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 18955 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.

SERVICES

TRF o.w. Airport / Hotel Passengers will be met at the arrival gate and will be accompanied to the hotel. Guide will assist passengers with handling of luggage at the airport, at the hotel and check-in procedures. Gratuities are included.

H/D City Tour + Manaus Opera House Duration: 3 hrs. Admittance ticket to the Manaus Opera House not included.Tour leaves hotel to visit Manaus' highlights: 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 (19^th to 20^th) 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.

H/D City Tour as an extension to Rain Forest Lodges from / to Airport- Duration: 2 hrs. Tour operates in conjunction with transfer times from / to lodges. Admittance ticket to the Manaus Opera House is not included. Tour leaves hotel to visit Manaus' highlights: 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 (19^th to 20^th) 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.

Alligator Flashlight Spotting Tour with dinner - Duration: 3 hrs. Tour operates daily, leaving at 17:00 - This tour will sail a typical riverboat to visit the other shore of the Amazon where nature is still untouched and one can see and enjoy the sunset on the river. After an early dinner and transbording to smaller canoes, passengers will be taken deeper into the many affluents of the Amazon where a flashlight beam wil spot the alligators that are submerged. The light beam will reveal 2 ruby-colored eyes and are riveted to the light.

F/D Meeting of Waters Boat Tour with Lunch (private means having land transportation and boat chartered specially) or (semi private means having land transportation private and sharing boat with other parties) - Duration: 7 hrs. - 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 ten 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.

Amazon Clipper Vessels: The "Amazon Clipper" and the "Selly Clipper" are Amazon riverboats with traditional lines. They were designed exclusively for cruising the Amazon river and its tributaries. Using years of experience on other tour boats the cruise operators had these two boats with design innovations to make them as comfortable as possible and still offer a perfect interaction with nature. Both riverboats offer the same accommodations: double cabins with bunk berth, private toilet facilities and nighttime air conditioning. Social life is divided between the covered saloon, with bar, dining area, video and library and the panoramic sun deck fitted with reclining chairs on the upper deck. A shallow draught allows navigation to locations inaccessible to many other boats. Outboard powered canoes that are towed by the clippers are used for exploratory trips in lagoons, narrow channels, creeks and flooded forest. Clippers are fitted with VHF Marine Band Radio communications, navigation aided by depth -sounder, certified compass and satellite-based maps. Tour conductor policy: Each 15 paying PAX, 1 bona fide tour conductor free. Children policy: From 0 / 12 years old - 20% off listed prices.

Clipper Cruise in Cabin - 2NGT Monday departures / Returning on Wednesdays

Day 1 - Monday - Departure from Tropical Hotel Manaus pier at 14:30. On board presentation of staff, route and facilities. Navigation to the "Meeting of the Waters". Observation. Navigation in the Xiborena and Careiro region to Curari. Canoe trip in smaller creeks to see life on the flood plains: jute, market / garden produce, rubber trees, as well as flood plain forest and lakes with giant water lilies (when in season). This trip returns after sunset, so that passengers may observe nightlife, including caimans. Navigation up the Amazon (the upper part of it Solimões by the natives) to take Janauacá. Dinner on the way.

Day 2 - Tuesday - Early morning canoe trip for bird watching. There are good chances of seeing hoatzins and large flocks of egrets and cormorants. Breakfast. Visit to the inhabitants of the lake who live from manioc plantations, fishing, diverse fruit trees, rubber, Brazil nut trees, wood and other extractive products. Forest trek with a specialist that will give a full explanation of species found. Lunch. Navigation. Fishing for piranhas and other types of fish. Dinner. Night trip to see nocturnal animals, sometimes including night hawks, snakes, toro rats, sloths and frogs. Downstream Amazon navigation.

Day 3 - Wednesday - Early morning bird-watching trip in the Janauary Ecological Park or nearby waterways. Breakfast. Navigation past Manaus port with views of the Floating Docks, Market, Old Customs House and houses on stilts, arriving at the Tropical Hotel Manaus pier at 11:30. End of cruise.

Clipper Cruise in Cabin - 3NGT Wednesday departures / Returning on Saturdays

Day 1 - Wednesday - Departure from the Tropical Hotel Manaus pier at 14:30. On board presentation of staff, route and facilities. Navigation to the Pagodão river (tributary of the Negro). Canoe trip shortly before sunset, returning after dark, with the possibility of observing nocturnal animals and appreciate how the forest changes at sunset. Dinner. Navigation to Açu (Assu) creek or nearby tributaries.

Day 2 - Thursday - Breakfast. Forest trek with a specialist that will give a full explanation of species found. Observation of the flora. Visit to a "caboclo" family. Chance to see their way of life, preparation of manioc flour (staple food of the Amazon) and the children's health and education situation. Lunch. Navigation through Anavilhanas - the largest fresh water archipelago in the world, more than 1,000 miles from the ocean). Visit to Novo Airão Village, its handicraft boatyards where the AMAZON CLIPPER was built; sawmills; market and other activities. Navigation. Dinner. Night expedition for alligator flashlight spotting, possibly frogs, sloth, snakes and other species (depending on the time of the year).

Day 3 - Friday - Navigation to Praia Grande or other white sand beaches and if conditions allow, time for a swim. Observation of the vegetation of the sand areas. Canoe trip on lake Acajatuba or adjacent lake domains to see the typical flora (rubber trees, Brazil nut, useful palm trees of various types). Piranha fishing. Lunch. Stop at Paricatuba community to see abandoned rubber-boom buildings, now an integral part of strangler fig trees. Dinner. Navigation.

Day 4 - Saturday - Lake Janauary. Bird watching sunrise canoe trip. Breakfast. Navigation to the "Meeting of the Waters". Return to the Tropical Hotel Manaus pier, with a fine view of Manaus' waterfront. Arrival at 11:30. End of the cruise.

Clipper Cruise in Cabin - 5NGT Monday departures / Returning on Saturdays

Being the sum of the 2NGT and 3NGT cruises, this cruise gets people acquainted with the white and black water areas of the Amazon. Passengers board the Clipper on Monday and disembark on Saturday. The operators have taken special attention in order not to repeat sailing at the Meeting of the Waters and Janauary lake areas.

Day 1 - Monday - Departure from Tropical Hotel Manaus pier at 14:30. On board presentation of staff, route and facilities. Navigation to the "Meeting of the Waters". Observation. Navigation in the Xiborena and Careiro region to Curari. Canoe trip in smaller creeks to see life on the flood plains: jute, market / garden produce, rubber trees, as well as flood plain forest and lakes with giant water lilies (when in season). This trip returns after sunset, so that passengers may observe nightlife, including caimans. Navigation up the Amazon (the upper part of it Solimões by the natives) to take Janauacá. Dinner on the way.

Day 2 - Tuesday - Early morning canoe trip for bird watching. There are good chances of seeing hoatzins and large flocks of egrets and cormorants. Breakfast. Visit to the inhabitants of the lake who live from manioc plantations, fishing, diverse fruit trees, rubber, Brazil nut trees, wood and other extractive products. Forest trek with a specialist that will give a full explanation of species found. Lunch. Navigation. Fishing for piranhas and other types of fish. Dinner. Night trip to see nocturnal animals, sometimes including night hawks, snakes, toro rats, sloths and frogs. Downstream Amazon navigation.

Clipper Cruise in Cabin - 5NGT Monday departures / Returning on Saturdays

Day 3 - Wednesday - Early morning bird-watching trip in the Janauary Ecological Park or nearby waterways. Breakfast. Navigation past Manaus port with views of the Floating Docks, Market, Old Customs House and houses on stilts, arriving at the Tropical Hotel Manaus pier at 11:30 so that 2 night cruise passengers may disembark. Departure at 14:30. Navigation to the Pagodão river (tributary of the Negro - Black river). Canoe trip shortly before sunset, returning after dark, with the possibility of observing nocturnal animals and appreciate how the forest changes at sunset. Dinner. Navigation to Açu (Assu) creek or nearby tributaries.

Day 4 - Thursday - Breakfast. Forest trek with a specialist that will give a full explanation of species found. Observation of the flora. Visit to a "caboclo" family. Chance to see their way of life, preparation of manioc flour (staple food of the Amazon) and the children's health and education situation. Lunch. Navigation through Anavilhanas - the largest fresh water archipelago in the world, more than 1,000 miles from the ocean). Visit to Novo Airão Village, its handicraft boatyards where the AMAZON CLIPPER was built; sawmills; market and other activities. Navigation. Dinner. Night expedition for alligator flashlight spotting, possibly frogs, sloth, snakes and other species (depending on the time of the year).

Day 5 - Friday - Navigation to Praia Grande or other white sand beaches and if conditions allow, time for a swim. Observation of the vegetation of the sand areas. Canoe trip on lake Acajatuba or adjacent lake domains to see the typical flora (rubber trees, Brazil nut, useful palm trees of various types). Piranha fishing. Lunch. Stop at Paricatuba community to see abandoned rubber-boom buildings, now an integral part of strangler fig trees. Dinner. Navigation.

Day 6 - Saturday - Lake Janauary. Bird watching sunrise canoe trip. Breakfast. Navigation to the "Meeting of the Waters". Return to the Tropical Hotel Manaus pier, with a fine view of Manaus' waterfront. Arrival at 11:30. End of the cruise.

Details of Manaus's (MAO) Regular Services

H/D Amazon Ecopark Tour - Duration: 4:30 hrs. Tour operates daily, pick-up at 9:00 and drop-off at 13:30 and also pick-up at 14:00 and drop-off at 17:30. Pick-up and drop-off at Tropical Hotel Manaus pier. During the 30 minutes transfer to the Amazon Ecopark, the visitor will receive historical and geographical information about the Amazon. Upon arrival, visitor are biefed about the infra-structure of the park, after which the guide will lead a nature walk through the property. During this, guide will give full explanation of the local fauna and flora. The adventure continues to the "Monkey Forest" where researchers work in rehabilitating monkeys that were captive and must be returned to their environment. Today these monkeys roam free in are Ecopark area!

F/D Amazon Ecopark Tour - Duration: 8:30 hrs. Tour operates daily, pick-up at 9:00 and drop-off at 17:30. Pick-up and drop-off at Tropical Hotel Manaus pier. - During the 30 minutes transfer to the Amazon Ecopark, the visitor will receive historical and geographical information about the Amazon. Upon arrival, visitor are biefed about the infra-structure of the park, after which the guide will lead a nature walk through the property. During this, guide will give full explanation of the local fauna and flora. The adventure continues to the "Monkey Forest" where researchers work in rehabilitating monkeys that were captive and must be returned to their environment. Today these monkeys roam free in are Ecopark area! Lunch. After lunch, time to swim in one of the beaches.