Explorer
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Port
MANAUS
BRAZIL
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t first glance it may be surprising for
a city to rise out of the middle of a
rainforest; and not just any rainforest. Here in the heart of
the Amazon the trees are not numbered in the “millions” or
even “billions” but rather in the “hundreds of billions”. This is
Manaus and it is not just any city. Manaus, named for a large,
local indigenous tribe now long extinct, is the capital of Brazil’s
northwest state Amazonas. The city hugs the banks of the Rio
Negro where it meets with the Rio Solimões to become the
mighty Rio Amazonas.
The people of Manaus cover a wide social, political and economic spectrum. The city’s ethnic majority is a mixture of indigenous Brazilian Indian and Portuguese / European ancestry. The Indians have, of course, been living in the Amazon
for countless thousand of years while the Europeans began
arriving in Manaus in serious numbers during the 1800s.
Today Manaus has a metropolitan population a little over two
million. Amidst colonial era buildings there are stately neighborhoods, gleaming condos and commercial buildings as
well as modest riverfront houses and communities built upon
stilts to keep them safe from any rising water. There are major
shopping malls with everything under the sun available. At the
same time there are indigenous artisans who create beautiful works according to traditional methods which have been
passed down for countless generations.
Due to its economic base, Manaus continues to be a magnet
for skilled newcomers. It is a major international port, manufacturing and industrial center. In the middle of the 20th century progressive Brazilian politicians and business leaders created the ZFN - Zona Franca de Manaus (The Free Economic
Zone of Manaus). The Free Trade Zone combined with tax
incentives to bring tremendous national / international investment and hard working, innovative people into the city.
Equally important to the city’s business interests, Manaus
has become the ecotourism gateway for thousands of visitors
from Brazil and around the world who come to see the amazing Amazon Rainforest and Rio Amazonas. The people
of Brazil and Manaus, are well aware of the vulnerability of the
Amazon; after all, they live and work there. This is a city of ancient, indigenous Indians and modern industrial might. This is
a city of riverboat captains and retailers, bakers and bankers.
This is a city of secretaries and scientists, finance managers
and humble fishermen. This is a city built upon rubber, once
rundown and now restored and respected.
This is Manaus, in the heart of Brazil’s “Floresta Amazônica”,
the heart of the Amazon Rainforest.
History
What do you get when you combine the Industrial Revolution, a destitute yet determined American inventor, Vulcan
(the Roman god of fire), chilled bottles of imported French
Champagne, ladies covered with diamonds, dirty laundry, the
mighty Rio Negro, tree sap, fancy horses, big cigars, Indian
slave labor, chests stuffed with money, a red-hot potbellied
stove and a stunningly beautiful opera house? Put them all
together and you have the Amazon Rainforest, “vulcanized”
rubber and the “Golden Age” of the city of Manaus, Brazil in
the 1800s.
In 1839, three thousand miles north of Manaus, in the town of
Woburn, Massachusetts, a young American inventor named
Charles Goodyear accidently dropped a piece of rubber on
a red-hot potbellied stove. The intense heat changed the
physical properties of the rubber. Soon Goodyear’s US Patent # 3633 for Vulcanized Rubber changed the world and the
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shabby little Amazonian river town of Manaus turned into one
of the richest cities on earth ... virtually over night.
Using Indian forced labor, the Rubber Barons of Manaus
made vast fortunes. The elegantly dressed women were dripping in diamonds. Laundry was even sent back to Portugal
for cleaning rather than using muddy river water. Fabulously
wealthy Manaus built the “Teatro Amazonas” and to this day
it remains one of the most stunningly beautiful opera houses
in the world.
Though his invention literally changed the course of history
and astonishing fortunes were made by others, Goodyear
never saw the results of his patent for vulcanized rubber. At
the age of 59, Charles Goodyear died in New York City on
July 1, 1860 … penniless.
Places of Interest
Manaus has a number of interesting museums. The Museu
do Indio (Indian Museum) relates the heritage of the indigenous people of the Amazon’s upper Rio Negro region. The
Provincial Palace (1874) now houses several museums such
as; the Museum of Numismatics, the Museum of Image and
Sound of the Amazonas, the Public Art Gallery, the Museum
of Archeology and the Tiradentes Museum (Amazon Military
Police Museum).
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The Alfandega (Custom House) looks out over the waterfront. A century old, the Customs House is distinctive
for its watchtower and lighthouse. The building was first constructed in Liverpool England, disassembled and shipped to
Manaus in sections. The building’s stones also come from the
British Isles.
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The Municipal Market is a colorful and vibrant site
with vendors offering meat, fish, fowl, fruit and medicinal herbs. The architecture of the building resembles the famous and historic central market in Paris, Les Halles (1850
– 1971).
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Palácio Rio Negro was the home, some might say palace, of a wealthy German Rubber Baron. Built in 1903
the building was later sold to the government and became
the residence and office of the governor. Today the palácio is
used for cultural events and exhibitions.
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Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (National Institute of Amazonian Research) is home to hundreds of Brazilian and international scientist who are studying
how best to preserve the Amazon Rainforest while simultaneously expanding the frontiers of biotechnology and medicine.
Tour guides explain the wonders of the rainforest. The institute was the longtime dream of the highly respected Italian
botanist Adolfo Ducke. The Botanical Garden, named in his
honor, gives visitors a wonderful opportunity to stroll among
the countless Amazonian plants and trees.
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The Manaus Zoo has a wonderful collection of birds and
animals which inhabit the Amazon Rainforest. Interestingly enough, the zoo was started by the Brazilian Army’s highly
respected “Jungle Warfare Training Center” in Manaus.
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Teatro Amazonas (The Opera House) opened to wide
acclaim in 1896. Building materials and amazingly skilled
artisans and craftsmen were brought over from Europe.
Manaus was in the midst of the “Rubber Boom” and money
was no object. Those who have seen German director Werner Herzog’s fantastic 1982 motion picture “Fitzcarraldo” may
remember seeing the opera house featured in the film. This
opera house, in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest, must be
counted among the most beautiful in the world.
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The Meeting of the Waters is a rather interesting phenomenon. Here at Manaus, the Rio Negro and the Rio
Solimões meet to form a part of the mighty Amazon. From
a riverboat visitors can watch as the water of the two rivers,
each distinctive in color, flow side by side for miles before
eventually merging.
Beyond Manaus
Lake January is a great place to see some of the wildlife of
the Amazon. From a riverboat cruising along the lush shoreline visitors can get a close up view of the monkeys and birds
in the trees and alligators in the water
The Amazon Ecopark is accessible by riverboat. The park
is a little west of Manaus where the Tarumã Açú River flows
into the Rio Negro. Local guides take visitors through the park
while pointing out the many wonders of the Amazon Rainforest. Visitors can tour the park’s “Center for the Rehabilitation of Amazon Primates”. The Center cares for displaced or
injured animals with the goal of reintroducing them back into
the rainforest.
Shore Excursions
To make the most of your visit to Manaus and the surrounding area we suggest you take one of our organized Shore
Excursions. For information concerning tour content and pricing, consult your Shore Excursion Order Form or contact the
Shore Excursion Desk. When going ashore, be advised to
take only necessary items and secure any valuables onboard.
If you are joining one of the river or rainforest tours remember
to take insect repellent and perhaps a hat to provide a bit of
shade from the tropical sun.
Local Customs
Bargaining: Prices are generally fixed however some small
shops and vendors in the open markets may bargain.
the fruit of the jungle thousands of years before Europeans
came ashore. Tapioquinha can best be described as a pancake which has been stuffed with fruit. Pato no tucupi is a
cooked duck which has been stewed in a sauce drawn from
the cassava root. Tacacá is a very popular soup which originated with the Amazonian people. It combines shrimp, chili
peppers, garlic, green leaves and Jambú, a native flowering
herb known for its anesthetic qualities. Feijoada is a stew
which combines meat and beans.
One of the favorite drinks found throughout Brazil is cachaça.
It is very strong liquor made from sugarcane. It is often mixed
with lime, sugar and crushed ice to make a cocktail known as
caipirinha. A popular fruit drink is called guarana.
Shopping
Though shoppers can find just about anything in the markets,
stores and free trade center in Manaus, some of the most
interesting items which are commonly available are the handmade crafts created by the indigenous people of the Amazon.
Ceramics, woven baskets, tapestry, wood carvings and hammocks are some of the more popular items.
The Public Market is a short walk from the pier. Even if you go
just for the color and variety of things for sale it is well worth
the visit. Though many of the products available have been
created, produced or caught in Brazil, the market’s beautiful
architectural style was modeled after the famed (and former)
“Les Halles” market Paris.
Local Currency
Brazil’s currency is the Real (BRL). Major credit cards and
US dollars are widely accepted. Some shops offer discounts
if the item is paid for in cash. It is best to use small denominations. ATMs are available. Banks are the best place to change
currency.
Post Office and Telephone
The main Post Office in Manaus is located at the end of
Avenida Eduardo Ribeiro. This is the city’s main avenue. It
begins in front of the Port of Manaus, passes behind the Opera House and ends at Congress Square at the location of
the Post Office.
Dial the following access numbers to use a personal calling
card:
AT&T: 0.800.890.0288 or 0.800.888.8288
MCI: 0.800.890.0012
Tourist Information
The Tourist Office (Amazônia Turismo) is located at No. 1251,
Avenue Sete de Setembro.
Transportation
Tipping: A 10% tip is customary at restaurants and for taxis.
Taxis and car rentals are available in Manaus.
Local Cuisine and Drink Specialties
Useful Words and Phrases
Amazon tribes were fishing the rivers, farming and plucking
Hello - Alô
How are you? - Tudo bom?
Thank you - Obrigado
You are welcome - De nada
Yes - Sim
No - Não
Good bye - Tchau (like the Italian “ciao”)
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This information has been compiled for the convenience of our guests and is intended solely for that purpose. While we work to ensure that the information contained herein is correct, we cannot accept responsibility for any changes that may have taken place since printing.
© RCCL 2011 - All rights reserved.