South America·Brazil·Updated May 3, 2026

Manaus Scams to Avoid in 2026 (Brazil)

Manaus is the Brazilian Amazon''s biggest city, the launch point for jungle lodges on the Rio Negro and Rio Solimões and home to the 19th-century Teatro Amazonas opera house. Tourism is concentrated on a short list of lodge operators and cruise-excursion stops, which makes lodge-booking scams, airport-taxi overcharging, and port-district theft the dominant scam categories. The Centro district (around the port and Mercado Adolpho Lisboa) is notably less safe after dark.

Risk Index

6.2

out of 10

Scams

13

documented

High Severity

2

15% of total

6.2

Risk Index

13

Scams

2

High Risk

Manaus has 13 documented tourist scams across 8 categories in our database. Scam activity is rated moderate. The most commonly reported risks are Street Robbery in the Historic Center at Night, Fake Amazon Lodge Booking Websites, Airport Taxi Meter "Broken".

Editorially reviewed — sources cross-referenced before publishing. How we verify →

Traveler Context

What Travellers Should Know About Scams in Manaus

Manaus has 13 documented tourist-targeted scams in our database, concentrated around tour & activities (4 reports). The most consistently reported individual pattern is Street Robbery in the Historic Center at Night — Armed street robbery is a serious risk in the historic center of Manaus after dark, particularly around the Teatro Amazonas and Mercado Municipal areas. Travellers familiar with Valparaíso or Mendoza will recognise the broad shape of the risk environment in South America, though the specific local variations in Manaus are what catch first-time visitors out.

Specific documented risk areas include Surrounding streets of Teatro Amazonas on Av. Eduardo Ribeiro, Mercado Municipal Adolpho Lisboa on Rua dos Barés, and the Praca da Saudade area at night; Online only — fraudulent sites appear in Google ads targeting searches for Amazon lodges near Manaus; fraud discovered at the Manaus boat dock or Eduardo Gomes Airport when transfers do not show; Eduardo Gomes Airport (MAO) arrivals taxi rank. A separate but related pattern is Fake Amazon Lodge Booking Websites: Fraudulent websites clone the branding of legitimate Manaus-area jungle lodges, appearing in sponsored search results when travelers look for Amazon tour packages. The single most effective protection across these patterns: Avoid walking in the historic center after dark and use Uber or a hotel-arranged taxi for all night travel. Leave expensive cameras and jewelry in your hotel safe. If robbed, comply immediately — valuables can be replaced, your safety cannot.

How It Plays OutHigh Risk

Street Robbery in the Historic Center at Night

Armed street robbery is a serious risk in the historic center of Manaus after dark, particularly around the Teatro Amazonas and Mercado Municipal areas. Perpetrators on motorcycles or on foot target tourists displaying phones, cameras, or jewelry. The area sees a sharp increase in incidents after 9pm when tourist attractions close and foot traffic drops.

Surrounding streets of Teatro Amazonas on Av. Eduardo Ribeiro, Mercado Municipal Adolpho Lisboa on Rua dos Barés, and the Praca da Saudade area at night

How to avoid: Avoid walking in the historic center after dark and use Uber or a hotel-arranged taxi for all night travel. Leave expensive cameras and jewelry in your hotel safe. If robbed, comply immediately — valuables can be replaced, your safety cannot.

This scam type is also documented in Valparaíso and Mendoza.

Key Risk Areas

Where These Scams Are Most Active

Specific areas and landmarks with the highest concentration of documented incidents in Manaus.

Street Robbery in the Historic Center at Night

Street Scams

Surrounding streets of Teatro Amazonas on Av. Eduardo Ribeiro, Mercado Municipal Adolpho Lisboa on Rua dos Barés, and the Praca da Saudade area at night

Fake Amazon Lodge Booking Websites

Online Scams

Online only — fraudulent sites appear in Google ads targeting searches for Amazon lodges near Manaus; fraud discovered at the Manaus boat dock or Eduardo Gomes Airport when transfers do not show

Airport Taxi Meter "Broken"

Taxi & Transport

Eduardo Gomes Airport (MAO) arrivals taxi rank

Fake Amazon Lodge Package

Tour & Activities

Eduardo Gomes Airport arrivals hall, Teatro Amazonas square, hotel lobbies in Centro

Port-Area Phone Snatching

Street Scams

Port of Manaus approach, Avenida Sete de Setembro, Rio Negro viewpoints

ATM Fraud Near Eduardo Ribeiro Boulevard

Money & ATM Scams

ATMs along Av. Eduardo Ribeiro in the historic center, Manaus Shopping and Sumauma Park mall ATMs, and informal exchange touts near Praca da Policia

These areas are safe to visit — knowing the setups in advance makes them far easier to recognize and avoid.

Tour & Activities scams lead in Manaus

4 of 13 reported incidents fall in this category. See all 4 →

Safety Checklist

Quick Safety Tips for Manaus

Key precautions based on the most frequently reported scams here.

  • Avoid walking in the historic center after dark and use Uber or a hotel-arranged taxi for all night travel. Leave expensive cameras and jewelry in your hotel safe. If robbed, comply immediately — valuables can be replaced, your safety cannot.
  • Contact jungle lodges directly by phone or verified email to confirm any reservation made through a third-party website. Check that the website URL matches the official lodge domain and look for verifiable reviews on TripAdvisor. Book through ABETA-certified agencies when possible.
  • Use Uber or 99 from the airport — both operate freely. For a taxi, insist on the meter (taxímetro) or use the fixed-fare taxi desk inside the arrivals hall.
  • Book lodges only through verified operators (Juma Amazon Lodge, Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge, Uakari) on their official websites. Pay by credit card. Airport "information" desks in uniform without official airport branding are touts.
  • Never photograph from the street edge. Keep phones on wrist-straps or in zipped pockets. Enable remote-wipe and screen-lock biometric. Use Find My iPhone / Find My Device before the theft in case it happens.

FAQ

Manaus Safety — Frequently Asked Questions

What scams target tourists in Manaus?
The most frequently reported tourist scams in Manaus are Street Robbery in the Historic Center at Night, Fake Amazon Lodge Booking Websites, Airport Taxi Meter "Broken", with 2 classified as high severity. Most scams operate near transit hubs, tourist attractions, and busy markets. Reviewing each type before you arrive significantly reduces your risk of being targeted. Similar patterns are also documented in Valparaíso and Mendoza.
Are taxis safe in Manaus?
Taxis in Manaus carry documented risk for tourists — 1 transport-related scam is on record. Use Uber or 99 from the airport — both operate freely. For a taxi, insist on the meter (taxímetro) or use the fixed-fare taxi desk inside the arrivals hall. Where available, verified ride-hailing apps (Uber, Grab, or local equivalents) are generally safer than street taxis.
Is Manaus safe at night for tourists?
Manaus is the Brazilian Amazon''s biggest city, the launch point for jungle lodges on the Rio Negro and Rio Solimões and home to the 19th-century Teatro Amazonas opera house. Tourism is concentrated on a short list of lodge operators and cruise-excursion stops, which makes lodge-booking scams, airport-taxi overcharging, and port-district theft the dominant scam categories. The Centro district (around the port and Mercado Adolpho Lisboa) is notably less safe after dark. 2 of the 13 documented scams here are rated high severity. After dark, extra caution is advised near Surrounding streets of Teatro Amazonas on Av. Eduardo Ribeiro, Mercado Municipal Adolpho Lisboa on Rua dos Barés, and the Praca da Saudade area at night. Use app-based transport at night and avoid unsolicited approaches from strangers.
Which areas of Manaus should tourists be most careful in?
Documented scam activity in Manaus is concentrated in high-traffic tourist zones. Based on reported incidents: Surrounding streets of Teatro Amazonas on Av. Eduardo Ribeiro, Mercado Municipal Adolpho Lisboa on Rua dos Barés, and the Praca da Saudade area at night (Street Robbery in the Historic Center at Night); Online only — fraudulent sites appear in Google ads targeting searches for Amazon lodges near Manaus; fraud discovered at the Manaus boat dock or Eduardo Gomes Airport when transfers do not show (Fake Amazon Lodge Booking Websites); Eduardo Gomes Airport (MAO) arrivals taxi rank (Airport Taxi Meter "Broken"). These areas are safe to visit — knowing the common setups in advance makes them far easier to recognize and avoid.
How can I avoid being scammed in Manaus?
The best protection against scams in Manaus is preparation — knowing the specific tactics used here before you arrive. Key precautions: Use Uber or 99 from the airport — both operate freely. For a taxi, insist on the meter (taxímetro) or use the fixed-fare taxi desk inside the arrivals hall. Always confirm prices before agreeing to any service, use official or app-based transport, and slow down if anyone creates urgency or distraction — that is almost always the setup.

Manaus · Brazil · South America

Open in Maps →

Region

More destinations in South America

Valparaíso

Chile

27 scams

Mendoza

Argentina

24 scams

Salvador

Brazil

19 scams

Buenos Aires

Argentina

19 scams

Medellín

Colombia

19 scams

South America safety guide →All scams in Brazil →

Experienced a scam here?

Help fellow travelers by reporting it.

Report a Scam

Editorial note: Scam warnings for Manaus are compiled from government travel advisories (US State Dept, UK FCDO, Australian DFAT), verified news sources, travel community reports, and traveler-submitted incidents. All entries are reviewed for accuracy and local specificity before publication. Read our full methodology →