Meeting of Waters (Encontro das Aguas)

The Rio Negro gets its name from its black waters, while the Rio Solimões has sandy brown water. Each river on its own is a different temperature and runs at a different speed, so when they come together the water doesn't just mix to create a muddy soup; instead, the rivers essentially run alongside one another. One of the best ways to see the confluence is from a boat. Cruises along the Rio Negro take visitors to the Encontro das Aguas and often include lunch onboard. It’s also possible to combine a cruise to the Meeting of the Waters with a Manaus city tour or visit to a local indigenous village.

• A cruise to the Encontro das Aguas is a must for any first time visitor to the region.
• Keep an eye out for Amazon river dolphins during your excursion.
• Bring your camera for a shot of the bicolor phenomenon.

The confluence lies about 6 miles (10 kilometers) outside Manaus. The easiest way to see the natural phenomenon is on a river cruise from Manaus.

To see the rivers at their most impressive, plan to visit in June, just after the rainy season has ended. Frequent rain showers can disrupt the views between December and May, though temperatures are often cooler.

The river borders are constantly moving and changing as the water flows, but a clear delineation between the two rivers is visible well beyond where they actually meet. In fact, you would need to travel for nearly 4 miles (6 kilometers) downstream before you saw the Solimões River and Black River finally starting to blend. When the two rivers do actually come together, they form the Amazon River.