Planning your trip
Entering Brazil:
For visits of up to six months, citizens of the United States and Canada need a valid
passport and a Brazilian visa. All prices are in Brazilian Cruzeiros (abbreviated C$);
as of early October 1996, U.S.$1 = C$1.02 (C$1.00 = U.S.$0.98 ). For the current rate
of exchange, check any major newspaper. To call Brazil direct, use the international
access code (011 from the U.S.), the country code 55, and the area code and telephone
number. To call Leticia, Colombia, dial the international access code, the country code
57, the area code 819, and the phone number.
When to go
Seasonal changes are slight, since the Amazon lies near the Equator; in general, the wet
season is December to June, while the dry season is July to November. Average temperatures
are near 80° F (26° C). Expect high humidity, especially in the jungle.
What to pack
For an expedition into the Amazon, its a good idea to wear quick-drying clothing,
particularily cotton, with a light jacket for the evenings. Comfortable ankle-high boots,
preferably with rubber soles, are also a must for trekking through the jungle. Other items
to bring: mosquito repellent and lotion, a cap or hat to cover your head and shade your
face, sunglasses and sunscreen, bottled water (the native water is not kind to the
gastrointestinally challenged), a flashlight, extra batteries, plastic bags to keep
necessary items dry, toiletries, a first aid kit, and netting to keep the bugs away.
Binoculars will bring the native flora and fauna into sharper focus.
How to get there
BY PLANE: The airport in Manaus is the Eduardo Gomes International Airport. Most flights
from the U.S. leave from Miami, New York, and Los Angeles, with a layover in Saõ Paulo.
Airlines include: VASP, United, American Airlines, Delta, and Varig (the national airline
of Brazil). From the international airport in Manaus you can connect with flights to the
rest of Brazil and Peru, Colombia, Venezula, Mexico, Europe (via Paris), or the U.S.
There are several commercial flights between Manaus and Tabatinga weekly. However,
intrepid travelers might be able to coax their way onto a cargo flight. Another option
is to fly Air Avianca from Bogotá to Leticia, Colombiajust across the border from
Tabatinga. You may also need to get a Colombian visa if you choose the latter route.
BY BOAT: Once you get to Manaus, you can change the mode of transportation to experience
the jungle. The trip upstream to Tabatinga usually takes six to ten days. Regular boats
generally leave on Wednesdays and Saturdays, but this is always subject to change. The
return trip downstream takes less timeusually four days.
Passenger capacity ranges from about a dozen people to 150 or more, and the boats span a
broad price range. Expect to sleep in a hammock on the deck. Youll probably get the
chance to fish for piranhas, visit native villages, and step out into the jungle. For idle
amusement, try alligator spotting, a nighttime activity where you pan your flashlight
across the water and see the reflective gaze of alligators sparkling back.
Travel Agents and Tour Companies
Many tour operators offer all-inclusive expeditions so that you dont have to do anything
once you land at the airport in Manaus. Check with the following travel agents for
information:
D.M.S. Travel, 314 Madison Avenue, Suite 811; New York, New York, 10017, U.S.A.;
+1 212 986 7557; fax: +1 212 986 7579
Skyline Travel, 376 New York Avenue; Huntington, New York, 11743, U.S.A.;
+1 516 423 9090; fax: +1 516 423 9094
Getting around
Transportation in Manaus (with just over a million people) is similar to that in any other large citypublic transportation, buses, taxis, and car rentals. Out on the
Amazon, boatsfrom canoes to cargo and cruise vesselsare often the only mode of
long-distance transportation.