Transport in Manaus - Lonely Planet Travel Information

Getting there & away

Contents

Land
Boat
Air

Land

Car

Few travelers rent cars in Manaus, but if you feel the need there are several agencies at the airport that can put you behind a wheel in no time. They include Localiza (3652 1176), Unidas (3652 1327), Avis (3652 1579) and Hertz (3652 1421).

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Boat

Large passenger boats arrive and depart at the Estação Hidroviária de Manaus (at Porto Flutuante). Speedboats to Tefé, Tabatinga and Parintins use the Porto Manaus Moderna (behind Mercado Municipal Adolfo Lisboa).

Agencia Rio Amazônas (3621 4319, 3621 4310; 6am-6pm) sells passenger-boat tickets inside the terminal at the Porto Flutuante. Boats going downstream to Belém usually make stops in Itacoatiara, Parintins, Santarém and Monte Alegre. Up the Rio Solimões, boats call at Tefé, Benjamin Constant and Tabatinga. Boats to Porto Velho, along the Rio Madeira, make stops at Manicoré and Humaitá. You can buy tickets at slightly discounted prices from the men hanging around the entrance, but you may be bumped if the boat is full.

AJATO (3622 6047, 9984 9091; Porto Manaus Moderna; 8am-5pm Mon-Fri, 8am-noon Sat) operates comfortable speedboats upstream to Tefé (R$180, 14 hours, twice weekly) and Tabatinga (R$360, 36 hours, once weekly), and downstream to Parantins (R$140, 10 hours, twice weekly). There is also service up the Rio Madeira as far as Manicoré (R$150, 14 hours, twice weekly). Service to Santarém was suspended at last check, but it’s worth asking whether it’s been reinstated. All trips include meals. Boats can fill up, so plan on buying your ticket a day or two in advance.

Slow boats going up the Rio Negro leave from Porto São Raimundo, in the Bairro São Raimundo, an unsavory district 1.5km northwest of the Porto Flutuante. A few boats a week go to Barcelos (two days) and onward to São Gabriel da Cachoeira (five to six days), typically leaving in the evening.

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Air

The Aeroporto Internacional Eduardo Gomes (Av Santos Dumont 1350) is 13km north of the city center. Smaller regional airlines may use a smaller airport (known as ‘Eduardinho’), about 600m east of the main one. The large modern airport terminal has a tourism office (open from 7am to 11pm), cash machines, an exchange booth, an internet café, and a clinic for yellow fever vaccinations.

Fares fluctuate greatly – ask travel agents about promotions, especially when flying within the Amazon region. All flights from Gomes airport are subject to a R$20 departure tax; those from Eduardinho pay R$16. The tax is usually charged to your ticket at the time of purchase.

Gol (airport only 3652 1634; www.voegol.com.br)

Copa/Continental (centro 3622 1381; www.copaair.com; Av Eduardo Ribeiro 654)

Rico Linhas Aéreas (www.voerico.com.br) centro (3633 5166; Rua 24 de Maio 60; 7am-6pm Mon-Fri, 7am-noon Sat); airport (3652 1655; 5am-7pm Mon-Fri, 5am-5pm Sat)

TAF (airport only 3652 1355; www.voetaf.com.br; 8am-5:30pm Mon-Fri, 8am-4:30pm Sat)

TAM (airport 3652 1300; www.tam.com.br)

Varig (airport only 4003 7000; www.varig.com.br; 9am-3pm)

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