Beaches

A good sandy beach, Praia do Cajuiero, faces the Rio Tapajós on the west side of the village. Beaches further afield are best reached in a car, including Pindobal (8km), Cajutuba (16km), Aramanai (26km) and Ponta de Pedras (28km). Tour operators in town also offer day trips that include stopping at isolated no-name beaches along the main channel.

Stingrays are a concern in shallow areas of Ilha do Amor, Lago Verde and in the river. One of their nicknames is 'Wish-You-Were-Dead Fish' if that's any indication of the painfulness of their sting. Fortunately, rays are very skittish and prefer muddy areas over sandy ones, which means they're fairly uncommon in busy areas of Ilha do Amor. That said, always shuffle your feet when entering and exiting the water - this will kick up a cloud of sand in front of you and scare rays away. You can also use a long reed or stick to poke the sand in front of you. They only sting when stepped on, so a little caution goes a long ways. Be especially alert in the morning and afternoon, and any shallow areas that don't commonly have swimmers.