Manaus, Brazil

Travel down the mighty Amazon to where the black waters of the Rio Negro mix with the tan waters of the Solimoes and you'll find Manaus. This port in the heart of the rain forest was the world's wealthiest city for one brief shining moment. It ended abruptly once rubber was cultivated successfully elsewhere. Today, it is a duty-free zone with an electronics trade. Yet the great Amazonian forest lies just beyond, promising adventure.