Santarém Highlights (3 hours)

This tour provides a glimpse into the activities of one of the Amazon’s most vital ports after Manaus and Belém, with a history that dates back to 1661. While Santarém’s most important function is that of a local trading center rather than a tourist hot spot, if offers visitors some interesting sights and locales.

Begin your tour with a drive along the bustling waterfront. Since boats are the chief mode of transportation in the Amazon, you will see cargo, produce and passenger vessels in various shapes and conditions. Proceeding toward the town center, a short stop will be made at the cathedral.

Then continue driving to a lookout point, from where you can observe the Meeting of the Waters. This natural phenomenon of the muddy Amazon and the blue waters of the Rio Tapajos flowing side by side define the character of the city.

Arriving in the town center, you will visit this small museum housed in the old town hall. It features a fine collection of ancient Tapajós ceramics as well as various 19th-century artifacts and publications.
Observe local activities in the narrow streets of the old center before taking a short drive into the countryside.

Next, your drive will take you via the road Santarem to Alter do Chao to visit the “Casa da Farinha”. A visit to this old manioc flour factory will introduce you to a variety of native trees, including rubber trees. A short demonstration shows you how latex is extracted. Afterwards, head back to Santarém and the ship.