Accomodation / Prices in Manaus | Brazil - Lonely Planet Forum

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Wed, 17 Feb 2016 19:41:47 +0000

Hello all LPers:

Booked to fly from SP to Manaus May 31st. I have not made any advance booking for jungle tours or river boats from Manaus to Leticia as I read all over LP that its better and cheaper to do it upon arrival in Manaus.

I know many out here say Manaus is not worth staying more than a day, maybe 2 and so with that in mind, am looking for 1 to 2 night accomodation very centrally located to do the following:

1) Sightsee Manaus by foot
2) Visit tour offices where I can arrange a 3-5 day jungle tour. I have identified tour operators like Gero Tours, Green Tours, Amazonforest tours that seems to come highly recommended on here and I assume they are all located pretty close to each other????.
3) Visit the boat office a day before I leave for my river boat journey to Leticia/Iquitos

A few questions:

1) How does one get from Manaus airport to their hostel? What is the cost and how long does it take? I land at about 1.15pm in the afternoon.

2) On the last day of my jungle tour - is it possible that rather than come back to Manaus and stay a night in Manaus just to catch the river boat onward to Leticia/Iquitos - can I just catch a river boat from wherever I will be staying in the jungle? If so any pointers on how I can do this?

3) I researched and prices for Manaus hostels seem to range between $10 for dorms to $15+ for private rooms - would this be about correct?

4) Jungle tours I researched - its about R$100-150 per night per person all inclusive - would this be about correct?

5) Fast River boat takes less than 24 hours to Leticia - its about R$250 - would this be correct?

6) Slow boat takes about 5-8 days to Leticia - its about R$150 - would this be correct?

7) Would I be able to use credit cards for booking my jungle tour, river boat trip?

8) I ask for advise on prices so that I know some ranges in order to avoid getting ripped off. And more importantly so that I ensure I carry adequate cash as I intend to use my credit card every where I can and only use cash where I have to. I also assume if one is willing to pay cash, tour operators are willing to negotiate?

9) Weather I know its in the 80s F and humid - given the Zika scare, I guess long pants and shirts are a precautionary measure throughout my Amazon trip along with repellants. I also understand a blanket is a must for the riverboat along with a hammock you buy in Manaus. Any other recommended personal items one should carry?

10) Any other advise on Manaus, the jungle tours and the river boats would be greatly appreciated - specially names of recommended boats, tour operators and anything else you feel I should know.

Obrigado!!!!

ONLINE

Wed, 17 Feb 2016 22:29:20 +0000

1) One doesn't really sightsee Manaus by foot. Manaus is a sprawling pile of concrete that was barfed out sometime in the 70s in the middle of the Amazon jungle. There are a few highlights, none of them particularly near each other. The absolute (perhaps even only) highlight is, imho, the Teatro Amazonas. Go there during the day for the tour, it´s mindboggling, and together with the square and the church opposite, gives you an idea of how stupidly rich the rubber barons were at the turn of the last century. Also go for one of the free shows in the evening if you're around for one. Other than that, there's the port (you'll go there anyway to catch your riverboat) and the market next to it, some parks, the most interesting of which is probably the Bosque, and the beach at Ponta Negra (wednesday evening or on weekends is best if you like the crowds). All of these are spread out, except for the theater and the market, which are within walking distance of each other. I like to stay in the Intercity hotel, but it's a midrange hotel, so probably not what you're looking for.

2) Travel agencies tend to be clustered around the Teatro Amazonas or the port area. Be careful to only trust agencies with credentials, I've heard quite a bit about tourist scams in Manaus where tourists buy non-existant or extremely crummy jungle tours from fake operators. The ones you mentioned are legit.

Your questions:
1) I take a taxi. Presumably there's also a public bus, but no real clue on that one. Unfortunately I don't remember the price for a taxi. My guess is around R$ 70.

2) Depends on the boat you want to take.

3)See above. Haven't stayed in hostels, but check out hostelworld and hostelbooker websites for a decent price estimate. The prices you mention seem reasonable (assuming the $ is USD).

4) Seems a bit on the cheap side, but if you found those prices on an up-to-date site, then I guess. You could always email the tour operators you already found and ask them.

5) No. The fast boat takes about 1 1/2 days. Not sure on the price, sounds too cheap.

6) Yes on time. Again, not sure on price, think it's quite a bit more than that.

7) Jungle tour: yes in the tourist office, probably not at the jungle lodge, but really depends on the tour.

9) Short sleeved shirts and a broad rimmed hat during the day. Omnipresent Havaianas, swimming trunks.

10) I think you already picked my brain for most of that. Hope someone else can guide you further.

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Sat, 18 Feb 2017 01:02:01 +0000

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