Indian Museum
Avenida Duque de Caxias 296, Centro, Manaus, Amazonas, 69020-140
The Indian Museum in Manaus is a fascinating and comprehensive collection of artefacts and exhibits dedicated to the indigenous people of the Amazon. Run by an order of nuns known as the Salesian Sisters, the museum is committed to travelling to gather more information and, where possible, to speak with indigenous people and learn about their crafts and cultures.
The basics
Inside the Indian Museum there are exhibits and displays of all kinds, from weaponry and metalwork to ceremonial clothing and everyday objects. These exhibits help to give an understanding as to what life is like in the Amazon for these disparate tribes, and how they live, work, worship, and produce art in the depths of the rainforest.
See tools and ceramics, ritual masks, and musical instruments, and learn how each is used—this information passed down first hand from the tribespeople themselves. It’s a truly invaluable collection with huge anthropological interest, and it has provided a lot of understanding for the wider world. There are also authentic pieces of jewellery, crafts, and homewares in the gift shop to purchase and take home—the buying of which directly supports indigenous people.
Things to know before you go
There may be a charge to enter the museum once renovation works are carried out
The museum is medium-sized—you can get around the whole collection in around an hour
You can visit the Indian Museum as part of a museum crawl tour—there are a few of these sorts of tours available
How to get there
There are plenty of tours that will take you directly to the Indian Museum from your hotel or accommodation. If you’re staying in Manaus, the 004, 101, and 606 buses all stop outside on Av. Duque de Caxias. Alternatively there are many buses that stop at Av 7 Setembro 03, and it’s just a short walk from there.
When to get there
The museum is closed every Sunday. From Monday to Friday, it is open from 8:30am-11:30am and then re-opens at 2pm-4:30pm. On Saturdays the opening times are 8am-11:30am. To beat the heat and the crowds, head over in the morning as early as you can.
Explore the Amazon in Manaus
Once you’ve explored the exhibits in the Indian Museum, take some time to visit the Adolpho Ducke Botanical Garden. More than a botanical garden, this is actually a vast natural reserve within the Amazon Rainforest, and it also serves as the MUSA—the Museum of Amazonia. See flora and fauna in their natural habitat here, learn even more about cultures within the rainforest, and view the unbelievable size of the Amazon from a special viewing tower.
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