THE WORLD OF ECOLOGICAL TOURISM. Amazônia is in itself a tropical, colourful and exuberant "country". The region’s first inhabitants came some thousands of years ago, from the West, after a long pilgrimage. Reserved to the Spanish people by the Pope’s decision by the end of the 14th century in his Inter Coetera, the region was conquered by the Portuguese three centuries later. This is the world’s most precious biological reserve. There are several gateways to it. You could start to unveil Amazonian’s mysteries from Manaus, capital of the Amazonas state, a five-hour flight from Miami and 12 hours away from Paris. FORESTS AND WATER. Placed in the forest’s very heart, Manaus has been regarded "The Jungle Capital" since 1850, when the so-called rubber cycle reached its top. The wealth generated by this historical period can be evidenced by the sumptuous Amazonas Theater. You’ll get delighted at the sight of the building’s Italian Renaissance style, its chandelier made of crystal from Murano, the paintings picturing the Amazonian world, the Verona marble jambs, the English iron staircase and the stage curtains representing the encounter of the waters of the Solimões and Negro rivers, the Amazonas’ two biggest affluents. LAST-MINUTE SHOPPING. Take the opportunity to shop at Manaus Duty-Free Zone for any items you might have left behind. Once done with the shopping, you may want to get acquainted with the jungle before you plunge right into it. Pay a visit to INPA, the National Institute of Amazonian Research. Take your time. Don’t forget to see the pier, a floating English construction, where you’ll have the chance to contemplate the Negro river downstream opulence. BOTOS AND ALLIGATORS. In Manaus, hop on a boat to see the clearer waters of the Solimões river meet the dark-coloured Negro river. You’ll see both colours following downstream, side by side, for at least five kilometres, when they finally get mixed and enter the Amazonas river. This ocean-like river then proceeds towards the Ecological Park of January, 7 kilometres away from Manaus, spread over an area of 688 hectares. Bathed by numerous tiny brooks, the Park lives in complete harmony with birds, flowers, fish and plants. You should pay special attention to the royal water platters and the animal life, especially the red boto [a local dolphin], monkeys and alligators. Proceed to follow one of the creeks upstream in a canoe, with a mandatory stop over in the very heart of the jungle to shop for Indian handicraft and wonder at the wildlife.
	THE MOON’S BEACH. Before you head for Anavilhanas, the world’s largest fresh water archipelago, you should try the water at Moon’s Beach, 23 kilometres away from Manaus by boat. The white sand, in contrast to the Negro river’s dark waters, forms the most charming scenery.
	ANAVILHANAS. This is a set of 335 islands covering an area of 350 thousand hectares. This 90-Km. long and 15-Km. wide archipelago lies 50 kilometres away from Manaus. The islands form an Ecological Station, an environmental reserve protected by the National Environment Institute (IBAMA). Access to Anavilhanas is provided through the Negro river. One of the region’s best Jungle Hotels is found in Anavilhanas. The tourist will find many opportunities to join a hiking tour into the forest, where incredibly tall tress house countless jungle birds and animals.

		FISHING. In the huge Amazonian Basin, formed by 10 of the world’s largest rivers, the greatest variety of fish abound. Here, any fishing holiday will certainly be turned into a feast, even for casual amateur fishermen. Between September and March, many perfect fishing spots can be found. In the Amazon river, there are many ponds to choose from. If you are at the Solimões river, you may want to go fishing at the Manacapuru river, or at the lake Januacá. In the Negro river, the best spots are the Uarini river and a lake at the Manaquiri river.
	TWO RIVER BEACHES. One could go to the beach at the Negro river between June and November. It lies 13 kilometres away from Manaus downtown and is two kilometres long. There one will find sport courts, bicycle lanes, bars, rest rooms and showers. The best river beach in the whole of Amazonas, however, is the Tupê beach, one hour’s boat ride from Manaus.
	ACCOMMODATION. Jungle hotels are among the best options for anybody looking for isolation and intimate contact with nature. As much as 60% of the planet’s biological diversity are certainly to be found in Amazônia, for six out of ten live species are sheltered by the forest. These accommodation complexes offer rooms as well as little cottages, not to mention the so-called boat-hotels. They also offer a dynamic program that will lead the tourist right into the jungle. One could choose to go hiking, fishing or just sightseeing through the countless creeks.
	DOWNSTREAM THE AMAZON. A trip through the forest down the Amazon towards Belém, capital of the State of Pará, is definitely a must. Enjoy this three-day voyage on a boat as an opportunity to get to know this incredible river in detail. You’ll see the river grow to up to 20 kilometres in width, pouring out 100 thousand cubic meters per second into the sea. PARINTINS. By the end of the first day on this trip, the ship docks in Parintins, a small island. You may want to leave your Amazonian adventure to June, the most appropriate season. You will then be able to watch the Parintins Folklore Festival, one of Brazil’s most popular feasts. It’s a celebration of gigantic proportions, with thousands of people parading on the streets in most colourful regional outfits. The festival is indeed an unusual expression of Amazonian culture. As a traveller, you will appreciate the regional rhythm of boi-bumbá and xaxado. FEASTS. As the ship proceeds its cruise downstream, you may want to admire the forest, which houses over 2,300 tree species and provides a perfect habitat for tapirs, snakes, pacas and monkeys. The next stop is Santarém, already in the State of Pará, 1,369 kilometres away from Belém. During June and July, two major cultural events take place here, and are definitely worth seeing: the river procession of St. Peter, with its own boi-bumbá parade, and the religious celebration of the Sairé Feast. One important cultural highlight of Santarém is the Indigenous Art Museum, where 1,500 pieces from 57 different Indian communities from Amazônia and Mato Grosso are displayed.
	THE POROROCA. Just before the ship arrives to its destination, the Amazon river runs into the waters from the river Tocantins, which comes all the way from the Tocantins State. The volume is increased manifold and the phenomenon known locally as "pororoca" occurs when the river enters the Atlantic Ocean. Waves up to 12 meters high can be observed from the Caviana Island, 300 kilometres away from Belém. THE STATE OF PARÁ: MANY TRADITIONS. When the ship docks in Belém, the traveller sees a city that has preserved its 17-century traditions in a highly jungle environment. The streets are guarded by old mango trees and impregnated with the intriguing scent of aromatic herbs, used in sortilege and as a spice for the most exotic dishes that make up this State’s cuisine. Such herbs are available at the traditional Ver-o-Peso Market, downtown . HOUSES AND MANSIONS. The past is ever present in Belém’s architecture, especially in Cidade Velha [Old Town], where large houses and mansions display a Portuguese tile-covered façade. Don’t miss the Antônio Lemos Palace and the Corisco Fort, at the confluence of river Guamá and the Guajará Bay.
	THE GREAT PROCESSION. Brazil offers the traveller two big Christian celebrations. Apart from the religious celebration of Our Lady of Aparecida, in the city of Aparecida, in the countryside of São Paulo, at the Paraíba river valley, Belém’s Círio de Nazareth is the country’s second big religious event. It happens every month of October. The feast, also in honour of Our Lady of Aparecida, starts with a river procession that departs from the pier at Itacoaracy, at the Guajará Bay. On October 8th, over one million people parade through the city’s main streets carrying the image of the Saint up to the Nazareth Cathedral.
	THE BUFFALO LAND. With an area of 49,602 square kilometres, the Marajó Island is the second biggest river archipelago in the world. With an incredibly rich fauna, the land presents two kinds of vegetation. Eastwards, a large floodplain of 23 thousand square meters, covered mostly by savanna fields. Westbound, thick forests are to be found, over an area of 26,500 square meters. To access the island one has to fly or sail to a little town called Soure. Buffaloes are a trademark of the Marajó Island. They are grown in extensive fields that may get swampy between the months of January and June. The herd is immense. Of course the island is also rich in other fauna and flora resources. Since hunting is prohibited, you should spend most of your time admiring the herons, the toucans and the jaburus. AN ANCIENT CIVILISATION. There are traits of an ancient civilisation having lived in Marajó Island centuries ago. Evidence thereof are pottery objects dating back to 980 BC. This legacy was somehow passed on and survive in the so-called marajoara pottery style, the latest pieces of which date back to the 17th century. Besides being an archaeological paradise, Marajó is also a cultural centre, with numerous folklore activities such as dances like carimbó and lundu.
	BEACHES. They are countless. The busiest of them is Mosqueiro, 86 kilometres away from Belém. This is a hot spot, especially in July, when the beach is invaded by tourists of all ages. Located in an island, Mosqueiro is surrounded by river beaches and cut through by numerous creeks and the so-called igarapés. In Soure, in Marajó Island, the best beaches are Céu [Sky] and Cajá-Una, with its dunes and its greenish waters. If you’re looking for isolation, go to Salinópolis, 223 kilometres away from Belém. WILD BEACHES. Here there is no sanitation, no electricity and no telephone connection. The city of Ajuruteuau, 30 kilometres away from the city of Bragança, is surrounded by wild beaches with no infrastructure whatsoever. You’ll probably enjoy the sea at the Campo do Meio Beach, with its soaked vegetation, its dunes, clear waters and very strong waves. With a little luck, you’ll be able to find a tiny hotel providing some comfort. MUSEUM. One of Brazil’s most important culture houses is to be found in Belém: the Museum Emílio Goeldi, where an impressive archaeological collection is available, as well as botanical, ethnic, mineral and zoological items. A true zoobotanical park with a huge aquarium for regional fish. SHOPPING. In Manaus the tourist will find a great variety of Indian and regional handicraft items to choose from. That includes pottery, wood and fibre pieces. The preferred choice should be the tiles from Marajó.
	RORAIMA, AN ADVENTURE TO REMEMBER. On the borderline of Brazil with Venezuela and the English Guianas, the Roraima Mt. awaits those willing to climb its 2,772 meters. A hard job, for sure. One of the planet’s oldest mountains, this rock is surrounded by rain forest. It’s indeed a major challenge. Getting to its peak demands perfect fitness. On the way up there are sheer rock faces, waterfalls and very slippery shelves. This table-shaped mountain offers 550 thousand square kilometres of mysteries. The Indian communities used to call it "Blue Mountain", as its peak seems to be always surrounded by clouds. It looks pretty much like a dinosaur land. The mountain cannot be accessed on the Brazilian side, though. To climb it, one has to drive from Boa Vista - Roraima’s capital - to a borderline city called Santa Helena. Once through the Venezuelan customs, one has to follow to Peray-Tepui, where the journey starts. Climbing the mountain usually takes three days. Temperature oscillates between 25 and 5 degrees Celsius.
	AMAPÁ AND OIAPOQUE, THE FRONTIER. Cross the Equator line into the State of Amapá and make a stop over in Oiapoque, a city inhabited by Uaçá, Galibi and Waiãpi Indians. Here you should rent a small motor boat to ride on the Oiapoque river. Follow downstream as if heading for Cabo Orange. On the left-hand side margin you’ll see the French city of São Jorge do Oiapoque. Stick to your wild tour and let the boat go. When dusk starts to creep in, have the boat return to the starting point. Keep silent, lay down on the boat’s floor and let yourself be hypnotised by the star-crowded sky as you breathe calmly. HUMAN DIVERSITY. Inhabited by over 5 million Indians back in 1500, when the country was discovered, Brazil still counts on a highly significant Indian population, survivors of a drastic cut down imposed by the civilisation process. The Indian groups which inhabit the Amazonian forest have managed to keep their habits and traditions, since they have little or no contact with the so-called civilised world. There are over 400 indigenous areas. The most important of them all is the Yanomami Indian reserve, an area of 9.4 million hectares covering territories in the States of Roraima and Amazonas. In the State of Mato Grosso, coming down from Pará, another 2.6 million hectare houses the Xingu reserve, created by the legendary Villas-Boas brothers. Xingu is regarded as sort of a United Nations Assembly for the Indians, although it’s subject to governmental control through FUNAI - Brazil’s National Indian Foundation.
	PARKS AND RESERVES. To protect Amazônia’s biological diversity, the government has created several national parks, biological and ecological reserves. In the State of Amazonas, the Jaú National Park can be found, with an area of 2.2 million hectares, that is, the largest forest reserve in all of South America. In the State of Pará, there is the National Park of Amazônia, with an area of 994,000 hectares. To access the park, one has to ride on BR-220, the so-called Transamazonic Road, from Belém, or else proceed by boat on the Tapajós river from the city of Santarém. The vegetation is rich in native species such as rubber trees, and Brazilian nut trees, the white cedar and the jacaranda. In terms of fauna, there are over 250 bird species. You’ll be delighted by the flocks of parrots. Right on the borderline of Brazil and Venezuela, still in the State of Amazonas, you’ll find the National Park of the Neblina Mt., the country’s highest mountain, with 3,014 meters. BRAZILIAN RIVERS. Brazil has a vast and dense watershed network, and many of its rivers stand out due to their length, width and depth. However, due to the Brazilian relief, plateau rivers prevail, their beds creating sloping breaks and incidental valleys. Of Brazil’s greatest rivers, only the Amazon and the Paraguay are predominantly floodplain rivers and therefore widely used for navigation. The São Francisco and Paraná rivers are the main plateau rivers. The principal water distribution centres are found in Brazil’s Plateau (Paraná, Paraguay, Uruguay, São Francisco and several other coastline rivers) and the Guianas Plateau (Amazon’s tributary rivers). On the Amazonian basins, broad and easily accessible canals are often used as waterways. River navigation is feasible on the Tocantins, Araguaia and Guaporé rivers and also on the Paraguay, Paraná rivers and some of their tributaries. A dense draining network characterises the South Region, formed by two great basins: the Paraguay river basin and that of the Uruguay river. River navigation on this region is of greater importance when compared with some rivers of the Platina Basin, especially the Paraguay river. An important waterway is under implementation in connection with the Tietê-Paraná system, which will include some 70 million hectares in the States of São Paulo, Paraná, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás and Minas Gerais.