Manaus is the capital of the state of Amazonas, and one of the main financial, business and economic centers of the North Region of Brazil. It is located in the center of the largest tropical forest in the world,7 near the confluence of the Negro River with the Solimões River. The port of Manaus is the largest river port in the world. Manaus belongs to the Central Amazon Mesoregion and to the microregion namesake. It is the most populous city in the Amazon, with 2,094,391 inhabitants and approximately 2.5 million inhabitants for its metropolitan area, according to data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The city gradually increased its share of the domestic product gross (GDP) in recent years, becoming 1.4% of the country's economy. In the ranking of América Economía magazine, Manaus appears as one of the 20 most important cities for doing business in Latin America, ahead of capitals of Latin countries such as San Salvador and La Paz.

It was founded around 1669 by the Portuguese as the São José do Rio Negro fortress; it was raised to a town in 1832 with the name of Manaus in homage to the Manaós Indian nation, being legally converted into a city on October 24, 1848 with the name of Cidade da Barra do Rio Negro. On September 4, 1856, it again had its current name. It became known at the beginning of the 20th century, in the rubber fever. At that time it was named "Heart of the Amazon" and "The city of the forests". Among the city's exports are rubber, nuts from Brazil, wood and other products. Its main economic activities are the oil refinery, the food industry, tourism, and the manufacture of soaps, motorcycles, beverages, information technology, and chemical products. Its main economic engine is the Manaus Free Trade Zone.

Manaus is a huge metropolis in the heart of the Amazon jungle. It's that simple, that impressive. The capital of the State of Amazonas (the largest in Brazil) is also the economic and commercial hub of northern Brazil and one of the most populated cities in the country. If you imagined that on your trip to the Amazon you would only see kilometers and kilometers of uninhabited vegetation and wild animals, you will be surprised when you arrive in this city of tall buildings, luxurious hotels, modern infrastructure and intense free zone. But if there is a place in the world where this contrast can occur, it is Brazil.

With an excellent variety of tourist services, Manaus (also called "Manaus" in Spanish) is the perfect starting point for adventure expeditions through the jungle and the mightiest river in the world. But Manaus –contrary to what many people think- is not on the slopes of the Amazon, but on the wide Río Negro, one of its tributaries. Excursions leave from its hectic floating port to navigate the Amazon waters and get lost in the thick jungle, getting to know the indigenous tribes that inhabit it.

Manaus offers a space surrounded by nature, culture, art and gastronomy. You will be dazzled by the wonderful shows offered by the majestic Amazonas Opera House, built with high-end materials. The exotic cuisine of Manaus has a wide variety of typical dishes made with fish and native spices from the region. The fish from the Amazon are considered the best in South America and in Manaus their consumption is high.