Museu da Amazônia - MUSA — Attraction in Região Geográfica Imediata de Manaus

I saw channel-billed toucans, many lizards, and spider monkeys. I almost stepped on a snake who was crossing the paved water drains on the trail near the lake. When I stepped back to avoid it, it ran over the toes of my boots. I saw this snake as I was in the middle of reading a sign warning to stay on the trail because of venomous animals off trail, but this one was on the trail before chilling under the sign as if to be an example of what the sign says. I'm not sure if this one was venomous, but either way I bet that's why they require closed-toe shoes here! That snake would've slithered across all 10 of my toes if it weren't for my hiking boots.

On top of the animal encounters, there are also exhibits with animals who were studied and are now kept in glass cages (not sure if they're still being studied). In the spider room, a guide gave information about each spider and spoke decent English. Signs around the trails are in English and Portuguese, but in the exhibits it's only Portuguese.

I wasn't expecting much, so I was pleasantly surprised! Spent 3 hours here. Only complaint is the trail should be better marked. Nothing indicates what color trail you're on when you're actually on it. Also some of the locations on the map aren't accurate. I didn't find the butterfly house, but that's okay for me because they creep me out.

Arrived around 10:30am and it wasn't too crowded. There were a few small groups, but nothing crazy. When I left around 1:30pm, there was a big group of children waiting at the entrance being rowdy. I visited on a Thursday, not sure if the groups are common every day.

The reception guy let me use the museum wifi to order an Uber back to the center.

Bring binoculars in case of...

A great place for a few hours walk - communing with the nature of the Amazon and escaping from the heat in the city. I spent 4 hours here, staying longer in huts with spiders and snakes. If you want to learn more about the knowledge that the museum presents at its exhibitions, plan more time. Be sure to bring full footwear with you. Probably not for the smallest children.

Right outside the entrance you will find a shop with a few gadgets, a snack bar and the first exhibitions on the Amazon population, frogs and an orchidarium (unfortunately no flowers at the time of my visit). Later on, more exhibitions or interesting places, walking along the main WHITE trail (check the map on the museum's website). The remaining routes are connecting routes (narrower, wilder, require full footwear) or are available only with a guide. There are over a dozen 'attracions' and exhibitions. I was most impressed by: a hut with snakes (+ a skeleton of a snake), a hut with spiders (important to watch with a free guide, the guardian of the hut), a large aquarium showing huge fish living in the amazon, an observation tower, a PAST exhibition with a megafauna once living in the Amazon. The butterfly house was interesting but didn't make a wow effect. The orchidarium must look beautiful when it blooms.

If I lived in Manaus, I would definitely visit this place at different times...

Amazing museum! The highlight is the aquarium with the two pirarucus and the tambaqui. These fish swim around and it is extraordinary to see them in real life. An other highlight is the observation tower where you can see the rainforest at different heights. Also, there is a small butterfly house with beautiful butterflies, more aquaria with smaller fish, a building with all kinds of different snakes, a lake with Victoria amazonica, and a building with different spiders and scorpions. These are all worth visiting. Additionally, walking through the rainforest is also beautiful and allows you to see many exotic trees and plants. There are many signs explaining the flore and fauna in the rainforest as well as explaining things about the indigenous people. If you are silent, you can even spot and hear some monkeys. It is mandatory in the museum to wear closed shoes or boots. They have boots if you have open shoes, however you need to pay. It is best to...