Santarem & Alter do Chao
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Port
Santarem, Brazil
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$84.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 5 hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Depart the pier for a drive to Mercado 2000, where you will visit a fish and fruit market to see a wide variety of fish species and tropical fruits consumed by the inhabitants of the Amazon area.
Pass through the town center for a stop at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Conceicao -- the oldest building in Santarém, dating back to 1761. Then, you’ll stop at Fisherman’s Square, where free time is allocated for shopping.
Heading out of town, you will visit the Manioc Flour House. Locally known as Casa da Farinha, this open-air facility allows visitors to see rubber and Brazil nut trees. You’ll also find out what foods are essential to the locals and how they make the staple called tapioca.
A route through rural Brazil leads you to Alter do Chão, located on the clear Tapajos River and featuring lovely white-sand freshwater beaches. This charming town is Santarém’s weekend resort and has about 2,000 year-round inhabitants. Explore the beach and swim if you wish.
Notes: Wear comfortable walking shoes. Shade is limited; to avoid sunburn, wear light, long clothing suitable for use as a cover-up. Bring a hat and sunglasses; wear biodegradable sunscreen. Bring bottled water. Wear your swimsuit under your clothing; bring a towel, reef-safe/biodegradable sunscreen, light clothing to act as a full cover-up for further protection from the sun, and a hat. Swim at your own risk. In case of a high water level, the beach area can only be reached by local canoes, which can be rented for a minimal charge. Minimum age is 10 years. The fish market is active in the morning and is therefore at its best during that time -- afternoon visits to the fish market are purely informational. Tour involves walking over uneven ground for approximately 200 yards during the visit to the Casa da Farinha; around 20 minutes in the town hall museum, 10 minutes in the cathedral, plus 8-12 steps. Transportation is by local bus. Air-conditioned vehicles are not available in Santarém .