FACTS ABOUT BELEM: Belem City is located in the north of Brazil and is the capital of the state of Para. It is situated at the edge of the bay of Guajara and in the delta / river month of the Amazon River. Belem was once very important port for the export of rubber, but to day it is more famous as the entrance to the Amazon. The main attraction might be the Island of Marajo and its to maior villages; Salvaterra and Soure. To go to Salvaterra takes approximately 3,5hours by boat and has 17.000 inhabitants. To go to Soure takes approximately 5-hours by boat and has 22.000 inhabitants. A transport by regional boats (regular traffic) to Manaus takes approximately 96-hours by boat

HOW IS THE ISLAND OF MARAJO: The Archipelago of Marajo is located at the mouth of the Amazon River, in Pará State, bordering Amazonas with the Atlantic Ocean. It is comprised of approximately 3,000 islands, and Marajó Island, the largest, stands out with its 49,602 m2.

Marajó Island enchants its visitors with the diversity of its fauna and flora, spread out over 12 townships. It is considered the world’s largest fluvial-marine island, surpassing the areas of Belgium and the Netherlands. It has beautiful beaches with calm waters, and a great variety of birds and fish. It is the land of açaí (a type of fruit), of warm rhythms like carimbó (a drum made of a hollow log) and lundu (a primitive lascivious dance) and Marajó pottery.

On the Island’s east side there is a savannah covered prairie. On the west, there are thick forests. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Amazonas and Pará Rivers, Marajó Island is also the stage for the “pororoca” – a phenomenon of gigantic waves formed by the encounter of river and sea waters.

During the period of intense rain – between January and May – part of Marajó’s territory is under water. It propitiates buffalo raising, and the Island has the largest herd in Brazil. These animals are normally used for transportation – on the fields as well in the cities – and their meat is the base of some typical dishes from the area.

The Marajó culture is also present in shows and folklore dances, like carimbó and lundu. Pottery is another great attraction offered by the island and it can be seen at the Marajó Museum, in Cachoeira do Arari, 74 km (46 miles) from Soure. The local arts and crafts stores also offer models of this art for purchase.

A good option to get to know the region’s culture, fauna and flora is to lodge in one of the farms adapted to take in tourists. There, the visitors can ride Jeeps, boats or on horseback to visit bayous, swamps, pastures, and woods. Soure and Salvaterra cities are the most visited by the tourists.

WHEN TO GO / CLIMATE: The climate on the Island and Archipelago is equatorial with constant rain. From June to January is the dry season, and the places/tours are more accessible. During the other months, Marajó is practically flooded due to the high pluviometer index, thus resulting in two seasons, the rainiest and the least rainy – which totally alters the landscape.

HOW TO GO:
By Water: From Belém there are boat departures to Ilha de Marajo and a trip to Salvaterra takes approximately 3 hours.

By Air: there are flights options available as well, handled by local air taxi companies.

EVENTS:
Square and Boi-Bumbá Dance Festivals - SOURE and SALVATERRA
Both festivities are held annually during the second half of June.

Our Lady of Nazarth Fest - SOURE
It is held in November and enchants all with its mixture of colors and the local population’s contagious happiness.

ATTRACTIONS:
Fields
Dry in the summer and flooded in the winter, Marajó’s fields have native and unique vegetation, with rich fauna. The landscape changes with each season: in January the green appears, covering the ground; from the middle of the year on, the soil seems cracked, with lacustrine shade. But, rainy or sunny, it is very easy to see local birds. Among them, there are scarlet ibis, sun grebes, herons, and jabiru storks. It is also common to see pacas, agoutis, and alligators. Due to the immense farms spread all over the Island, the presence of buffalo is remarkable, becoming a symbol for Marajó. Not all farms are accessible by road. Many, especially during the flood season, are accessed only by plane or boat.

Forest
The region’s forests are very rich in fruits and food, which guarantees the presence of animals. The açai trees are found everywhere. Because the vegetation is in the most part intertwined by water, man’s interference is difficult, which helps maintain the forest preserved.

Beaches
Marajó’s coast is deserted and wild, with plenty of beaches and small river inlets, the bayous. The sea is responsible for landscape transformation. There are six months of river water – the area’s winter – when the muddy waters from the Amazon River invade the rivers and sea. And six months of salt water, due to the strength of the Atlantic, which penetrates the rivers. Marajó’s main beaches are: Sul Beach, Joanes and Monsarás – in Salvaterra; and North Beach, Barra Velha, Araruna and Pesqueiro – in Soure.

Pesqueiro Beach (Soure)
This 3 km (1.9 miles) beach is one of the most popular. Its sand is packed and yellow, with dunes and many palm trees.

Araruna Beach (Soure)
You must cross the Araruna River to get to this beach. Its great attractions are the mangroves that the sea water has been invading.

Grande Beach (Salvaterra)
Surrounded by palm trees, Grande Beach is only 1.5 km (1 mile) long. One can visit the lighthouse on the beach.

Joanes and Monsarás Beaches (Salvaterra)
About 15 km (9 miles) from Salvaterra, Joanes beach is well sought after due to the presence of 18th Century ruins. It is 2 km (1.5 miles) long.

Bom Jesus Farm (Soure)
At this farm there is an enormous variety of birds. The tourist can also ride buffalos and horses.

São Jerônimo Farm (Soure)
This farm offers trails through mangroves, horseback riding and bathing in the bayous and on beaches.

Sanjo Farm (Soure)
A great place for bird and wild animal watching, ecological trails, horseback riding, buffalo riding and trips on canoes pushed along with sticks, alligator spotting and piranha fishing.

Camburupy Farm (Soure)
Marajó horseback riding, a Marajó cowboy daily tradition.

Other attractions

Marajó pottery
One of Marajó Island’s strongest points is its pottery. The oldest models of Marajó’s pottery date from 980 B.C., and the most recent originals date from the 18th Century. The pottery objects were discovered in archeological excavations and are the only relic of the Marajó people who dominated the region up to the 14th Century. The most representative are the vases and jugs decorated with animal drawings or human body parts and burial urns, in which tribe leaders were buried. This art is seen at the Marajó Museum – already granted the Institute for National Artistic and Historical Heritage (IPHAN) award – and at the Emilio Goeld Museum.

Shopping

Replicas of Marajó pottery
Arte em Barro – Tr. 20, between 3rd and 4th streets. Open from 8AM to 7PM.
Sociedade Marajoara das Artes – 3rd street (between 18th and 19th), open from Monday thru Saturday, from 8AM to 12PM and from 2PM to 6PM; on Sundays, from 8AM to 12PM.

Leather articles
Cow and buffalo hide (sandals, boots and bags): Marajó Tannery – 1st Street, 450 (Bairro Novo), open from 7AM to 7PM