Most of its inhabitants are indigenous people. It has a strategic position bordering the countries of Colombia and Venezuela. The region combines, along the medium and high Negro River, settlements that house 35 thousand indigenous people of 23 different groups. The city is also a base for mountaineers seeking to climb Pico da Neblina, the highest peak in Brazil.
It's OK to go there by yourself, especially if you can speak some Portuguese. If this is not the case, it's recommended although not indispensable that you go through one of the many travel agencies in Manaus. The most poetic access is via the Negro River. The return trip takes 2 days. The city is small enough to walk everywhere. A limited number of taxis may be found around the city.
There are a few boat services to get to nearby King's Island, in the middle of the river. Thus two natives constructed a huge trap and succeeded in catching and petrifying the reptile. Nowadays the petrified snake can be seen on D. Pedro Massa Avenue, functioning as a bump. Another legend says that the gorgeous Adana was close to the river when two men, Buburi and Curucui, fell in love at first sight and started fighting for her.
Scared, Adana fell in the water and drown. The rivals desperately jumped after her, trying to get her back. They succeeded, and Adana returned as Adana Island in the middle of the River Negro, and her lovers are the two streams of water passing by her.
The larger portion of the town is comprised of indigenous land accessed only with the authorization of FOIRN see below how to get an authorization. Traditional customs are blended with modern habits; however, the further you go from the center, the more authentic it gets. The town itself has, however, many interesting places to see. Beer and other alcoholic drinks are readily available in all the restaurants and bars in the city. A word of caution is important: deep in the night things can get dangerous.
