The largest city to visit in Brazilian Amazonia,Manaus is famous for its colonial architecture, a style epitomized by the famous Amazon Theatre standing proudly in the city center. The guided tour of the building transported me back to the end of the 19th century, when the city was experiencing a boom period driven by rubber production. What the guide had to say was fascinating, which made the tour especially enjoyable.
The streets in the center, which have been a tax-free zone since the beginning of the second half of the 20th century, are full of little shops and stalls selling all kinds of goods, from clothing to the very latest in mobile phones. This "giant supermarket" aspect didn't appeal to me at all and I quickly decided to leave the overpopulated center behind and head to Senator Jefferson Peres Park. Located right at the heart of the city, the park has developed along the banks of a canal and is a particularly relaxing place, away from the hustle and bustle of the shopping streets.
Finally, you mustn't miss the meeting of the waters of the Negro and Solimões rivers, which join to form the Amazon River. The black and brown waters flow together without mixing for around six kilometers: a natural phenomenon that you can also see in Santarem. I recommend going out on a boat to get a closer view of these contrasts.
Manaus is the gateway to the Amazon! To arrive in this region, which is accessed with great difficulty, you will inevitably pass through Manaus. The town is full of numerous hotels and restaurants to accommodate the tourists and passing travellers.
During a trip to Brazil, passing through Manaus and through the jungle is a trip in itself.
Today, this former Portuguese trading post has been transformed into a large industrial city with little charm. I wouldn't advise travellers to stop in Manaus for a while but rather use the city as a stop-off point to go shopping before leaving to explore the Amazon and the river by boat. However, you will find amazing architectural structures on site which are worth looking at and which contrast sharply with the rest of Brazil.