12 Best Sights in The Amazon, Brazil

Thirteen km (8 miles) north of Soure, Praia do Pesqueiro is the island's most popular beach. When you stand on the white-sand expanse looking out at the watery horizon, the waves lapping at your feet, it's hard to believe you're not on the ocean. The beach has several thatch-roof restaurant-bars, making this an ideal place to spend an afternoon. You can travel here from Soure by taxi, by mototaxi (for one passenger), or by bike. Ask locals or hotel staff about bike rentals when you arrive in Soure. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming; walking.

Tricky access has ensured that this breathtaking beach and its associated self-sustaining fishing village have remained remote. The village and its neighbor, Vila do Céu, are about a 45-minute drive (19 km/11 miles) north of Soure. You can also access both communities by boat, crossing the river that rounds Praia Pesqueiro by canoe and then walking the remaining distance.

Roughly 23 km (14 miles) southwest of Soure, the small beach-village of Joanes was the island's first settlement. Poke around the ruins of a 16th-century Jesuit mission blown up by the Portuguese when they expelled the order from the area, bask on a beach, and have a meal in one of the town's seafood restaurants. A taxi from Soure costs about R$60 round-trip.

Named after its crescent-shaped beach, Praia da Lua is on the Rio Negro, and is located 10 minutes away from Ponta Negra in Manaus. Avoid this beach on the weekends when the warm waters are overcrowded and noisy. Don't expect any frills here, just wooden tables and benches to eat your food at, and small restaurants selling pricey food and drinks from tents. Catch boats from the Marina do David at the end of Coronel Teixeira Avenue in Ponta Negra near the Tropical Hotel and expect to pay R$10 round-trip, per person. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: sunsets; swimming.

Known as the Copacabana of the Amazon, this beach is next to the Hotel Tropical and has restaurants, bars, sports, and nightlife facilities. The water is not always clean, so it's not great for swimming. But it's a good place to soak up a bit of the city's bustle. Amenities: food and drink; parking; toilets. Best for: partiers; sunset.

Coconut trees line the 8-km (5-mile) length of this beach, about 20-minutes (a 4-km/2-mile taxi ride) northeast of Soure. Here you may see flocks of scarlet ibis that appear out of nowhere. This beach tends to be much emptier than the nearby Praia da Barra, and you can swim in the small tributaries away from the main river. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; sunset; swimming; walking.

This lovely, clean beach on the Rio Negro is popular with locals and tends to fill up on Sunday and holidays. Calm waters make it a good choice for children. Visitors will sometimes be greeted by members of a local tribe dancing, but beware that you will be charged for taking part in the festivities (around R$10 per person). A selection of simple beach kiosks serves fresh grilled fish, rice, and salad for lunch. Expect to pay around R$25–30 per person round-trip to get here from Manaus (30 minutes each way). You can hire boats either from the main port in Manaus or from Ponta Negra. Amenities: food and drink; toilets. Best for: swimming.

The shoreline may be eroded and dirty in places, but the swimming at Praia Outeiro, a river beach near Belém, is good if you can handle muddy water. Restaurants line the beach with tables under trees. These are great places to have a cold drink and snack on freshly boiled crabs, quail eggs, and salted shrimp. Because of its proximity to Belém, Praia Outeiro is generally crowded throughout the year. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking; showers; toilets. Best for: partiers.

This beach is lined with trees and has soft white sands and clear emerald waters that stretch for miles. If you can't bear to leave at day's end, consider a stay at the Hotel Fazenda Paraíso. Amenities: food and drink; toilets. Best for: solitude; sunset; swimming; walking.