I swan there, years ago. I would say it depends a lot on where you do swim. Known as one of the largest rivers in the world, likely the largest one, each part may have different characteristics and configuration.

In Manaus, the largest city in the whole Amazon, there are many beaches, where people swim, just like it was the ocean. Let’s see:

Image: Bathers jump in the Ponta Negra area, in the West Zone of Manaus (Photo: Adneison Severiano/G1 AM)

Image: Ponta Negra Beach / Internet Reproduction [1]

Ponta negra may be translated into “black tip”, as the Negro River’s (Black River) water color is cola like. I have also swan there.

Image: The beautiful beach of Açutuba, with its white sands. Photos: Marcos Santos/Tereza City [2]

One hour from boat from Manaus you may find this one:

Image: Tupé, one of the beautiful beaches of Manaus. Photo: Disclosure

A real risk in these areas are motorized boats and jet skis on weekends, many times conducted by drunken people… While you are watching for piranhas and caimans, or even bull sharks, reality shows that motor boats cause more deaths to bathers than the animals, as beaches may get crowded on weekends and holidays and authorities' surveillance is poor.

Image: Marcio Melo

And do not forget large ships! They simple may not see you! A powerful engine can suck you and you will drown. The Amazon River is the local highway, see more at

On the Amazon delta there are other beaches at Marajó Island, I have swam there too. As the water is mixed with the Atlantic Ocean and the margins wide enough you can not see the other side, is very easy to believe you are on the ocean, and not in a river. There are even waves, like in the Great Likes in North America.

Image source: Ilha de Marajó: Onde fica, Como ir, Hospedagem e Roteiros!

See my prior answer on Marajó’s Amazon delta at

I also swam in other parts of Rio Negro, which later form the Amazon River: all like cola beverage, most with white sands.

But not all parts of the river are safe to dive, thus never enter into any part without a local guide. Many parts have currents, although normally not fatal ones for a person in good healthy conditions. But the current drags debris all the time, specially tree trunks, and it is not difficult to get entangled in one and drown. Besides, parasites may be the real problem, as well as river pirates in the most deserted parts.

You may also ask Slovenian marathon swimmer Martin Strel, who became the first man to swim the entire length of the Amazon River from headwaters in Peru to the Brazilian port city of Belém: 3,274 miles.

Thus, I would say that, unless you try to copycat Mr. Strel, your changes to survive may be very reasonable.

And, by the way, try to avoid the “pororoca”… See

Footnotes