Novo Airão
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02°37′15″S 60°56′38″W / 2.62083°S 60.94389°W Novo Airão is a municipality located in the state of Amazonas in northern Brazil on a tributary of the Solimoes River about 180 km upstream of Manaus. Its population was 15,915 (2007) and its area is 37,771 km².[1] Novo Airão lies 100km to the northwest of Manaus, on the banks of the Rio Negro, and is reachable both by river and road.
History
The settlement of New Airão began with the Jesuits founded a settlement at the mouth of Jau River in 1668, and named St. Elias de Jau . The region was inhabited by Indians Uaimiri, Atroaí, Crichanã, Carabinari and Jauaperi. Everything indicates that the mission village of St. Elias de Jau was the second or third nucleus of settlement organized by the Portuguese in Amazonian lands . In 1759, the village was elevated to a place with the name Airão by Joaquim de Melo Póvoas, first governor of the captaincy of São José do Rio Negro. Later, the district Airão became part of Manaus and when it was dismembered in 1938, became New Airão .
Tourism
There‘s not actually that much to the town itself, and the chief reason for visiting is potentially for access to the surrounding area and - more recently - to feed and/or swim with the dolphins. The latter facility is offered at a small floating café down at the harbour, but rumour has it that the owners are at odds with the federal environment agency IBAMA, and so there is no guarantee that this activity will continue - so if possible you should check this out before you leave Manaus.
If you do decide to go to Novo Airão independently, it is worth noting that there are a small number of boatmen at the port who for a fee will take you to see the surrounding area. Charges vary, but expect to pay around R$100 per day plus fuel. Areas potentially accessible include the Anavilhanas..., Velho Airão (the ruins of the old town, and nearby petroglyphs), and perhaps the River Jaú (although this would certainly require an overnight and you may need permission from the federal environment agency IBAMA to access the Jaú national park). The boatmen should belong to the Associacão de Operadores de Turismo em Novo Airão (ATUNA), and be flying the ATUNA flag on their boat, as they are the only ones allowed to access the Anavilhanas.
Because of the current bus and boat schedules, it is difficult to make a day trip to Novo Airão, and you should plan to spend at least a night there. There are a few pousadas in the town, of variable quality. Usually, those from ANATUR (Novo Airão Tourism Association) offer a good service and infra-estructure.
Buses leave from Manaus coach terminal early in the morning and boats from the Port of Manaus in the evening.".[2] Also, you want to get there faster (about 2:30hs), try a taxi-cab from SINDITAXI. Departures are from Cacau Pirera (the dock in front of Manaus), and prices are 5 bucks plus than buses, which takes a 6hs journey.