The Amazon holidays

The Amazon, the world’s largest tropical rainforest, covers almost half of Brazil’s territory. Mighty waters, ranging from yellow-brown to blue-black, cut through the thick jungle. Manaus is a starting point for boat trips to explore the waterways and for stays in eco-lodges, while Tefé is gateway to the flooded forests of the Mamirauá Reserve. Near Altafloresta, in the southern Amazon, the pristine rainforest of the Cristalino private reserve is particularly well known among birders and butterfly enthusiasts. Vibrant Belém, capital of the state of Pará, lies on the southern branch of the Amazon, near the mouth of the river.

Explore The Amazon

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Places to Visit

Alta Floresta

Accessed via a flight from Cuiabá, the city of Altafloresta, in the far north of the state of Mato Grosso, is the gateway to a remote region of the southern Amazon that encompasses the Cristalino State Park and various private reserves. The area contains pristine rainforest that, even by Amazonian standards, supports a very rich diversity of flora and fauna, with a large number of endemic species. This unique sanctuary is particularly well recognised among birders and butterfly enthusiasts

Belém

Belém, capital of the state of Pará, is located on the southern branch of the Amazon river. It is the main gateway to the Amazon river and today is an important commercial and economic centre with modern buildings and skyscrapers. During the 19th century rubber boom, Belém was the main port of the region and buildings in the charming colonial old town, such as the famous Ver-o-peso market, designed and built in England, are a reminder of that era, as are the Catholic churches and the Paz theatre

Manaus

Manaus, the bustling capital of the state of Amazonas and commercial centre for much of the Amazon basin, lies on the banks of the Rio Negro, 1,450 kilometres from the sea, in the heart of the jungle. Founded in 1669 by the Portuguese as a fort and trading settlement, Manaus remained a remote frontier outpost until the late 19th century when the exploitation of rubber brought wealth and fame to the city. Although short lived, the rubber boom left behind a number of opulent buildings, including the flamboyant Teatro Amazonas, which was modelled after the Paris Opera House. Manaus is a gateway to the rainforest. River cruises and jungle lodge stays can be arranged to explore the Amazon tributaries and forest in canoes or on nature walks, and visits can be made to small local communities. Not far from the town, at the confluence of the Rio Negro and the Solimões, a fascinating spectacle can be observed - the dark and sandy-coloured waters of the two rivers flow side by side for 6.5km before merging. Only from this point on is the river called the Amazon

Tefé

The city of Tefé is located in the state of Amazonas in north -west Brazil. Situated on the shores of Lake Tefé, where it flows into the Solimões river (one of the main branches of the Amazon), this port town is a gateway to the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve, a state conservation and research area in the heart of the rainforest. The reserve covers an area of freshwater swamp forest located between the Solimões, Japurá and Auti-Paraná rivers. One of the largest protected flooded forests in the world, where waters levels rise and fall depending on the season, Mamirauá has a high concentration of endemic wildlife, including white uakari monkeys, as well as sloths, caimans, pink river dolphins and abundant birdlife. Daily flights link Tefé and the city of Manaus