Manaus, Brazil

Manaus, Brazil Information
Contributed by
Tom Ogg

Language and Currency
What is Manaus Like?
What is the Weather Like?
Where Does the Ship Dock?
Where is the Shopping?
What is There to Buy?
What is There To Do?
Is There Anything of a “Don’t Miss Quality?
Are There Any Great Restaurants or Bars?

Manaus, Brazil Port Reviews

Language and Currency

The official language of Brazil is Portuguese and the currency is the Brazilian Real. However, U.S. dollars are widely accepted. Be sure to have an ample supply of small bills to make exact change.

What is Manaus like?

Shopping in Manaus

Manaus is a large and bustling city that is congested with people and traffic. While heavily congested, Manaus is also very colorful in areas. It is considered the gateway to the more adventurous parts of the Amazon so most people use Manaus simply as a point to start their adventures.

What is the weather like?

Manaus enjoys tropical weather year around with temperatures between 75 and 90 degrees. It can be hot and humid. Be sure to take lots of sunscreen and wear a hat and limit your time in the direct sun based on the amount of exposure that you have had prior to arriving in Manaus. Manaus receives a good amount of rain year around, so having a small umbrella is advisable

Where does the ship dock?

Docked in Manaus

Ships dock at the main port in Manaus directly downtown. Just about everything of interest is within walking distance. Manaus has a very modern cruise terminal and you will find everything you need to make your way around Manaus in the terminal.

Where is the shopping?

Shopping in the Cruise Terminal

Right inside the cruise ship terminal is some shopping for jewelry and other Brazilian items. But, this is only the beginning.

Manaus' Old Public Market

The public market in Manaus is only about a ten minute walk from the cruise terminal and offers excellent shopping.

The Shopping Streets in Manaus Offer Excellent Shopping

The main shopping streets in Manaus (also within easy walking distance of the ship) offer more excellent shopping opportunities. There is a large shopping mall that you can walk to, but a taxi makes more sense. Manaus is the economic center of the Amoazon region and houses over 50% of its population. The other 50% come to Manaus to make their shopping trips.

What is there to buy?

Some Local Products

Manaus has an unlimited array of products for sale. It is the free trade center of Brazil and merchants form all over Brazil come here to buy for their stores. There is shopping for local products, souvenirs, clothes, jewelry, electronics (it is the electronic capital of Brazil) and many other products.

More Brazilian Products

More Local Products

Looking for That Stuffed Piranha For Your Fire Place Mantle?

The thing that amazes me is the number of small retail stores selling everything under the sun. You will see stores in less than 100 square feet selling plumbing specialties, tools, bikinis, knives, fishing lures, hats, wood carvings and much, much more.

What is there to do?

Manaus' Opera House.

One of the main attraction in Manaus is Teatro Amazonas, or the Opera House. Completed in 1896 at the height of the rubber economy that made Manaus one of the richest cities in the world, it is absolutely spectacular. Once inside the Opera House, you would think that you were in the most opulent European structures in the world. Virtually all of the materials were imported from Europe and its attention to detail is over whelming. To walk to the Opera house simply walk up Ave.Eduardo Ribeiro next to the Cathedral of Manaus.

The Interior of the Opera House

This is a "must see" attraction and well worth the $5.00 entrance fee.

One of the Rooms in the Opera House

Be sure to allow yourself ample time to enjoy its beauty.

One of the Amazon River Boats

Right from the harbor where the cruise terminal is there are numerous river boats offering tours on the Amazon. Down river a few miles is the joining of the Amazon and the Rio Negro. The Amazon, being extremely muddy and the Rio Negro (about the same size) being a black water river, do not mix for miles. The meeting of the rivers actually looks like two separate rivers running parallel for miles. While interesting, if you have come up the Amazon, you have seen the phenomenon enough times to make this attraction about as much fun as watching paint dry. On the other hand, if you are starting your cruise in Manaus, this is worth seeing as it is the most dramatic example of the spectacle. In addition to the "Meeting of the Waters" river cruise, there are Piranha fishing tours, Cayman Spotting tours, Water Lily tours and so on.

The Botanical Gardens

The Botanical Gardens are also of interest if you want to experience the flora and fauna of the region. In addition to the excellent display of plants, the Botanical Gardens also includes several of the indigenous animals and reptiles of the region. I found the electric fish, otter and other species fascinating.

The Catedral de Manaus (Cathdral of Manaus)

There ar3e several impressive cathedrals in Manaus. This particular cathedral is just outside of the cruise terminal and is a great landmark for exploring the city. The streets to the markets, Opera House and other attractions all border the Cathedral.

Palicio Rio Negro

This was once the home of the rubber baron Waldemar Scholtz and is now a cultural center worth visiting. Given it was built in the early 1900s, it is amazing how opulent it is.

Manaus Shopping

Just taking advantage of the shopping opportunities in Manaus can fill days of your time. There is a seemingly never ending array of stores, boutiques, kiosks, markets and other shopping opportunities to enjoy.

Is there anything of “Don’t Miss” quality?

The Opera House

Yes, don't miss the Manaus Opera House. It is simply stunning! Easy to do on your own from the cruise ship terminal, you should make the time to visit it.

The Opera House

The Side of the Opera House

Are there any great restaurants or bars?

Not that I saw, but that doesn't mean they are not there.