and mammals. Scarlet macaws, jaguars, giant anacondas, poison dart frogs, piranhas, electric eels... the list is endless.

As a reaction to deforestation and climate change, the Amazon's tourist industry has started moving toward ecotourism, which benefits the local people while providing an unforgettable experience for visitors. The impact on the environment is always important to consider when travelling to undeveloped areas, and asking for sustainable options like non-motorised boats and trained nature guides can make a big difference.

Because the Amazon is so large, there are many different areas that are each fascinating and worthwhile in their own way. Manaus is the largest city in the Amazon, with around two million inhabitants. It is a great place to start in the Amazon, as you can find plenty of boat and land trips into the jungle from there. It has a variety of parks, beaches, a zoo, and the Amazonas Opera House. It will be a host city for the 2014 World Cup. There are a number of lodges within range of Manaus that cater for tourists, varying in quality.

Belem is much smaller, with beautiful colonial architecture dominating the sights. Belem has a number of interesting natural indentations and islands on its coast, and several bustling markets, including the Ver-o-Peso, and the Iron Market, both near the waterfront.

There are many protected area and national parks within the Amazon that provide great opportunities to interact with nature. Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve near Tefe is a protected area covered in swamp and flooded forest accessible by canoe. Its infrastructure is set up for ecotourism, including a unique floating lodge. Cabo Orange National Park is the only protected area of the Amazon on the coastline, so the flora and fauna there is slightly different. Infrastructure is lacking, but you can visit it from the nearby Oiapoque City. Cantão State Park has better facilities for tourists and an interesting ecosystem that transitions from plains to rainforest.

The sun is strong close to the equator, especially in the summer, so make sure to bring protection. Be careful not to take any plants, animals, or seeds out of the rainforest, as smuggling is a big problem in the region and the authorities won't hesitate to prosecute. The Amazon is rural and a very poor place, so don't expect to use credit cards out of the cities. Tourists are overcharged as a rule, but you are free to haggle most places.

The Meeting of the Waters

Where the dark waters of the Rio Negro join the lighter muddy waters of the Rio Solimoes a natural phenomenon is caused: the separate shades of water run side by side for a length of more than four miles (6km) without mixing. The...  see full details

Lake Janauari Ecological Park

This park, an hour by boat from Manaus on the Rio Negro, provides a taste of the Amazon experience with its 9,000 acres of dry land forests, lowlands and flooded forest (known as igapos). Day package trips are available from Manaus including lunch...  see full details

Adolpho Ducke Botanical Garden

This vast forest reserve, covering more than 39 square miles (100 sq km) to the east of Manaus, provides tourists with the opportunity to discover what lies beneath the dense Amazon rainforest canopy. The park building complex hosts plant nurseries and an exhibition of...  see full details