Oiapoque

Introducing Oiapoque

Oiaoque is a rough and tumble border town at the end of Highway BR-156, with muddy streets and aggressive money changers. It’s separated by the Rio Oiapoque from St Georges, French Guiana, which itself is about four hours (200km) southeast of Cayenne, the French Guiana capital. The town is notable for its substantial indigenous population – nearly half the city belongs to one of four local ethnic groups – but is primarily a way to cross between Brazil and French Guiana.

Oiapoque was long thought to mark the northernmost point of Brazil. The saying Do Oiapoque ao Chuí (from Oiapoque to Chuí) is still a common phrase meaning all of Brazil. The town itself has a monument – Marco Inicial do Brazil and a motto, Aqui comença o Brazil (Brazil starts here) – to mark the distinction. The only problem is that it is not the northernmost point: Monte Caburaí, on the Venezuelan border in Roraima, beats it by a good hundred kilometers! Oiapoque took the news in its stride, tweaking its claim to say the town has the northernmost coastline, which is true.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009