Fish dishes such as calderada de tambaqui and pirarucu ribs are very tasty. In the jungle there is little choice but to eat the food the tour operator provides. In Manaus, the best fish can be found at Chapeu de Palha, Rua Fortaleza 619 and Restaurante Panorama, Rua Recife 900. Lodges provide transportation to and from Manaus. River boats travel up and down the Rio Negro for days in either direction.
Prices vary and passages can be booked at the floating port.
Real Indians are hard to find. Most of the locals are caboclos, people of mixed Indian blood. Many of the local handicrafts are imitations made by the caboclo. The Brazilian real, currently trading at about 1.15 reals to the dollar. Despite promises of an improved tourism program, tourist information is hard to obtain and maps rarer still.