Getting around — Brazilian Amazon

Access to Brazilian Amazon is mandatorily by plane from the rest of Brazil (distances make bus impractical). Three main airports: Manaus Eduardo Gomes (MAO) — main gateway, daily flights from Rio (4h, €250-400 return), São Paulo (4h, €250-400), Brasília (3h, €200-350), with Latam, Gol, Azul; some direct international flights from Miami (American Airlines) and Lisbon (TAP, seasonal). Belém Val de Cans (BEL) — flights from Rio (3h30, €200-350), São Paulo (3h30, €250-400), Brasília (2h30, €180-300). Porto Velho (PVH, Rondônia) — alternative for south-western Amazon.

From airport to Manaus centre: official taxi 60-90 BRL (€10-15), Uber 40-60 BRL, hotel shuttle by booking. From Manaus to your lodge: included transfer in full board (fast boat 1-3h depending on distance).

Once in the Amazon, transport is almost exclusively fluvial — it's the nature of the region. Lodges offer all excursions in motorised pirogues (with Amazonian lead-tail motor) or no-motor canoes for discreet wildlife observation. Local bus-boat ("barco regional") connects Manaus to caboclo villages in 6-24 hours navigation (hammock at 30-50 BRL the trip, authentic but slow experience — impractical for short-stay travellers).

River cruises offer integrated transport: 5-star boat-hotel (Iberostar Grand Amazon, Premium Amazon) with air-conditioned cabins, gourmet restaurant, pool, and daily excursions in annex pirogues. It's the comfort option par excellence to explore more widely (up to Tabatinga on upper Solimões in 7 nights).

Domestic flights in the Amazon are infrequent and expensive (Manaus-São Gabriel da Cachoeira 2h, €200-400; Manaus-Tefé 1h30, €150-300) — mainly used to access remote areas (upper Rio Negro with Yanomami).

In Manaus, urban travel via Uber and 99 (€5-15 per ride), bus (5-7 BRL), little metro (under construction). Avoid street-hailed taxis. The city itself is unattractive (degraded urbanism), 1-2 days suffice for Theatro Amazonas, Encontro das Águas and market.