Northern Brazil

The seven states of the North Region as defined by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, covering the main body of the Amazon rainforest, with Manaus, river cruises and jungle ecotourism as the highlights.

Scope: Using the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) five-region division, the North Region comprises seven states: Amazonas, Pará, Acre, Rondônia, Roraima, Amapá and Tocantins. It makes up more than 40% of Brazil's area, and most of it is Amazon rainforest. Highlights: Manaus, the capital of Amazonas, is the gateway to rainforest travel. The city has the Amazon Theatre, built during the rubber boom, and outside the city you can see the Meeting of the Waters, where the black Rio Negro and the tan Rio Solimões flow side by side without mixing. Upriver near Novo Airão, the Anavilhanas Archipelago is one of the largest river archipelagos in the world, where you can paddle a canoe through flooded forest and watch pink Amazon river dolphins. In Pará, Belém has the Ver-o-Peso market in its old port and distinctive Amazonian cuisine, and near Santarém, Alter do Chão has white-sand river beaches known as the "Caribbean of the Amazon". In Tocantins, Jalapão has golden dunes and clear springs, and in Roraima, Mount Roraima is a tabletop-mountain trekking destination. Classic itineraries: 1–2 days in Manaus, plus 3–5 days at a jungle lodge or on a river boat; 4–6 days in Belém and Alter do Chão in Pará. Getting there and around: There are few long-distance roads, so travel relies mainly on flights and river boats; Manaus, Belém and Santarém have airports. Notes: Check yellow fever vaccination requirements in advance and take precautions against mosquitoes. Choose reputable guides and licensed jungle camps.

Destinations

Itineraries