Novo Airão: River Landscapes, Hiking Trails and Cultural Heritage

Novo Airão combines seasonal river landscapes with hiking trails, archaeological sites, and cultural landmarks. If you are looking for a hotel in Novo Airão, it is worth first deciding what you would like to focus on during your stay: beaches and rocky shores, trails through different forest areas, or the region’s cultural history.

Beaches and Water Levels

The water level of the Rio Negro changes the seasonal natural attractions. Several freshwater beaches appear in Novo Airão as the river recedes; this period runs from September to February, but may vary with the river’s annual cycle. White-sand beaches also form throughout the archipelago in Parque Nacional de Anavilhanas during the dry season, from September to February.

Parque Nacional do Jaú lies between the municipalities of Novo Airão and Barcelos. During the dry season, visitors can explore beaches, rapids, rocky outcrops, and petroglyphs there. When the water is high, the focus shifts: visitors can then venture into the igapó forest and take water-based excursions. The two seasons offer different natural attractions to consider when planning your trip.

During the dry season, rapids and small waterfalls form on the Rio Carabinani. They are suitable for nature watching, swimming, meditation, and water sports. Which of these seasonal experiences matters more to you depends on whether you would rather include river landscapes and water activities or flooded forest areas in your trip.

Hiking Trails and Archaeological Sites

The Trilha do Pesquisador is a five-kilometer linear trail through flooded igapó forest, capoeira, terra firme forest, high and low campinarana, and campina. The variety of habitats along the trail offers potential for birdwatching. The Trilha do Itaubal, by contrast, is a 3.5-kilometer loop. It offers opportunities to observe native flora and fauna and swim at the Itaubal waterfall. The trails therefore differ in both length and format: Pesquisador is linear, while Itaubal is a loop. The Trilha do Apuaú also passes through terra firme forest.

Parque Nacional do Jaú has designated archaeological sites and rock inscriptions. A seasonal water route to the petroglyph sites is 31 kilometers long and passes through areas with beaches and islands. The routes to the archaeological remains therefore differ from the hiking trails: they travel by water and take in the shoreline and island landscape.

Cultural Sites and Traditions

On January 4, 2024, a law passed by the state of Amazonas declared the Ecofestival do Peixe-Boi de Novo Airão intangible cultural heritage. The Ruínas de Velho Airão, known as Airão Velho, were also recognized as intangible historical and cultural heritage of the state of Amazonas. The decision was made on October 11, 2023. The ruins are located in the municipality of Novo Airão.

Novo Airão’s Flutuante dos Botos offers encounters with pink river dolphins. Rules may apply to these visits; check the current conditions in advance. At Praça do Dinossauro, you can see life-size dinosaur sculptures; there is also a playground and a food area. As facilities may change, check which areas are currently open before your visit.

About 85 percent of Novo Airão’s municipal area consists of environmental protection areas. This gives additional context for the region’s nature and cultural experiences, from seasonal beaches and forest trails to archaeological sites.

Getting There and Planning Excursions

The road connection from Manaus to Novo Airão follows the AM-070 and AM-352. Road conditions can change, so check them before setting off. There is no scheduled public transport from Novo Airão to Parque Nacional do Jaú. Tour operators or boats run by local tourist transport associations can be hired; arrange this before departure.

When planning, it helps to consider the seasonal differences separately: the beaches and rocky outcrops mentioned above are associated with the dry season, while the high-water season brings the igapó forest and water-based excursions in Jaú to the fore. This can help you weigh up the time of year and the activities that matter to you.

Discover more destinations: Benjamin Constant, Itamarati, Lábrea.

Go to the overview of destinations: Amazonas.