Weather/Temperature: Low 21C (70F) / High 44C (115F)

Water: Manaus is supplied by CASAMA (the Sanitation Company of Amazonas) which provides treatment for the water consumed by the population. Waters from the Negro and Amazonas are not polluted in spite of their color and are perfect for bathing. Bottled water is readily available on the boats and in the jungle lodges.

Piranhas: Related to sexuality and power in Indian mythology, the piranhas can be attracted by the smell of blood in the water of certain regions. There is no history of tragedy caused by these fish. 20 species can be found in the Amazon.

Mosquitoes: Only a few mosquitoes can be found in the regions close to Manaus, due to the acidity of the Negro River water, which makes reproduction difficult. On the boats and in the jungle lodges, rooms and open areas are screened. Even so, repellents are recommended.

Snakes: There are many species of snakes in the Amazon, poisonous and non-poisonous, but in tourist areas, the visitors are safely guided. At the Institute for Tropical Medicine in Manaus, the center to attend snake related accidents is one of the country's best. These animals are rarely seen. They are afraid of man and will attack only if they feel threatened.

Photography: The region of the equatorial forest, hot and humid can be harmful to photographic material. It should be stored with silica-gel to avoid fungus growth on the lenses. A portion of rice in a cloth bag can be used to protect against humidity during long trips.

Credit Cards: Hotels, travel agents, jewelry stores and airlines companies will accept all international cards, but restrictions will be made by some restaurants and when shopping for arts and crafts in small stores. Sorry, but on board we do not accept credit cards yet. Just cash (real, dollar and euro) and traveller`s check.

Population Amazonas: 2.812.557 (2000) inhabitants.

Population Density: 1,8 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Manaus - capital: 1.405.835 (2000) inhabitants.

Language: Portuguese.

Money: The national currency is the Real.

Electricity: 110 volts.

Banks: Operate from 09am till 03pm.

Money Exchange: Some banks and agencies are authorized to exchange money.

Taxi: Check the meter, and then find the equivalent value showed on a card carried by all taxi drivers.

Clothing: Wear light clothes, cotton shorts and t-shirts. Sun block lotions are recommended during the summer.

Time Diference:
- 1 hour - Rio de Janeiro, Foz do Iguaçu, Salvador, São Paulo, Fortaleza, Natal, Belém, Recife, Maceió, Porto Seguro and Brasília.

- 4 hours - London, Dacar, Dublin.

- 5 hours - Paris, Madrid, Rome, Vienna, Amsterdam, Lisbon, Berlin, Geneva, Stockholm, Bern, Brussels, Copenhagen, Oslo, Prague, Tunis, Warsaw.

- 6 hours - Cairo, Capetown, Athens, Bucharest, Damascus, Helsinki, Tripoli.

+ 1 hour - New York, Ottawa, Washigton, Bogotá, Lima, Quito.

+ 3 hours - San Francisco.