Getting Around, Manaus Travel, Transport and Car Rental

(Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil)

Due to poor road conditions, it is unlikely that you will be able to reach Manaus by using road transport alone. Instead, most visitors choose to travel to Manaus by either boat or plane.

Situated just 14 km / 9 miles to the north of Manaus, within the suburb of Taruma, Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes International Airport sees passenger numbers of around 2.5 million per year and some 45,000 annual flights. Ground transport at the airport is in good supply and includes both buses and taxis. Bus numbers 306 (Aeroporto) and the slightly more expensive 813 (Aeroporto Ejecutivo) operate roughly every 30 minutes and travel to the central Praca da Matriz, as well as the Avenida Getulio Vargas.

Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes International Airport (MAO) / Arriving by Air

Address: Avenida Santos Dumont 1350, Taruma, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, BR
Tel: +55 092 652 1210
Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes International Airport dates back to the mid-1970s and has two large passenger terminals, both of which have recently been modernised. The main international destinations are Panama City (Copa Airlines), Atlanta (Delta) and Miami (TAM Airlines), while domestic Brazilian destinations are served by Gol Airlines, TAM Airlines and Trip, and include Belem, Brasilia, Curitiba, Fortaleza, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador da Bahia and Sao Paulo.

Car Rental

The majority of those visiting Manaus don't find the need to hire a car for the duration of their stay. However, if you prefer to travel at your own pace and follow a personal timetable, then Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes International Airport features a number of popular rental agencies for you to choose between. These include national firms such as Avis and Hertz, as well as the Brazilian rental companies, Localiza and Unidas. Drivers should bear in mind that the road conditions outside of Manaus can be rather substandard, often suiting a 4WD vehicle.

Book your Manaus Car Rental here.

Buses and Coaches

Long-distance bus transport in Manaus is far from extensive, since there are only a handful of destinations that you can actually reach by road, although one route does head as far as Venezuela. The bus station is fairly small and is located on the Rua Recife, around 6 km / 4 miles to the north of downtown. Notable bus companies include Aruana and Eucatur, and between them they provide an inexpensive way to travel to Boa Vista (12 hours), Itacoatiara (four hours), Presidente Figueiredo (one hour and 30 minutes) and Silves (seven hours). Many long-distance buses come with air conditioning, comfortable seats and even an onboard toilet.

Boats and Ferries

Manaus has become something of a major destination for boats, with many sailing along the Amazon River. Scenic cruises travel here from as far afield as the city of Belem, which is located next to the Atlantic Ocean. This particular journey lasts around five days and is an extremely scenic cruise, passing Santarem en route. Other boat destinations include Porto Velho and even Tabatinga, next to the Colombian border.