Santarem

Ships dock at the new Docas de Santarem cruise ship dock. It is an easy 15 minute walk to the downtown area from the entrance to the port. Taxis are readily available to take you into town or on a tour.

Map to take along.

One of the primary reasons to visit Santarem is to see the "Wedding of the Waters". This is the phenomenon that occurs when two rivers merge and each river has different characteristics. At Santarem the Rio Tapajos joins the Rio Amazonas. The Rio Tapajos is a river of very clear and clean water and the Amazon is quite muddy. The two run side by side for miles before blending together. In fact, there is a clean line that separates the two rivers even though they are flowing as one.

The Nova Orla Fluvial promenade follows Av Tapajós over a mile from the Museu de Santarém almost as far as the Docas do Para. A nice stroll starts from Praça Matriz heading west, passing colorful boats before ending in the shadow of the massive Cargill facility, a symbol of Brazil’s burgeoning soy trade. There is little shade, so bring a hat.

Getting out of Santarém is big business, as there’s a travel agency on virtually every street corner.

Alter do Chão. Visit the nearby village known for its beautiful white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters. Relax on Praia do Amor (Love Beach), take a boat trip on Lago Verde (Green Lake), or explore the island of Ilha do Amor (Island of Love)

The main market, Mercado Modelo is located across from the waterfront in the downtown area. You can't miss it. However it does open up into a very large market consisting of stores, boutiques, and shops.

Brazilian Real

Portuguese spoken.

Cafes which offer free WiFi for customers are sparse.

Basic hours for most stores and businesses are from 9am to 6pm, with an extended lunch hour from around noon to 2pm.

Many museums are closed on monday.