Alter do Chão (1 or more days) - Located 33 km west of Santarém, it is justly the subject of many postcards. A sandbar directly in front of town forms a picturesque white sand beach known as Ilha do Amor (Island of Love). The town itself is charming and laid back with small inns, shops and hippies selling handmade jewelry. During the week, it’s downright sleepy, but comes to life on Sundays when people from Santarém and the surrounding area travel there for fun in the sun. Alter d’Chão also stands at the entrance to a huge lagoon called Lago Verde, which you can explore in rented canoes.” (from the Lonely Planet Guide)

YouTube Video about Alter do Chão

Nearby Beaches (1 day) – When the river is low, there are scores of white sand beaches in the Santarém area. The best beaches are hard to find and difficult to reach without private transportation. We can arrange a tour complete with lunch and transportation.

Belterra (1 day) – Belterra was founded as a rubber plantation, after the economic failure of Fordlândia, 100 km to the south, in 1934 by Henry Ford. The intention of the US-Department of Commerce in the 1920s was to produce rubber in Brazil and to export it to USA.

In Belterra, new breeding methods with local varieties were applied, which prevented the leaf disease, which happened as a result of the monoculture in Fordlândia. This was very labor intensive and therefore expensive. Together with the worldwide decline on demand on natural rubber, the plantation was not cost effective anymore. Ford sold it to the Brazilian government, which is still running the plantation.(source: Wikipedia)

Today, town is a very charming reminder of a bygone time. The craftsmen-syle bungalows throughout the town, manicured streets with streetlamps, parks, and flower beds look almost straight out of early 20th century middle America. Norman Rockwell would have felt right at home, except for perhaps the surrounding rubber plantation.

Bosque Santa Lúcia (½ day) – a private protected forest reserve containing more than 400 species of native plants. A visit to the reserve and the Bosque Reception Center will introduce you to the tremendous array of Amazonian flora.

Alenquer (2 days) – Across the Amazon River from Santarém, the village of Alenquer was founded in the 18th century by missionaries attempting to convert the local Alvaré Indians. Alenquer has several impressive waterfalls relatively nearby, including the Cachoeira Aço das Pedras. The town is also the gateway to Ciudade dos Deuses (City of the Gods), a field of bizarre rock formations 50 k north of town. Another 50 km further is the Vale do Paraiso (Valley of Paradise) which has a fine pousada and additional waterfalls. (from the Lonely Planet Guide)

Monte Alegre (2 days) – The sandstone hills behind Monte Alegre, about 120 km downstream from Santarém, are dotted with caves and bizarre rock outcroppings. They in turn, are adorned with dozens of rock paintings believed to be around 11,000 years old, the oldest known human creations in Amazonia and possibly Brazil. Most are in red and yellow, and depict human and animal figures, plus geometric designs and handprints of the painters themselves. (from the Lonely Planet Guide)

Parque Nacional da Amazonia (3-5 days) – Created in 1974, the national park is located on the bank of the Tapajós river and occupies a 994,000 hectare area. The best time to visit is the dry season, which is July to October. The park has diverse forest types within its boundaries and up to 40 different flora species per hectare. The tallest trees reach more than 190 feet high. The park also has a tremendous diversity of animal species, including river dolphins, the harpy eagle, the giant anteater, the Amazon tortoise, and many others. A full description of the flora and fauna can be found here.

If you are interested in visiting these or other places in the region or witin Brazil during your visit, please contact us. We can help make arrangements for you.