Presidente Figueiredo is the waterfall country 107 kilometres north of Manaus, about two hours up the BR-174: forest trails, caves and cold, dark-water pools. This guide is for you if you want a day in the water rather than on it. It helps you choose the season, decide which falls to see, work out whether a bus could do it, and pack for a day that ends wet.
What kind of place it is
The Ministry of Tourism has catalogued more than a hundred waterfalls in the municipality. Many of them lie inside the Área de Proteção Ambiental Caverna do Maroaga, a state protected area of some 374,700 hectares that starts at kilometre 98 of the BR-174. A little further north, at kilometre 104, the AM-240 turns off east towards Balbina, and the caves and several of the falls are along that road.
That geography explains the day. The falls are spread out along two roads, each one reached by its own side track, and most sit on private land with a gate and a small fee. You spend the day hopping between them, with a swim at each.
The three falls on the plan
The plan puts three falls in the day, with lunch in town in the middle.
Cachoeira da Iracema is inside the Iracema Falls ecological park, off the BR-174. The park has forest trails and small caves as well as the fall, and the Cachoeira das Araras is in the same complex, so it is easy to fill the time.
Cachoeira da Onça is by kilometre 108 of the BR-174. A trail crosses the Urubuí river to reach it. The fall is about ten metres high, and local coverage describes the drop as gentle even at high water, which makes it a good one for families.
Cachoeira da Pedra Furada is off the AM-240, the Balbina road. The water pours through three large holes in the rock into a calm pool below, which gives the place its name.
Because the vehicle is yours, these can change. The Salto do Ipy, a drop of more than twenty metres off the Balbina road, needs a local guide and a walk of about an hour and a quarter. The Caverna do Maroaga and the Gruta da Judéia, next to each other on the AM-240, can also only be visited with a guide. Either can replace one of the falls. Ask us before the day, so we can check access and guide rules.
When to go
The falls run all year, but the rain changes them. In Manaus the first months of the year are the wettest, with March usually wetter than February, and the drier spell begins around June. In the rainy season the currents in the pools are stronger, so swim with more care and follow the rules at each fall. If swimming is the main point, the drier half of the year is the safer bet.
Whatever the date, the falls generally open from 08:00 to 16:00, which is why the day starts at 07:00 and the last fall is done by mid-afternoon.
By bus, or with a driver
Buses run from Manaus to Presidente Figueiredo and stop at the town's bus terminal on Rua Uatumã, in the centre. If you plan to stay a night or two and use local transport there, that is a reasonable way to go.
As a return trip in one day, it is harder. The falls are not in the town: they are spread along the BR-174 and the Balbina road, each down its own track, and getting between them needs a vehicle. Coverage of the town describes its tourism infrastructure as still growing.
A private day gives you the car for the whole loop, a driver who waits at each gate while you swim, and a lunch of river fish in town. Your bags stay dry in the vehicle. The price depends on the size of your group; see it on the tour page.
What to bring
- Swimwear, worn under your clothes from the start.
- A towel and a dry change of clothes for the drive home.
- Shoes you can get wet, with a grip. Wet rock is slippery.
- Insect repellent.
- Cash in small notes for the entrance at each fall. Most charge a small fee at the gate.
- Sun cream and a hat for the stretches out of the trees.
- A dry bag for your phone if you want photographs from the pools.
Follow the rules posted at each fall, and keep out of the water where it is marked as unsafe.
Who it suits, and who should think twice
It suits swimmers, families with children who like water, and anyone who has seen the city and wants a day out in the forest. The walks on the plan are short: at Pedra Furada it is under five minutes on foot from the track.
- You do not swim, or do not like cold water. The day is built around the pools. The MUSA and Bosque da Ciência tour gives you the forest without getting wet.
- You have only one day in Manaus. This takes all of it. If the rivers matter more, spend it on the city and the Meeting of the Waters.
- Someone dislikes long drives. About four hours of the day are on the road.
- You are a group of more than 16. Two vehicles travel together on one booking. Message us with your numbers.
Questions people ask
Is the water safe to swim in?
The pools are popular for swimming. Follow the rules at each fall, and take more care in the rainy season, when currents are stronger.
Can we see the cock-of-the-rock?
The orange galo-da-serra is found near the rock walls around the Maroaga cave, where birdwatchers go to look for it. It needs the cave visit with a local guide; ask us when you book.
Can we cancel?
Yes. Cancel up to 24 hours before pick-up and you are refunded in full. See our cancellation page.
Booking the day
Pick your season, pack for the water, and tell us if you want a cave or the Salto do Ipy in place of a fall. Everything else is on the Presidente Figueiredo waterfalls private day trip page, where you choose the size of your group and book. Our guide to private tours in Manaus compares it with the city days.
