Manaus is hot and humid all year — daytime temperatures sit around 30–33°C with night-time dropping a few degrees. There is no real cold season, only a wet one and a less-wet one.
The high-water season runs roughly December to May, peaking in May or June when the Rio Negro can rise 10–14 metres. This is the magic time for jungle trips: canoes glide through the flooded forest (igapó), wildlife is concentrated around remaining dry ground, and the Meeting of the Waters is at its most dramatic. The low-water season, August to November, exposes white-sand river beaches and makes for easier walking through the forest but harder navigation in narrow channels.
The Festival Folclórico do Amazonas in June and Carnaval in February are the city's biggest events. Boi Manaus, on 24 October, celebrates the city's founding with bumbá performances throughout the streets.