Manaus - an open door to the Amazon

​Amazon Theater in Manaus 

From your airplane window you begin to contemplate what it looks like to be a green ocean. You can then identify water cutting through the forest. It takes almost 7 million square kilometres throughout nine South American countries: Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. The Amazon has the greatest biodiversity in a rain forest in the world and it attracts tourists from all over the world.
Manaus is the capital of the Amazon State is also called Paris of the Tropics, because of its intense modernisation during the Rubber Boom and the beautiful buildings built from materials imported from Europe. It is also the natural entrance for the people who want to visit the forest.
The iconic Amazon Theatre is a place not to be missed. This beautiful theatre was build between 1884 and 1896 at the height of the rubber boom, using European designers and decorators and raw materials and  in the area.  

Another must see is Ponta Negra Beach. Recent work has been done alongside its shoreline and it is a great place for a stroll where you will find many local delicacies such as acai and tacaca, a variety of soup cooked with tucupi, dried shrimp, cassava gum and jambu leaves. amongst other local delicacies. The wide river is very beautiful and perfect for a swim.
From there, you can make your way to the majestic Hotel Tropical, famous world wide for its rich timber work, vast corredors, wave swimming pool and a mini zoo, home to animals such as monkeys and “onca pintada”.
Boats are the main transportation to the rainforest hotels and to see the meeting of waters between Negro and Solimoes rivers, forming one of the largest rivers in the world: the Amazon. The two different colour waters meet and only mix kilometres later. One is darker tea colour tone and the other a colder brown looking one. This is a true nature spectacular site to see.
Whether your prefer to check out the historical buildings or to enjoy swimming with dolphins in the river, the impact of the abundance of water and green will forever stay with you forever. ​

Ponta Negra 

Palácio Rio Negro 

Hotel Tropical 

Amazon - Manaus 

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This article was originally published on the May/June ABCC  Newsletter.