What is Manaus like?
Manaus was founded in 1669 by the Portuguese as a small fishing village. Its name is of Indian origin and its literal translation is “Mother of God.” Situated just 3 degrees below the equator and over 1000 miles inland, it is one of the busiest ports where cargo ships distribute their goods throughout the Amazon basin. With the discovery of rubber trees in the area in the 1850’s, Manaus flourished for a period of about 20 years, from 1890-1910, and was known as the “Paris of the Jungle.” During this time, wealthy plantation owners flocked to Manaus and a “belle epoque” splendor prevailed as evidenced by their ornate Opera House, which was built in 1892 with distinct European influence, both in style and materials. Feel free to call, e-mail or write our office any time to discuss the trips with someone from our staff who has intimate knowledge of the program. We will be happy to go over details, provide references, and offer available dates.
