To take a deep breath of air saturated with earthy-spicy aromas – this is what tourists from all over the world come to the mysterious forests of the Amazon, which produce 50% of all oxygen on our planet, to this amazing region, called the “lungs of the planet”.

According to clothingexpress, the capital of the Brazilian state of Amazonia is the city of Manaus. Tourists come here for the fantastic flora and fauna of one of the most mysterious and mystical rivers in the world – the frightening and fascinating Amazon at the same time.

Independent travel in the Amazon is highly discouraged: they are simply dangerous due to the abundance of wild animals, poisonous plants and insects. The soil in many places is abundantly saturated with water or simply swampy. You can travel through the selva only with guides from among the locals – they easily bypass all obstacles and dangers invisible to the tourist’s gaze. See insidewatch for Brazil travel package.

Transportation of the Amazon

One of the most popular modes of transport is undoubtedly the river, which is convenient for traveling along the route Manaus – Belen and Manaus – Porto Velho, covering most tourist places (4-5 days and nights on the way). The first of the lines is daily, the second – twice a week and reaches Peru and Bolivia.

To travel in comfort, the easiest way is to bring a hammock with you (they are sold inexpensively in ports), but you can also boo in the cabin, which is much more expensive.

By train

Another way to travel is tourist trains. Here are three popular routes:

1. From Curitiba to the coast (110 km), through the Green Mountains.
2. Along the Southern Pantanal (220 km)
3. Between the mountains and the coast of the small but very picturesque state of Espiritu Santo (“Holy Spirit”).

There are also weekend tourist expresses from Sao Paulo in three directions. Departure at 8.30, an hour and a half on the way, return departure at 16.30, the guides comment on the entire journey. A ticket costs 30 BRL for one person and 15 BRL for his fellow travelers.

Amazon Hotels

Since the Amazon occupies a third of the entire territory of Brazil, in the cities, of course, you can find where to stay comfortably.

National parks of the Amazon

Nothing compares in terms of the number of vivid impressions with an excursion to the Jau National Park, which is included in the Central Amazonian reserve complex. Floodplains periodically flooded by the turbulent waters of the Amazon, fantastic “black rivers” – the local natural conditions attracted a huge number of plants and animals: Dairy tree, burdened with sweet tidbits, chocolate tree (cocoa), mahogany, ferns, bromeliad moss, among which lazily hang sloths, anteaters, manatees, opossums, armadillos, crocodile and black caimans roam, dart, scurry about. You can choose a trip for a couple of hours, or you can stretch the pleasure for several days. Moreover, the park is located 200 km to the north from the state capital.

Tourists come here for the fantastic flora and fauna of one of the most mysterious and mystical rivers in the world – the frightening and fascinating Amazon at the same time.

Another tropical paradise is Iguazu Falls National Park, recognized as a real wonder of the world. Deafened by the noise of falling cascades of water, surrounded by rainbow splashes, tourists admire the unique spectacle for hours.

In general, the state has more than twenty national parks, reserves and reserves, each of which is worthy of attention.

4 things to do in the Amazon

1. Take part in fishing for piranhas or alligators in the locals’ motorized canoe. The price of this event is most often already included in the cost of the tour if you are traveling on a package tour. If you didn’t manage to go fishing, you can buy a souvenir – a dried piranha fish for 2 USD.
2. Take a course in survival techniques in the selva from local residents.
3. Find an amazing plant of the water lily family called “Victoria” near the banks of the Amazon River and make sure that its leaves, reaching three meters in diameter, can withstand weight up to 30 kg.
4. Walk along the only Amazonian bridge, which spans one of its tributaries, the Rio Negro, and connects Manaus with the city of Iranduba (the length of the bridge is 3,595 meters).

Entertainment and attractions of the Amazon

The capital Manaus is a fairly developed European city, enclosed in fortifications created by the tropical jungle. A walk around the city will bring peace, diversify its numerous shops with various souvenir rubbish, and a ten-minute walk from the center, right on the banks of the Amazon, nestled huts on stilts, sheltering Indian families from bad weather and the sun under burnt withered palm branches. Exotic in its purest form.

There you can see: the Museum of the Indians, the city theater (1896), the colossal Palacio Negro Palace, the San Sebastian Church, the Museum of Man, the Numismatics Museum, the Teatro Amazonas Opera House, numerous floating markets, as well as many splendid houses decorated with unique blue ceramics “azulejos” (now they are mostly in disrepair). 12 km from Manaus, a unique natural phenomenon is observed – the confluence of the Solimoes and Rio Negro rivers, whose waters do not mix at all with each other, but flow side by side with colorful ribbons for hundreds of kilometers.

Weather in the Amazon

The climate of the Amazon is extremely specific – it is hot and very humid, the air saturated with fumes and pollen makes it difficult to breathe. Even for short trips around the state, long acclimatization is required.