Manaus: opera house, river port and gateway to the Rio Negro
Manaus lies on the Rio Negro, a short way from the point where it joins the Solimões. Many boat trips into the Brazilian Amazon start here. On land, the Teatro Amazonas opera house, the old market, the river port and the Museu da Amazônia (MUSA) fill a day or two.
Most visitors combine the city with the water. Day trips and lodge stays are listed under Amazon River tours, and multi-day boats are compared under Amazon river cruises from Manaus and Iquitos. East of the city, dark and sandy-coloured water meet at the Meeting of the Waters.
Our picks: from Manaus
The city and river tour combines the Teatro Amazonas area with a speedboat; the Anavilhanas trip goes further up the Rio Negro. For nights in the forest, take the lodge stay.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Two to four days at a jungle lodge near Manaus
- Private lodge cabin
- Meals and water
- Hotel transfers in Manaus
One to three nights in a private lodge cabin with fan or air conditioning, meals and a guide.
Check availability →
Anavilhanas archipelago and jungle walk
- Transfer and speedboat
- Bilingual guide
- Lunch and water
Eight hours by speedboat up the Rio Negro to the Anavilhanas islands, with a walk in the forest and lunch.
Check availability →Old Manaus on foot and the river by speedboat
- Licensed English-speaking guide
- Speedboat and car
- Entry fees
Nine hours with a licensed guide in the old city, then a speedboat trip on the river, with entry fees and insurance.
Check availability →Manaus tours and river trips
Rio Negro day trips, jungle lodge stays and river cruises from Manaus, with live prices and availability.
Things to do in Manaus
The main sights in town, with hours and prices for 2026.
Teatro Amazonas
The opera house opened on 31 December 1896 and is a visible sign of the rubber boom. Guided visits last about 30 minutes. Visits run Tuesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with no Monday visits. Entry is BRL 20, reduced BRL 10, and residents of the state of Amazonas with proof get in free. Confirm hours and price at the door, because both can change.
Amazon River history →Mercado Adolpho Lisboa
The historic market in the city centre sells regional products. Check the opening days before you go.
Museu da Amazônia (MUSA)
MUSA is open daily except Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry at 4 p.m. Wear closed shoes, drones are not allowed, and visitors under 14 must come with an adult. The dinosaur exhibition "Passado Presente" is temporarily closed. That does not affect the observation tower, which is a separate attraction.
The port and the river
Regional boats and passenger boats tie up at the commercial port. Long-distance boats to Belém and Tabatinga leave from the port. For the details see getting to the Amazon River.
Meeting of the Waters
The dark Rio Negro and the sediment-rich Solimões run side by side for roughly 6 km. The two do mix in the end, because eddies blend them downstream. A Manaus programme combines the confluence with Janauary and a view of the harbour and market on the way back.
Meeting of the Waters →Opening hours and prices at a glance
Values for 2026. Confirm them on the day.
| Sight | Hours | Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Teatro Amazonas, guided visit of about 30 minutes | Tuesday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. | BRL 20, reduced BRL 10 |
| MUSA grounds and museum | Daily except Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., last entry 4 p.m. | BRL 50, reduced BRL 25 |
| MUSA observation tower, 242 steps, 3 platforms | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Wednesday | – |
| MUSA guided trail or sunset visit | By registration | BRL 70, reduced BRL 35 |
| MUSA trail and sunset combined | By registration | BRL 140, reduced BRL 70 |
The reduced MUSA rate of BRL 25 applies to residents of Manaus, Brazilian seniors over 60, students, teachers and one companion of a person with a disability. Children up to 5, people with a disability and traditional Amazonian communities enter free. The guided trail and sunset rates are separate from the entry, so ask whether the entry is included before you pay.
For most first-time visitors, the opera house plus one river trip covers the city and the river in two days. MUSA suits a third day.
Anavilhanas and the Rio Negro
The Anavilhanas archipelago in the Rio Negro is a national park of about 350,000 hectares. The federal conservation agency ICMBio manages it from Novo Airão. Giant otters, Amazonian manatees and the pink river dolphin, the boto, live in the park. A species living there is not a promise of a sighting, so treat any animal you see as a bonus.
The Rio Negro cruise route from Manaus includes Anavilhanas. Ask your operator whether park access is part of the price and how long the boat ride from Manaus takes. Calm, dark water and forested islands are what the trip is about.
River trips and cruises from Manaus
What the programmes include, and two 2026 price examples.
Amazon and Rio Negro cruises
A mid-size boat costs $1,330 per person for 3 days and 2 nights on the Amazon and $1,775 for 4 days and 3 nights on the Rio Negro (2026). Three days are only two nights, so compare the nights and not the days. These are examples of one boat class, not a market range.
Cruises compared →Activities on the programmes
Programmes include skiff rides, forest walks, birdwatching and night trips that search the banks with lamps for caimans and other night animals. A late-afternoon piranha fishing stop at Lago Janauacá is part of some Manaus programmes. None of this is guaranteed on every departure.
Piranha fishing →Dolphins and wildlife
Botos live in this part of the river, but a sighting depends on the day. Watch them from the boat. Feeding them or swimming with them is not something this guide recommends.
Pink river dolphins →Jungle lodges outside the city are covered in the Manaus jungle guide.
Weather and when to go
Long-term averages for 1991 to 2020.
Daily highs in Manaus run from 31 °C in the first months of the year to 34 °C in September and October. Lows stay near 24 °C all year. Rain falls mostly from January to May, with about 330 mm in April. August is the driest month at about 56 mm. The dry months still bring showers.
The Rio Negro rises and falls through the year. The Brazilian geological survey has low-water scenarios for 2026 for the river at Manaus. Cruise routes and some excursions change with the water level, so ask your operator to confirm the route and the harbour before you pay. The weather by month and best time to visit pages explain the seasons.
Health and safety on the river
Brief notes. Ask a travel doctor for advice that fits you.
Vaccination
Entry from Germany needs no compulsory vaccination. Yellow fever vaccination is recommended, and the states of Amazonas and Pará count as risk areas.
Malaria and dengue
German travel advice rates the city centre of Manaus lower than parts of the Amazon basin, but the surroundings are not free of malaria. Dengue and Oropouche fever also occur in Brazil. Use mosquito protection by day and by night.
Swimming
As of October 2026, German travel advice recommends against swimming in inland waters in Brazil because of schistosomiasis. Stingray injuries, mostly to the feet, are documented in northern Brazil, which is one more reason to stay out of the shallows.
Plan the rest of your trip
More from the Amazon River.
Meeting of the Waters
Where dark and sandy water run side by side near Manaus.
Pink river dolphins
Species, where they live and how to watch them.
River cruises
Routes from Manaus and Iquitos with 2026 price examples.
Best time to visit
High water, low water and what each means for your route.
Manaus: frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Manaus?
Visit the Teatro Amazonas, the historic market and the MUSA tower, then take a boat trip to the Meeting of the Waters or the Anavilhanas archipelago. Multi-day cruises and lodge stays also start here.
How much does the Teatro Amazonas cost?
Entry is BRL 20, or BRL 10 reduced, for a guided visit of about 30 minutes. Residents of the state of Amazonas with proof enter free. Check the current price and hours at the door.
Is the MUSA open on Wednesday?
No. The museum and the tower are closed on Wednesday. On other days the museum opens at 8:30 a.m. and the tower at 9 a.m.
Can I swim in the Rio Negro?
German travel advice as of October 2026 recommends against swimming in inland waters in Brazil because of schistosomiasis. Ask your guide or lodge before anyone goes into the water.
How do I get to Anavilhanas?
Most visitors go on a boat programme from Manaus. The park administration sits in Novo Airão. Ask your operator whether park access and transfers are part of the price.
Is this the official website of Manaus tourism?
No. This is an independent travel guide to the Amazon River. It is not run by the city, a museum, a park authority or a tour operator.