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Manaus, capital of Amazonas, is located in the middle of the Amazon forest at the confluence of the Negro and Solimões rivers. Founded in 1669, it's name means "mother of the gods". It is the second largest metropolitan area in Northern Brazil with approx. 2 million inhabitants.

Manaus has a tropical rainforest climate, but rainfall intensity is somewhat seasonal, with one half of the year being half as rainy as the other.

Manaus is a cosmopolitan city, and, because of its location next to the Amazon rain forest, it attracts a substantial number of tourists, who can find plenty of boat and land trips into the surrounding jungle. A great diversity of wildlife can be found even in the surroundings of Manaus. Tour boats leave Manaus to see the Meeting of the Waters, where the Negro River meet the Solimoes River. Visitors can also explore river banks and "igarapes", swim and canoe in placid lakes or simply walk in the lush forest or stay at hotels in the jungle.

The city has a busy cultural calendar throughout the year, including the Opera, Theater, Jazz and Cinema festivals, as well as Boi Manaus (usually held around October 24th), which is a great celebration of Northern Brazilian culture. The Mercado Adolpho Lisboa, is the city's oldest marketplace. It is a copy of the Les Halles market of Paris. Other interesting historical sites include the the Rio Negro Palace cultural center and the Justice Palace, right next to the Amazonas Opera House.

Getting to Manaus can be achieved by air (about four hours from São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro) and boat (From Belém, it takes about five days). Due to road conditions, there is very little (if any) long-distance bus service originating from major cities in Brazil.