Museu do Seringal Vila Paraíso (Rubber Museum)

Located on the site of a former rubber estate, the Museu do Seringal Vila Paraíso (Rubber Museum) is the last vestige of the Amazon’s once booming rubber industry, which brought an influx of riches to Manaus during the late 19th century. Marooned on the banks of the Negro River and reachable only by boat, traveling to the museum is an experience in itself and the recreated rubber estate is one of the Amazon region’s most unique sights. Exploring the reconstructed rubber-tapper shack and smokehouse, visitors can learn all about the rubber making process, unveiling the secrets of tapping the rubber from the trees and viewing the ships in which the rubber was transported from the Amazon to locations all around the globe. As well as comparing the grand rubber baron’s home with the squalid workers’ living quarters (an eye-opening insight into the era’s rich-poor divide), the highlight of a visit is watching a live demonstration of extracting latex from a tree. 

Practical Info

The Museu do Seringal Vila Paraíso is located on the Igarapé São João waterway, around 20 minutes by boat from Manaus. The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and adult admission is R$ 5.