World Cup Host City Manaus Offers A Taste Of The Exotic Amazon To Travelers

A fishmonger at Manaus’ sprawling market gestures to a customer with a machete about which cut of fish they want. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

One of the many delicacies of the Amazon River, piranhas are a popular fish in Manaus. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

A fishmonger in Manaus’ market displays a popular catch from the Amazon. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

Many different types of bananas are sold in Manaus’ bustling market. These are native to the region surrounding the Amazonian city. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

An indigenous man sells vegetables at a stall in the Manaus market. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

Frozen purees of fruits native to the Amazon sweat in the mid-morning heat inside of the Manaus market. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

A collection of pungent spices hide the smell of fish and meat inside Manaus’ market. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

A butcher listens as one of his coworkers talks soccer inside the Manaus market. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

The Rio Negro’s water rise so much that parts of Manaus’ market have to be elevated on wooden planks. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

Manioc, a root indigenous to the Amazon, is used in almost all meals in Manaus and the surrounding region. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

Boats navigate their way out of the Manaus harbor and into the rough waters of the confluence of the Amazon and Rio Negro rivers. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

A ship captain looks on as passengers attempt to load two mattresses onto her craft. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

Giant water lilies in the waters of a nature preserve close to Manaus. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

The water of the Amazon and the Rio Negro help create a lush environment, but very little land on which to build on. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

A boat navigates the area where the Amazon and Rio Negro join together, known as the “Meeting of the Waters.” (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

The water of the Amazon (on the left) is lighter and more yellow than the water of the Rio Negro (right). The streams flow side-by-side for about four miles. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

As in the rest of Brazil, evangelical Christianity has made inroads in Manaus. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

One working-class neighborhood in Manaus has blocked off a street to make its own “fun fest” for the World Cup. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

Residents of one street in Manaus have painted their entire street for the World Cup. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

The most famous building in Manaus, the Amazon Theater features tiles imported from France, marble from Italy and steel from Scotland. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

Despite an increase in evangelical Christians, Catholicism is still the city’s most popular religion. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

Marchers in a Catholic procession. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

A young girl marches in a Catholic procession during a holy day. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)

A Catholic procession attracted thousands of people to the streets of Manaus. (Photo: Andrew O’Reilly/Fox News Latino)