Manaus Extension

Itinerary

Day 1 Manaus

The first settlement in the area of Manaus was set up by Captain Francisco da Mota Falcão who built the São José do Rio Negro fortress in 1669. Until 1889 when Brazil became a republic, the Sertão das Amazonas (Amazon’s Hinterland) as it was called, became a state. Shortly after, with the beginning of the exploration of rubber trees, the Amazon experienced a progress boom that spanned the years of 1855 until 1911. The São José do Rio Negro fortress became the nucleus of a city that received the name of Manaus in 1856. During the opulent years, Manaus was a thriving port and a magnet to cultural manifestations that took place in the Amazonas Theater. Manaus bears today witness to that period with highlights such as the Manaus Opera House, the Manaus Floating Dock, Rio Negro Palace (Government) and the Customs Building. For the last 10 years, Manaus has become the main entranceway to the Amazon forest and the many inns that were installed in the area. Arrival transfer accompanied by a local bilingual guide to your hotel. Local guide will be waiting for you right at the exit of the luggage claim area. In the evening enjoy a half day city tour. Tour leaves hotel to visit Manaus’ highlights that are: Teatro Amazonas, the famous Manaus Opera House (built in 1896) a rich example of the wealth of the region at the time of the rubber boom. All materials from cement were imported, being that only the Amazonian hardwoods are local. Marble columns imported from Italy, Belgium and French mirrors, ironwork from England and stonework from Portugal. Built basically in neoclassical style though eclectic from the mixture of patterns, its dome contains 36 thousand enameled ceramic tiles painted in the colors of the Brazilian flag. The auditorium is shaped like a harp and the stage curtain has a huge canvas painting entitle “The Meeting of the Waters” which was painted in Paris by Crispim do Amaral. In the Noble Room, decorated by Domenico de Angelis, there are delicate tinted chandeliers and a parquet floor composed of twelve thousand pieces of wood inlaid without the use of nails or glue. Floating Dock - a National Heritage registered building, built by the English being its structure imported from England. Reduced today to 2/3 of its original length due to a crash of a ship. The Floating Dock is a fine example of state-of-the-art turn of the century (19th to 20th) that is today in pristine conditions and in full use. Indian Museum, with artifact and general use pieces coming mainly from tribes of the upper Negro river (700/1,000 km). Customs building, that retains to this day its original use, this is a very original building, considering that it was entirely built in England, dismounted and reassembled in Manaus, and it is to this day one of Manaus’ cherished buildings. Tour will also pass by the Harbor and the Adolpho Lisboa Municipal Market, one of the examples of architecture with European features. The delicate art nouveau design of its cast iron imported from Glasgow, Scotland frames the stained glass windows of this copy of the former Les Halles market in Paris.

Day 2 Manaus

Leaving the hotel, tour members will be taken to one of Manaus’ piers (water level dictates pier to be used). Boarding a typical regional boat, tour members will sail to the Meeting of the Waters, 6 km south of Manaus where the meeting of the water of the two rivers Negro and Solimões takes place. At this very stage is that starts the river that everybody knows as the Amazonas / Amazon. The phenomenon is due to the following factors: difference in temperature, velocity and water density as well as the Ph factor. The hydrographic basin of the Amazon is the world’s largest drained surface, covering an area of more than six million square kilometers, extending well beyond Brazil’s borders and containing more than 7,000 tributaries. The Amazon river’s total length is 6.7 thousand kilometers and crossed the entire state of Amazonas. The river’s average annual rate of flow reaches around 200,000 cubic meters per second making it the largest liquid mass on the planet. Its volume is about four times that of the Congo and tem times that of the Mississippi rivers. With an average width of 3.6 kilometers expanding to a maximum of 50 km during the rainy season, the Amazon produces a liter of water for every inhabitant on the planet every 28 seconds. Studies indicate that about half of this water return to the atmosphere and directly influences the region’s ecosystem. Transbording to smaller canoes, tour members will be taken to visit Lake Janauary Ecological Park (water level permitting). A safe walkway takes tourists to visit the beautiful lily pad (Victoria Amazonica) that float on the lakes and when in full bloom can measure up to 1.8 meters in diameter. Lunch is served on a Floating Restaurant on Janauary lake. Return to the hotel.

Day 3 Manaus

Transfer accompanied by a local guide, from the hotel to the airport.

Trip Details

Accommodation	Superior hotel (2 nts)
Brochure Notes	Blackout Dates: Mar 21-25/08, Apr 18-22/08, May 22-26/08, Sept 05-08/08, Oct 10-13/08, Oct 31-Nov 03/08, Nov 14-17/08, Dec 24-29/08
Departure	Daily
Group Size	No Minimum
Included Highlights	Guided city tour of Manaus, Boat tour to the Amazon Bay, Lake January Ecological Park
Meals Included	2 B, 1 L
StartFinish	ex Manaus
Transport	Bus or Van, Boat
Brochure Intro	Journey through the trading city of Manaus then explore the Northern Amazon with a fascinating day cruise.

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