What to do in Alter do Chão? This text was written on the basis of two visits to the Amazonian Caribbean. Here you will find a complete – and updated – guide of attractions, tours, restaurants, hotels and activities in Alter do Chão, with itineraries for three, four or five days.
Alter do Chão, the Amazonian Caribbean and its river beaches
With more than seven thousand kilometers of sea, who could say that one of the best beach destinations in Brazil would be, precisely, a river?
But it was not without reason that the British newspaper The Guardian named the river beaches of Alter do Chão as the best in the country, beating even the paradisiacal Fernando de Noronha.
Alter has numerous beaches, streams and islands, most of them white sand and thin, surrounded by the exuberance and magic of Amazonian nature. The waters of the Tapajós are crystal clear and warm, and the river is so huge that we even forget that it is really river.
Things to do in Alter do Chão: the main attractions
You can also hire the tours in Alter do Chão in advance and without leaving home through this link or by clicking on the tours displayed below.
See also: Where to stay in Alter do Chão – best hotels and hostels
Where to stay on Marajó Island – Soure or Salvaterra?
Where to stay in Belém do Pará – best neighborhoods and hotels
What to do in Belém do Pará – three-day itinerary
What to do in Marajó Island, Pará
- Ilha do Amor: the most famous beach of Alter do Chão
The small island located right facing the boardwalk of Alter is the most famous of the place and one of those that guaranteed the small tapajonic village the title of “amazonian Caribbean”.
And, in fact, there are some Caribbean requirements: the sand is white, the water is warm and transparent and the river so much seems to be sea that it deceives us. At some points, the distance between the banks of the Tapajós reaches 18 kilometers.
To get there, you need to take a little boat at the Alter do Chão pier, a crossing that lasts a few minutes and costs less than R$ 5 per person. The voadeiras make the journey in a minute, but the charm is on account of the rowing boats that preserve a tradition left there by the Portuguese.
On weekends and holidays it may be necessary to dispute your place at the kiosks. Prefer to visit on quieter days.
But remember: you can only reach the Island of Love in the dry season, from August to December. The rest of the year, when the river fills up, the island is completely submerged. Who sees it there, so vibrant and full of people, would never say, would it?
- Ponta do Cururu: the best sunset in the region
This narrow strip of sand only appears in the middle of Tapajós when the water level reaches its lowest point, but it is from there that one can appreciate one of the most beautiful sunsets of that area of the Amazon Rainforest. The place takes its name from a species of frog native to South America and was baptized like this because of a large rock on the beach, reminiscent of the shape of the animal.
Ponta do Cururu can be included as a stop in several boat routes that depart from Alter do Chão. Those who want to stay there longer can hire a private transport in the Atufa (Association of river tourism).
Do not forget to bring water, snacks and drinks, since there is no infrastructure in Ponta do Cururu.
- Lake Green: walk through the Enchanted Forest
In addition to bathing in Ilha do Amor, Lago Verde, formed by the waters of the Tapajós, is home to another major attraction of Alter: the Enchanted Forest, an area of flooded forest that creates magical scenery.
To get there, you need to take a speedboat to the entrance of the forest. The rest of the tour is done in canoe and passes through narrow streams that arise between the semi-submerged forest. The level of the river rises so much that visitors even row at the height of the tree canopy.
During the dry season it is possible to reach only the first part of the route, where the vegetation is more open. To enter the aquatic labyrinth of the forest it is necessary to visit Alter do Chão during the Amazon winter.
- Boat trip through Jari Channel
A boat trip that lasts a full day and leads to the Jari Channel, a nature reserve where the meeting of the Tapajós River with the Amazon takes place. It is a region full of giant royal victories and also several animals, such as parrots, that make a dandenate racket.
Due to the proximity, the trip to the Jari Canal usually also includes stops at Praia da Moça, on Lake Crocodile and a lunch break in Ponta de Pedras.
You can book this tour online. It lasts ten hours, it costs R$ 390 the transport by boat, guide and a fruit piquinique.
- How many beaches are in Alter do Chão?
There are numerous river beaches in Alter do Chão. Some of the most famous are:
- Praia do Cajueiro: It is a few meters from the center of Alter do Chão and the place from where the boats leave. It has some trees semi-covered by the river and kiosks with cold beer.
- Pontas de Pedras Beach: It is between Santarém and Alter do Chão, accessible by the Everaldo Martins Highway and then another 12 kilometers of dirt road.
- Canal do Jari: It is at the meeting of the Tapajós River with the Amazon River. Full of Royal Victory.
- Praia de Pindobal: It is in Belterra and fills on weekends and holidays. It is one of the most famous beaches in the region. There, a cool ride is the bike tour, which lasts five hours and costs R $ 370.
- Aramanai Beach: For those looking for a quieter place to enjoy Tapajós. Also in Belterra. It has in-house and restaurant infrastructure on site.
- Cajutuba Beach: It is next to Aramanai and is even more empty. It has only one inn and a few kiosks.
- Maguary Beach: It is within the Tapajós National Forest and 45 kilometers from Alter do Chão. During part of the year it becomes an island.
- Igarapé de Jamaraquá: Another river beach that is inside the Tapajós National Forest; during the floods it is sought by manatees families and several species of birds and fish.
- Trail of Serra da Piraoca
It is the pointed hill that is behind the Island of Love – and for this reason it offers an incredible view of the region.
With 110 meters high and taken by Amazonian vegetation, the trail until then takes about an hour and is very quiet.
- The Tapajós River National Forest (Flona)
One of the most important conservation units in the Amazon, the Tapajós National River Forest has great importance for the preservation of biodiversity and for the development of scientific research with native species.
It is located in the Municipality of Belterra, 50 kilometers from Santarém, and accessible by river from Alter do Chão or by car by BR-163.
Admission is free and groups with fewer than 10 people do not need prior authorization. There, there are several trails that can be traveled by visitors, including one that leads to the Grandiozone, a Giant Samaúma with something between 900 and 1000 years old.
This trail is 14 kilometers and, although it is tiring, it is one of the most famous within Flona. The region is also inhabited by riverine communities and three Munduruku indigenous villages.
This is a tour you can book online. The boat tour to Flona leaves Alter, lasts a full day and includes stops on Lakes Jacunda and Mureta, on Pindobal Beach, Catajuba Beach and Jamaraquá. It costs R$ 390 per person.
And you can camp in the Amazon Rainforest, with starry sky and night campfire to eat typical fish. The two-day tour costs R$ 585. Details here.
- Visit to the riverside communities of the Arapiuns River
Have you ever thought about how the riverine communities of the Amazon live and still contribute to local development through community-based tourism? In Coroca and other communities on the banks of the Arapiuns River this is possible.
In addition to talking to residents and listening to their stories, visitors have the opportunity to know the craftsmanship made with the technique “Trançado do Arapiuns”, exclusive to the region, and famous in Brazil and abroad for its quality and beauty, buy pieces directly from the producers, eat in the local restaurant and make trails through the community.
Coroca also has a breeding of bees for honey production and a lake where there is the possibility of seeing from near the dozens of turtles of the Amazon that live there.
To get to Coroca you need to take a boat at Atufa (Friver Tourism Association), with a minimum group of four people. The tour costs from R$ 400 per person. Those traveling alone or in small groups can try to meet other interested parties there at the headquarters of Atufa.
You can also book online. This tour here has two modalities: of a full day, for R$ 325, or two days, for R$ 455 and which includes a night of lodging in a boat, in a double cabin.
It is two hours river to reach Coroca. The full tour lasts all day and also includes stops on the river beaches of the Arapiuns River until sunset.
You can also sleep in the community by scheduling the accommodation directly with Dona Neiva, living there, by phone (93) 99181-6365.
In addition, the communities of Dã and Urucureá also have a structure for visitors. Those who leave Santarém should look for the boats leaving the Mercadão 2000.
Read also: Coroca: Community-based tourism on the Arapiuns River
If in Belém the brega dominates the charts of success, in the west of Pará the rhythm is another. Son of the mixture of African batuques, the kids of indigenous dances and dances of the Portuguese and in Portuguese couples, this unique music is the soundtrack of all the popular parties of Santarém and Alter do Chão.
Especially during the ?airé, in September, and the Santarém Folklore Festival, in August. For those traveling at other times, the Gastronomic Space (Rua Lauro Sodré, 74) offers presentations of Carimbó on Friday nights.
Read also: ?airé: Amazonian faith and folklore in Alter do Chão
Fordlandia, the utopia that Henry Ford made in the Amazon
In the second decade of the 20th century, Henry Ford tried to create a city of workers in the middle of the Brazilian Amazon. In addition to exporting these American values here, the main objective of the businessman was to create a way to produce rubber, escaping from his competitors.
The Rubber Cycle in the Amazon had already ended and the region, which had enriched in the late 19th century, was no longer important for the world production of the product.
Fordlandia has left the paper, but it has never ceased to be a utopia. Today, it survives only as a lost ghost village in the Amazon – and filled with United States flags.
Fordland is nothing near Alter do Chão – it is almost 300 km. Despite this, it is possible to visit the ghost town in a five-day itinerary through the Tapajós. It is an expensive ride, but to remember for life, and it includes several of the highlights of a passage through Alter and several days of lodging in a boat that goes up the rivers of the Amazon.
Hits and returns to Santarém: what to do there
Although many of the people who pass by there prefer the tranquility of the village of Alter do Chão, the city of Santarém also has some good options to visit. As the distance is short, a turn-around works well.
The most traditional tour of Santarém is the boat through the rivers, with the right to the meeting point between the Amazon and Tapajós. This tour here lasts 10 hours and goes in several of the places that are on tour that depart from Alter, being a great alternative for those who unfortunately do not have time to leave Santarém.
- Orla Beira-Rio and the Meeting of the waters in Santarém
A walk in Beira-Rio, the edge of Santarém, provides a box for a beautiful spectacle: the meeting of the blue-green waters of the Tapajós River with the brown waters of the Amazon River.
In this phenomenon, rivers continue to run side by side for several kilometers without mixing. This is because of the difference in temperature and density between them. There are boat trips leaving both Santarém and Alter do Chão that lead to the exact point of the meeting of the waters.
There in Beira-Rio there is also a large movement of boats and fishermen. This is a great place to see the day to day of the city and, of break, still experience some local delights.
With almost 400 kiosks and areas dedicated to fish, regional fruits, vegetables, crafts and, in particular, native medicinal plants with proven healing power for a multitude of evils, Mercadão 2000 is the main supply center of the Lower Amazon.
This is an unmissable tour not only to get in touch with the local day, but also to fill the suitcase with typical Amazon ingredients, such as Jambu, the maintainy bean and others.
- Christ the King Cultural Center
The name is Tapajós Craft Center, but the place earned the nickname of Christ the King because of an old supermarket that operated in the building.
Dedicated to the promotion of the local culture, there you can find clothes, jewelry, decorative objects, ceramics, homemade sweets and unique souvenirs produced by artisans of the region.
Address: Av. Barão do Rio Branco, 375
How many days do it take to know Alter do Chão?
Alter do Chão is one of those destinations that never seem to be exhausted. There is always a river beach, pond or a different place to watch the stunning sunsets of the region.
But since moving there for a season is not an option for most people, it is advisable to book between four days and a week to explore well the main points of interest of the place.
Those who have more time can even think of a itinerary with ten or twelve days in Alter do Chão, ideal to see a lot and still have time to relax with a beer on the riverside.
How to set up your itinerary in Alter do Chão
Do not make the mistake of staying little time in Alter do Chão – there are people who go to Santarém and pass in Alter only in the scheme back.
Only do this if you have another option. Then the itinerary is to know the Island of Love, at least if you travel at the time when the beach is visible.
Three-day, four- and five-day Roadmap in Alter do Chão
- Day 1: Arrival at Alter. Day in the Island of Love and trail to the Piraoca Serra in the sunset (but not after the sun goes down). Night in Alter’s centrinho, who knows with the right to Carimbó.
- Day 2: Boat trip through the Jari Channel, the meeting of the Tapajós River with the Amazon. It is usually combined with the Trail of the Preys and the Garden of the Royal Victory, in a full day tour. Stop for sunset at Ponta do Cururu. Night in the village of Alter from the ground.
- Day 3: Boat trip to Flona, with trail (whole day). If possible, include Igarapé de Jamaraquá.
- Day 4: Belterra, Pindobal Beach and Aramanaía Beach.
- Day 5: Enchanted Forest and one more afternoon on the Island of Love. Another option is to make a back in Santarém, with the right to meet the waters; or choose the two-day tour to Flona, with camp in the Amazon.
It may be necessary to change these scripts according to the time of year – in some periods there is nothing to see in the Enchanted Forest, for example.
How to get to Alter do Chão
Located in the west of Pará, Alter do Chão is not a city, but a district of the municipality of Santarém. It is 1372 kilometers from Belém, right in the heart of the Amazon, and is bathed by the warm waters of the Tapajós river.
Because of the distance from the large centers, the best way to get to Alter do Chão is to land at Santarém Airport, which receives flights from Latam, Azul and Gol from Manaus, Belém and Brasilia and is located 33 kilometers from the village.
From there, just take one of the taxis (between R$90 and R$120) that are on standby at the exit of the airport or call an Uber (the ride is around $70).
Those who prefer can rent a car right there. This is a good option for those who want more freedom to get around the region, although most of the tours are made by boat.
See the best value for money to rent a car in Alter do Chão
How to get to Alter from the bus ground from Santarém
There is also a bus line that connects the airport to the center of Santarém (Shopping Rio Tapajós). There pass the buses that follow to Alter do Chão. This option, the most economical, is not recommended for those who arrive at night or carry a lot of luggage.
How to get to Alter from the boat floor of Belém or Manaus
Those who have pike can also face the boat crossing from Belém or Manaus. The routes last, respectively, three and two nights, and have accommodation in hammocks or cabins with or without a bathroom.
The value varies according to the comfort level. The simplest option, on the network, costs from R $ 190.
Hotels in Alter do Chão
Being a small village, staying near the center of Alter do Chão is a good idea. Those looking for isolation and tranquility and are by car can look for the inns installed in more distant beaches.
On this subject, be sure to read the guide: where to stay in Alter do Chão – tips for inns and hotels. Here are five good options:
- Vila Aranã Pousadas – Surrounded by a lot of green, these chalets for rent in Alter do Chão are perfect for that special trip, as a honeymoon – one of them has hot tub. Daily from $550.
- Pedra do Sol – Cheap accommodation in Alter do Chão. With a view of the river and daily rates at R$ 200.
- Pousada Alterosa – Simple and central. Daily at R$ 350.
- Vila Alter – Cheap accommodation for families in Alter do Chão, with daily rates at R$ 200.
- Agualinda Hotel – Excellent location, close to everything, and with daily rates at R$ 250.
- Pousada Casa do Ivo – Another good and cheap inn, with daily rates at R$ 200.
When is the best time to visit Alter do Chão?
Although it can be visited all year round, the village and attractions of Alter do Chão change dramatically in the seasons of drought and rain. In the season known as the summer of Amazon, which runs from August to December, the rain gives a truce and, with this, the river beaches emerge.
This is also considered the high season, since most people are interested even in spreading in the sand and taking a river bath.
Already in the rainy half of the year, the Amazon winter (from January to July), the level of the rivers rises a lot and the beaches are covered.
What to do in Alter do Chão in the time of floods?
The season of floods in Alter do Chão is when you can best observe wildlife and take walks like the Enchanted Forest, a part of the forest that is submerged and creates channels with mirrored surface worthy of an Amazon fairy tale.
Bank, telephone and internet in Alter do Chão
Almost all establishments aimed at tourism accept credit, debit and pix card in Alter do Chão.
There is a 24h ATM available in a village market. If you need any agency from the main banks in the country, you will need to go to Santarém.
It is recommended to take a prepaid chip from Vivo, if this is not your carrier, since the other companies do not have a good sign in the region (but take it in Santarém). Restaurants and inns often offer access to the wifi network for customers.
What to eat in Alter do Chão: tapajonic cuisine
The west of Pará has unique flavors, even compared to the rest of the state. There, the flagship is Pirarucu, one of the largest freshwater fish in Brazil and one of the largest on the planet, weighing three kilograms.
Other species very much found in the typical dishes – there is no shortage of fish! – are the surubim, the tambaqui and the puppy, for many of the tastiest fish that there are.
All, of course, always accompanied by a lot of jambu, to give that tremble on the tongue, and by piracuí, a farofa (of fish!) very consumed in the Amazon region.
Other dishes very common in the rest of Pará are also always present, such as the tacacá, the tucupi and the maniçoba. And, of course, the acai berries. If in Belém it is consumed as an accompaniment to meals with fried fish, in the region of Alter do Chão the Amazonian fruit is snack or dessert.
It is served natural or geladine, with or without sugar and accompanied by watermeal, but still very different from the ice cream style preparation that we are used to here in the south (and no banana and granola, gentlemen!).
Read also: The delights of Pará cuisine
Where to eat in Alter do Chão (and Santarém)
- Our house: The dona Márcia always tries to give an authorial touch to the typical recipes of the region. A result? The dishes of Our House you can not find anywhere else. An example is the jambu pesto, served along with a dough. (R.R. Saint Kitts, 54 – Prainha, Santarém)
- Belo Alter: The hotel restaurant serves regional food prepared in the traditional clay pots by the indigenous borari. There are also trails, a river beach and aigatrace on the property. (R.R. Pedro Teixeira, 500, Alter do Chão)
- Ty: With a menu full of contemporary options prepared with local ingredients, Ty has a charming, relaxed and young atmosphere. The prices are good and dinner is always accompanied by a pleasant presentation of live music. (R.R. Lauro Sodré, 441 – Alter do Chão)
- Casa do Saulo: One of the most famous restaurants in the region, the House of Saulo is one of those places where you want to spend the entire afternoon. It is no wonder that it has already become one of the mandatory tourist stops in the Santarém region. In addition to typical tasty dishes, it has a swimming pool, beach and a stunning look. (Interpraias, S/N – Km 4 Curuatatuba – São Francisco do Carapanari, Santarém)
- Piracaia: Located right in the center of Santarém, Piracaia is considered one of the best restaurants in the city. Serves delicious regional food, with fair price, and some innovations. (R.R. Floriano Peixoto, 557 – Centro, Santarém)
- Boto Sorveteria Artesanal: At the time of dessert, be sure to taste the artisanal ice creams made with the typical fruits and flavors of the Amazon, such as jambu, cumaru, taperebá and smoky pirarucu. Those who are more conservative can taste the more traditional ones, such as dulce de leche, chocolate and cheese cake. (Av. Mendonça Furtado, 2653 – Village, Santarém)
What to do in Alter do Chão: quick questions and answers
Where is Alter do Chão? Alter do Chão is a district of Santarém, in the city of Pará.
What is the main attraction of Alter do Chão? It is the Island of Love, also known as “Amazonian Caribbean”, an extensive strip of white sand in the middle of the Tapajós River.
Is there a nearby Amazon forest to know? Of course! It is possible to take tours to areas of Amazon rainforest around Alter do Chão, with options of trails and ecotourism.
What cultural events take place in Alter do Chão? The Sairé Festival, a folk festival, is one of the most important events and takes place in September. The Santarém Folklore Festival takes place in August.
Is a Floor Alter a safe destination? Yes, Alter do Chão is considered safe for tourists, but it is always good to take basic precautions, as in any tourist destination. Did you like the tips on what to do in Alter do Chão? How about saving these tips on the board of your Pinterest?
