Parentins is a town of about 100,000 with no road access. It is known for the Boi Bumba festival at the end of June. The festival is a smaller version of Carnival. It depicts a struggle between a mythological blue ox (Caprichoso) and a red ox (Garantido). All the people and businesses in the town are divided between the blue and the red. The parade features flamboyant dances, costumes, floats, singing, dancing and drumming. A 35,000 seat stadium has been b...

Boca de Valeria is a small village on the Amazon. Its population of about 120 is of indigenous and Portuguese heritage. it has become a stop for some cruise ships wishing to include an indigenous village in its itinerary. There is a church, a school and plenty of kids. There is a bar (probably only for the cruise passengers) but it ran out of beer by noon. Some locally-made handicrafts and many little kids in traditional dress and body paint posing with slo...