Tonantins

Tonantins is a town on the north bank of the Solimões River (the upper Amazon) in Amazonas, Brazil, 867 km by river to the west of Manaus. It has a population of 18,755. Tonantins is not a common tourist destination but is a convenient stopping point for trips along the Amazon River and provide a look at a typical town of the region.

Understand

This part of South America was actually contested between the Portuguese and Spanish empires in the 18th century. The permanent settlement dates to 1814, when a church was established on the bank of the river. The settlement was originally part of Tefé. On December 1, 1938, Tonantins was made a part of São Paulo de Olivença. On December 19, 1955, Tonantins was made a part of Santo Antônio do Içá. On December 10, 1981, it was separated to form its own jurisdiction. Tonantins was incorporated on July 2, 1985.

The municipality is directly east of and overlaps parts of the ESEC (Ecological Station) Jutaí-Solimões. It is only accessible via boat.

Get in

By boat

There are no roads into Tonantins and the only access is by river boat. You can fly into Manaus, Tefé, or Tabatinga and from those cities take a boat to Tonantins. Below are some of the boats the definitely stop in Tonantins. Check also the boats from Manaus to Tabatinga as they might also stop in Tonantins. Likewise, boats from Tabatinga to Tefé or Manaus may also stop in Tonantins.

• 1 Porto Fluvial de Tonantins (the port), R. Getúlio Vargas, 2. Boats to and from Manaus, Tabatinga, and other towns along the Amazon River will stop here. (updated Aug 2020)

Slow boat

From Manaus, departing from Porto de Manaus - Estação Hidroviária do Amazonas (rua Taqueirinha nr. 25), boats cost approximately 275 R$. The trip by slow boat takes about 4 days.

Fast boats

From Manaus, departing from Manaus Moderna - Terminal Ajato - Balsa Laranja (Av. Beira Rio). The trip from Manaus to Tonantins takes about 24 hours. (The trip to Tabatinga is about 36 hours, and Tonantins is about 3/4 of the way.) Fast boats cost up to R$ 380.

• Madame Crys. Departs Manaus Thursdays at 06:00. Departs Tabatinga (returns to Manaus) Saturdays (from schedules a few years ago, this might have changed - verify). This boat is headed for Tabatinga (with stops in Codajás, Coari, Tefé, Fonte Boa, Jutaí, Tonantins, Santo Antônio do Içá, Amaturá, São Paulo de Olivença, and Benjamin Constant). Costs about R$ 230.
• Glória de Deus III. Departs Manaus Fridays at 06:00. Departs Tabatinga (returns to Manaus) Sundays (from schedules a few years ago, this might have changed - verify). This boat is headed for Tabatinga (with stops in Codajás, Coari, Tefé, Alvarães, Fonte Boa, Jutaí, Tonantins, Santo Antonio do Içá, Amaturá, São Paulo de Olivença, and Benjamin Constant). Costs about R$ 280.
• Sagrado Coração de Jesu. Departs Manaus Fridays at 06:00. Departs Tabatinga (returns to Manaus) Sundays (from schedules a few years ago, this might have changed - verify). This boat is headed for Tabatinga (with stops in Codajás, Coari, Tefé, Alvarães, Fonte Boa, Jutaí, Tonantins, Santo Antonio do Içá, Amaturá, São Paulo de Olivença, and Benjamin Constant). Costs about R$ 280. Tel.: 9122-1692, 9975-7422, 9985-8412
• Crystal I. Departs Manaus Tuesdays at 06:00. Departs Tabatinga (returns to Manaus) Thursdays (from schedules a few years ago, this might have changed - verify). This boat is headed for Tabatinga (with stops). Costs about R$ 300.

• Cidade do Manaquiri. Departs Manaus Sundays at 06:00 and arrives in Tefé at 19:30. Departs Tabatinga (returns to Manaus) Thursdays (from schedules a few years ago, this might have changed - verify). This boat is headed for Tabatinga (with stops in Codajás, Coari, Tefé, Alvarães, Fonte Boa, Jutaí, Tonantins, Santo Antônio do Içá, Amaturá, São Paulo de Olivença and Benjamin Constant). Costs about R$ 260. (updated Aug 2016)

From Tabatinga to Tonantins, fast boats cost R$ 170-200. From Tefé, R$ 200-240.

Get around

On foot

This is a small town and you can probably walk across the main district (where are the main port and town hall) in half an hour, or from the port to the western district in under an hour.

By taxi

There are taxis and many moto-taxis.

See

• 1 Igreja de São Pedro Apóstolo (the church), Praça São Pedro - Centro (near the Hotel Rei Davi), toll-free: +55 97 3464-1263, +55 92 3461-0141. The church and its public square are a nice place to relax during the day. (updated Aug 2020)

Do

Tonantins is not a common tourist destination, but it does attract tourists from other parts of the state for a few annual festivals and celebrations. The most popular are the Pirarucu Festival and the Folkloric Festival.

• Pirarucu Festival. Late November to early December. It celebrates the pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) harvesting festival. The pirarucu is among the largest known freshwater fish, commonly more than 2 m (6.6 ft) long and 200 kg (440 lb) of weight, important to the local economy and popular in local cuisine. It is a good time to experience local music, food, and dance. The festival attracts several thousand visitors, most from within the state of Amazonas. Hotels are often booked up a few weeks before the event.
• Folkloric Festival. July. This is a smaller festival but is also a good opportunity to experience local culture. Events include concerts and dance performances by groups from towns in the surrounding areas.
• Nossa Senhora do Guadalupe (patron saint of the city) - December
• Nossa Senhora das Dores (Our Lady of Sorrows) - 15 September
• Nossa Senhora de Lurdes (Our Lady of Lourdes) - 11 February
• 1 swimming in the Rio Tonantins. There are places to go swimming and by drinks and snacks in the west district. Take a moto-taxi or walk from the Centro (main district, near the port). (updated Aug 2020)

Eat

• 1 Praça Onofre Nascimento. Open air market with snack food vendors. (updated Aug 2020)
• 2 Ana's, R. Álvaro Maia, 70-184. Restaurant. (updated Aug 2020)
• 3 Recanto do Sabor, R. Duque de Caxias, 235. 09:00-22:00. Restaurant. (updated Aug 2020)
• 4 Ana's, R. Álvaro Maia, 70-184. Restaurant. (updated Aug 2020)
• 5 Cantinho da Silvania, R. Leopoldo Péres, 258. Restaurant. (updated Aug 2020)
• 6 Ponto do Professor, R. Alfredo Pessoa, 447 (further down the road to west district), ☏ +55 97 98431-4956. Restaurant. (updated Aug 2020)
• 7 Filberth Lanchonete, R. Valentina Santos, 662-764. Snackbar. (updated Aug 2020)
• 8 Arthur Lanches, R. São Francisco, 731. 18:00-23:00. Snack bar. (updated Aug 2020)
• 9 Sorveteria, R. São Francisco, 1043. 09:00-23:00. Snack bar. (updated Aug 2020)

Drink

• 1 Ibiza Club, R. São Francisco, 912. (updated Aug 2020)
• 2 Toca do Seu Antonio, ☏ +55 97 99156-4342. (updated Aug 2020)
• 3 Facção, estr. São Francisco. (updated Aug 2020)
• 4 Talismã, R. Augusto Malheiros, 349-525. (updated Aug 2020)
• 5 Casa da Mamãe, R. Augusto Malheiros, 349-525. (updated Aug 2020)

Sleep

• 1 Hotel Rei Davi, R. Frei Ludovico, 456-524 (the rear entrance is at the port), ☏ +55 97 99166-7788, +55 97 98400-2914 (WhatsApp). Check-in: M-F 09:00-18:00; closed Sa Su. Air conditioning, mini-fridge, TV (cable), WiFi, breakfast. (updated Aug 2020)
• 2 Hotel do Peninha, r. Álvaro Maia, 186-366, ☏ +55 97 98120-6517, +55 92 99128-2521. Air conditioning, mini-fridge, TV, wifi, laundry. Whatsapp: (97) 98120-6517; (92) 99128-2521. (updated Aug 2020)
• Hotel MG, r. Alexandre Santos 433-Altos, Centro, ☏ +55 97 98413-3294, +55 92 99468-8266. Air conditioning, mini-fridge, TV, laundry. Whatsapp: (97) 98413-3294; (92) 99468-8266. (updated Aug 2020)

Connect

• 1 Town Hall, 725, R. Leopoldo Péres, 607, ☏ +55 97 3464-1323, +55 97 3464-1324. No specifically touristic information available here but they can provide information about port schedules and annual festival dates. (updated Aug 2020)
• 2 Post Office, R. Leopoldo Péres (near the town hall). M-Sa 08:00-17:00; Su closed. (updated Aug 2020)

Go next

Boats and speed boats head downstream to Manaus. Boats head upstream to Tabatinga, from where you can enter Peru and continue on to Iquitos.

For detailed information visit the Voyaging along the Amazon River article.