A Romantic Weekend in Manaus
A romantic weekend in Manaus
Manaus offers couples a short list of romantic options: a night at the opera house, a boat on the river and a lodge in the forest. Everything else is ordinary city life, so a good weekend picks two or three of these and gives each time.
A sample plan
- Day 1: a daytime tour of Teatro Amazonas, then an evening performance there if one is scheduled.
- Day 2: a river outing to see the Meeting of the Waters, with a sunset cruise if you can book one.
- Day 3 onward: a lodge stay on the Rio Negro or the Juma River.
Teatro Amazonas
The theatre was inaugurated on 31 December 1896 on Praça São Sebastião. It is a working venue, so check the programme for concerts and opera. The annual opera festival has its own dates, which should be checked ahead. Guided daytime visits cost R$20 for a full ticket and R$10 at half price, and run Tuesday to Saturday 09:00 to 17:00 and Sunday 09:00 to 13:00. UNESCO added the theatre to the World Heritage List on 27 July 2026 under the name Amazonia Theaters. See Portal Amazônia .
River cruise
At the Meeting of the Waters, near the city, the black Rio Negro and the pale Solimões flow together without blending for roughly 6 km. Operators offer river cruises, including sunset departures. Confirm the route, the duration and the price in reais, and ask whether the guide is licensed.
Lodge stays
- Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge: Rio Negro, about 180 km away, 22 rooms, 3 to 6 day packages with transfers. An older price is around R$2,700 per person for 3 days.
- Juma Amazon Lodge: Autazes, about 100 km, 20 bungalows, a pool of river water.
Take a licensed guide on any outing, and do not swim in the river channels.
The old Hotel Tropical
The Hotel Tropical stopped operating in May 2019. Fametro bought it in 2020, and it is being turned into a Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel. A July 2026 report said it was about to reopen, with no confirmed date, so it cannot be booked yet.
When to travel
The river is lowest between roughly August and November. Beaches widen, but channels are shallow and boat transfers lengthen. At high water, the opposite holds. The Porto de Manaus gauge is worth a look before you commit to dates.
Health notes
Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for Amazonas and should happen at least 10 days before departure. Malaria prophylaxis should be discussed with a doctor about a month before. Pack DEET or picaridin repellent. The CDC Brazil page has the details.
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Read more: Lodge stays and riverboats and Solo activities .