Anavilhanas National Park National Park

Address: Park HQ usually arranged through Manaus tour operators; no single street address

Website: https://www.icmbio.gov.br/parnanavilhanas/

Admission: Entry by boat or park permit; typical guided day trips from Manaus cost BRL 80-200 (~$15-40).

Anavilhanas National Park protects a large river archipelago and adjacent flooded forest on the Rio Negro in Amazonas state, Brazil, notable for its concentration of islands and river channels formed by the Negro River.

The landscape is dominated by dozens to hundreds of forested islands separated by blackwater channels, with canoe and boat excursions through narrow waterways and flooded forests. Visitors commonly view birdlife, aquatic mammals, and fish, and explore islands and igapó forests by small craft.

The archipelago has long been shaped by the seasonal rise and fall of the Rio Negro; it was later designated for conservation to protect the islands, waterways, and their biodiversity. Human use is largely limited to riverine communities and regulated tourism.

Located along the Rio Negro in the central Amazonas region, the park lies upstream and northwest of Manaus and is accessed by river transport from regional towns.

• Access and seasons: Best experienced by boat; water levels vary with the Amazon flood pulse so navigation and wildlife sightings change significantly between low and high water seasons.
• Wildlife and access: Wildlife includes river dolphins, diverse fish, and dense birdlife; many tours operate from Manaus and the park’s islands are scattered along the Rio Negro.

What to See#

• Archipelago of islands: A river archipelago composed of hundreds of islands and channels formed in the Rio Negro; island counts vary seasonally as river levels change.
• Flooded forest channels: Seasonally flooded blackwater várzea and igapó channels that dissect the park and are accessed by boat and canoe for wildlife viewing.

Access is from Manaus. Most visitors book a lodge or an organized boat trip; day tours and multi-day expeditions depart from the port at Manaus (often the Mercado Municipal area). Travel times vary from a couple of hours to full-day river journeys depending on the landing point.

• Book an overnight lodge or boat trip to experience dawn and dusk in the archipelago - wildlife activity peaks at those times.
• Bring a waterproof dry bag for cameras; channels and hidden channels can be deceptively wet.
• Hire a licensed local guide from Manaus who knows the tidal patterns - navigation is crucial when the park's channels narrow.
• Visit the park's main islands (Anavilhanas, Tupinambarana fringe) by small motorboat rather than large tour boats for better wildlife viewing and quieter approaches.