The Amazon

The capital of this region is Manaus, located deep within the jungle near the confluence of the Negro and Amazon Rivers and was transformed from a small, insignificant town into an important metropolis during the 19th century. Today, Manaus is served by an international airport and has become a city of over one million people with a thriving eco-tour business that specialises in guiding tourists into the dark forests of the Amazon.

Manaus is the ideal point of departure for visiting the rest of the Amazon region. Tour boats leave Manaus for day trips to the meeting of waters where the black waters of the Negro River meet the lighter waters of the Amazon River flowing side by side without mixing for several miles. This region has to be one of the biggest attractions in Brazil because of the amazing rivers and forest regions.

Here are some points that will make your trip more pleasant:
1) Take good care in your personal hygiene and dress to avoid ridicule and to fit in with the locals.
2) Remember to be polite by removing headdress (males) and shaking hands and waits for a reply before proceeding.
3) Be patient and don’t criticise.
4) When taking photographs with locals in them, always ask permission.
5) Generally be wary of what you do to avoid offending or causing trouble.

Most of Brazil can be visited comfortably throughout the year - it's only the south, which can be unbearably sticky in summer and non-stop rainy in winter, that has extreme seasonal changes. With many Brazilians on summer vacation from December to February, travel can be difficult and expensive, while from Rio to the south the humidity can be oppressive.
Summer is also the most festive time of year, as Brazilians escape their apartments and take to the beaches and streets. School holidays begin in mid-December and go through to Carnaval, usually in late February