Amazon attractions

This museum run by a congregation of Salesian nuns boasts a nice collection of artifacts showcasing the history, heritage, and culture of the region’s indigenous populations. Items on display include pottery, weapons, tools, ritual masks, clothing, and musical instruments from the tribes of the upper Amazon.

The Indian Museum in Manaus is a fascinating and comprehensive collection of artefacts and exhibits dedicated to the indigenous people of the Amazon. Run by an order of nuns known as the Salesian Sisters, the museum is committed to travelling to gather more information and, where possible, to speak with indigenous people and learn about their crafts and cultures.

This rubber estate turned museum is the last vestige of the Amazon region’s once booming rubber industry, which brought an influx of riches to Manaus during the late 19th century. Here, visitors can explore a reconstructed rubber tapper shack and smokehouse to learn more about the rubber making process and the people behind it.

Along with the Teatro Amazonas in central Manaus, the rubber boom of the late 1800s also saw the construction of the Church of San Sebastian (Igreja Sao Sebastiao). The church was built in 1888, and although there are other more noteworthy cathedrals in Brazil, this one is certainly worth a visit.

The CIGS Zoo is run by the Brazilian Army and serves as a safe haven for animals rescued from traffickers and hunters. The site houses a variety of animals that have been rescued (or displaced from their natural habitats due to development), including jaguars, monkeys, tapirs, sloths, and many species of birds and Amazonian fish.

While not as well known as Ponta Negra, crescent-shaped Praia da Lua is arguably Manaus’ best beach, with white sand and the warm, black waters of the Rio Negro. It’s a popular beach for swimming or watching an Amazon sunset.

A major draw of visiting the Amazonas region is the incredible variety of living creatures that are unique to the river and rainforest. Anyone who might be a bit hesitant to go trekking into the jungle to meet them in their natural habitat can get a peek at the Amazon Natural Science Museum (Museo De Ciencias Naturais Da Amazonia).