Life in the city can be stressful. Why not spend a week clearing your mind in one of the last isolated places in the world?
Amazonas, the largest state in Brazil, located in the northwest part of the country, is 98% covered by the Amazon Rainforest, the largest tropical forest in the world and of great ecological significance. Therefore, for ecotourism lovers, this Brazilian state is a must-visit. The rapidly growing ecotourism industry has been attracting more and more visitors to the region.
But the state is also a rich cultural hub. Manaus, the capital, features beautiful architecture, with buildings made from fine materials inherited from Europe during the rubber boom in the Amazon, a period that led to significant expansion of European colonization in the area, attracting immigrant workers, generating wealth, causing cultural and social transformations, and inevitably, 
disrupting indigenous societies.
Despite its size, Amazonas is one of the least populated Brazilian states. With only 2.23 inhabitants per square kilometer, it has the second lowest population density among Brazilian states, surpassed only by Roraima (which is also in the North). There’s more: Manaus can only be accessed by plane or boat (cars must enter via Roraima). Given this scenario, one can imagine the challenges that need to be overcome to provide quality public services to the most isolated population group.
The local cuisine is another highlight. It is very rich and varied and can be found in many Amazonian cities. You can try tapioquinha, a glutinous pancake made from cassava starch, 
usually with butter and filled with tucumã fruit and farm cheese. Or tacacá, a local Amazonian soup. Or pamonha, made from green corn and coconut milk boiled in corn husks. Or bolo de macaxeira, a delicious, oily, translucent glutinous cake made from cassava. Or sugarcane juice, a favorite drink among locals. The region is also known for its exotic fruits, such as creamy white cupuaçu and iron-rich açaí.
A MUST-SEE
Manaus
Manaus is known as the “Paris of the Tropics,” due to its intense modernization during the rubber boom. It stands out as the main metropolis of the region and is the natural gateway to the forest. Boats are the main means of transportation to jungle hotels, allowing visitors to see the “Meeting of the Waters” (encontro das águas) of the Negro and Solimões Rivers, swim with pink dolphins in Anavilhanas, and visit beachfront resorts like Praia da Lua. Tours on large rivers or 
narrow streams also provide contact with riverside communities and the opportunity to experience indigenous influence in its essence.
Ecotourism
In Amazonas, the lushness of the tropical rainforest, combined with the warm and humid climate, is responsible for the greatest biodiversity on Earth. It is estimated that the Amazon region is home to about 2.5 million species of insects, thousands of plant species, approximately 2,000 species of fish, around 950 species of birds, and about 200 species of mammals. It rains heavily from December to May, beautifying the city’s waterfalls. For the rest of the year, when there is less rain, river beaches form on the Negro River. The state is also home to the second largest river in the world, the Amazon River. It originates in southern Peru and crosses almost the entire northern region of Brazil before flowing into the Atlantic Ocean.
Ecotourism is the main attraction for tours in the Amazon. The most sought-after tours include the Mamirauá and Humaitá Reserve, where the main attraction is sport fishing on the Roosevelt River. The tours include boat rides, overnight stays in jungle lodges, and hikes in the forest. Most tours feature a specialized guide.
Amazon Animals in Danger
Ecotourism in the Amazon is great for the local economy, but only when done with awareness and respect for wildlife. A recent study by the international charity organizations World Animal Protection revealed that animals are taken from the wild, often illegally, and used by irresponsible tourism operators who exploit and cruelly harm wildlife to entertain and provide harmful photo opportunities for tourists.
In plain sight and behind the scenes, investigators uncovered 
evidence of cruelty inflicted on wild animals, including:
• Sloths captured from the wild, tied to trees with rope, not surviving more than six months
• Birds like toucans with severe abscesses on their feet
• Injured and dehydrated green anacondas
• Alligators restrained with rubber bands around their jaws
• An ocelot (a type of wild cat) kept in a small empty cage
• A manatee kept in a tiny tank in the courtyard of a local hotel
• A tamandua, mistreated and beaten by its owner
“The wildlife selfie craze is a global phenomenon driven by tourists, many of whom are unaware of the abhorrent conditions and terrible treatment that wild animals can suffer to provide that special souvenir photo,” said Steve McIvor, CEO of World Animal Protection.
To tackle the issue, World Animal Protection is urging relevant governments to enforce wildlife protection laws and ensure that travel companies and individuals exploiting wild animals for tourism in the Amazon comply with existing laws.
The organization is also launching a Wildlife Selfie Code for tourists to learn how to take a photo with wild animals without feeding the cruel wildlife entertainment industry.
So, if you plan to do ecotourism in the Amazon, look for guides and tour operators with good credentials and take your selfie, but always respecting wildlife.
Sources: Encyclopedia Britannica, www.visitbrasil.gov