Experience in Manáus, Brazil by Mayara

What is it like to live in Manáus? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Live in Manaus is something extraordinary. The main reason for it is because the city is located in the heart of Amazon Rain Forest and you can have a lot of experiencies especially with nature, people and the local culture - which is rich in so many ways.

Source

What is the student lifestyle like in Manáus?

As a student, you can have a simple lifestyle. Unfortunately, the city still doesn't have a way to make life easier in mobility, for example. Here, you only can take a bus or a car to go every where. About weather, it's hot most part of the year so, people who aren't familiar to high temperatures can have a problem but we live with air conditioning all the time.

Parties and cultural life is amazing. You can enjoy a lot of music and cultural stuffs. Manaus has an Opera House with lots of free activities along the year. People can also enjoy nature and outdoor activities such as take a ride at the Historic City Center, at Ponta Negra Tourist Complex to see the amazing sunset at the Rio Negro River (wich bathes the entire city) and others. The sunset in Amazonia is consider one of the most beautiful in the world and it's magic to see.

How much does it cost to live in Manáus?

Manaus is an expensive city. To live here as a student you need R$1. 500, 00 more or less (to eat, transportations and parties).

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Manáus? Is there any advice you can give?

Is not difficult but it's expensive to live in a nice place. It's better to live with a family or share an accommodation with friends.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

The food is amazing! Is one of my favorites things in Manaus. The Amazonian cuisine is considered one of the most exotic and rich of Brazil, preserving indigenous origins to the recovery of fish, spices and fruits in the region. Whoever comes to Manaus cannot fail to try typical foods like "X-caboquinho" Tacacá”, pirarucu and tapioca.

I like everything so is very hard to say what is my favorite but I can say that I can't live without regional fishes (Jaraqui, Sardinha, Tambaqui), Tucumã and pupunha (regional fruits), Tacacá, Farinha and Tapioca. You can imagine on my trips... is very hard :(

What places would you recommend visiting in Manáus?

Places that people must go in Manaus:

- Amazonas Opera House

- Largo de São Sebastião

- Paço da Liberdade

- Ponta Negra Tourist Complex

- Adolpho Lisboa Municipal Market

- Water's Meeting (Rio Negro and Solimoes River)

- Take a ride at the beaches

- Go to the Jungle for couple days

Source

Is it good to eat out in Manáus? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Yes! Eat out in Manaus is always good. The regional restaurants are famous and the best are "O Banzeiro", "Fish Maria", "Amazônico" and others floating restaurants (they stay in the middle of the river and offer food and a nice landscape, you can take a dip at Rio Negro River too). We also have Japonese Restaurants (San Fusion, Taboo, Soho and Suzuran are the best); and a Villa with food trucks and food bikes. The bars are always nice with lots of delicious on their menu. Off course we have many steak houses (Picanha is famous in all over Brazil) and so many kind of food and international cuisine.

Is the nightlife good in Manáus? Where is good to go?

People here like to go to bars on weekends but the best place to go (if you like rock) is "Porão do Alemão" something like "German Basement". They open from Wednesday to Sunday and it's only allowed for those who have more than 18 years old. The music are great and also the bevarege. Another place to go is "Bar do Armando", it's an portuguese bar very famous in Manaus and it's closer to the Opera Hous, at Downtown. They have cold beers and samba! There is a place called Vieiralves Neighboorhood where people go to meet each other in a lot of nice bars.

What advice would you give future students heading to Manáus?

I think every one should come to Manaus and live the "jungle experience". The city is very open and people are warm, we love to receive others in a nice way. For those who want to come here is better to be safe to not fall in love for our culture and food. It's an amazing experience.