Ilha do Marajó Ilha do Marajó
Ilha do Marajó
This giant island in the State of Pará has about 40,000 square meters, includes 12 municipalities and is an eccentric destination in the north of the country. Located on the Amazon river or in the sea, the local beaches bring visitors from far away in search of warm waters.
The standout beaches are the Praia do Pinheiro (in the municipality of Salvaterra), one of the most beautiful, the Praia do Pesqueiro, (in Soure), with the best infrastructure and the Praia Grande de Salvaterra, which becomes the main meeting point of the island during the dry season. Laying beside the praia de Água Boa (The aptly named Good Water beach), there's an igarapé (rainforest waterway) with the same name, in which you can take a refreshing bath and eat roasted fresh fish right as it is caught!
The Pantanal area of the island can be accessed by the farms that receive tourists for their adventures. During the rainy season, the huge lakes form an ecological sanctuary where birds, butterflies, aquatic plants, fish, alligators, sloths and buffaloes live.Buffaloes are the symbols of the island. Raised to roam free, they are part of the scenery of the immense plains and of the small urban centers, serving as taxi, police mounts or wagon pullers. Of course Marajó’s gastronomy is strongly influenced by this breading: milk, butter and meat are local delicacies for all to enjoy.
The Berço da civilização marajoara (Cradle of the marajoara civilization) (an ancient people who lived on Marajó island), the millennial handicraft of the island delights everyone with its beautiful jugs, vases and urns. No wonder the marajoara pottery is known all over the world. But that is not the only cultural manifestation of Marajó. Carimbó, lundu and siriá, dances with African, indigenous and Lusitanian roots, cheer up the local festivals.
There's also a road map for the more adventurous. Marajó offers walks in the jungle, horseback riding on the farms, cycling on the beaches and surfing on the pororoca, a wave phenomenon, caused by the marriage of the river with the sea.
Marajó island is a destination that is able to combine rivers and the sea, beaches, mangroves, adventure and relaxation all in one place, with an exotic flavor, impelled by an exuberant culture.
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Plane/ airport
You can charter an airplane that leaves the Brigadeiro Protásio de Oliveira Airport (also known as Julio Cesar airport) in Belém (PA). Attention: this is not Belém International Airport. It is accessible by taxi.
Boat/ ferry
If you are without a car, take a speedboat from the Hidroviário de Belém (Belém Waterway Station) Terminal. The trip takes 2 pleasant hours. Check how to get from the airport to the station.
If you are by car, take a ferry in Icoaraci (17 km from Belém). The trip lasts 3 hours. If you would like to rent a car at the airport, see how to get one here. -
Bus
When you arrive at the Porto Camará (Camará Port) in Marajó, you will find vans and buses to 3 cities of the island: Salvaterra, Soure and Cachoeira do Arari. Get immediately the line to your destination, hurry to the line for your destination, as the next vessel will leave only shortly after it arrives.
Personal or Rental Vehicles
You travel throughout the island with a rented car from Belém.
Taxi
You can take a taxi right after you dock at the Camará Port. Pay attention to prices, because they can be higher during some periods of the year, especially in the month of July.
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The area code (DDD) for Marajó island is 91.
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110V
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Police: 190
Emergency (Samu): 192
Belém Emergency Room: +55 (91) 3184-6210
Marajó Public Regional Hospital: + 55 (91) 3783-2140
Pará Department of Tourism: +55 (91) 3110-5000 -
Take money in cash, in Brazilian currency for the whole trip, because ATMs and cash points are few and far between. Only few places accept payment with cards.
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The ideal period to travel to Marajó is between July and December, when the rains decrease, allowing access to the attractions of the island.
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Use sunscreen, insect repellent and always take several bottles of water with you to stay hydrated. Also use light clothing, hats and sunglasses.
To enter Brazil, vaccination against any type of illness is not mandatory. However, vaccination against yellow fever (a disease transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes) is recommended before your trip. If you have never taken the vaccine, you need to take it up to 10 days before the trip (this time period is not necessary if you have already been vaccinated). -
The pools that form with the low tide can often have rays half buried in the sand. Go in carefully, dragging your feet.
