Introducing Santarém
Santarém is a pleasant city, blessed with river breezes and a mild climate. Its location at the confluence of the creamy-brown Rio Amazonas and the much darker Rio Tapajós means Santarém has its very own ‘Meeting of the Waters, ’ as the two rivers flow side-by-side without mixing, two bands of different-colored water clearly distinguishable from the waterfront. A stop here is a good way to break up the five-day boat trip between Belém and Manaus.
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Most travelers who do stop in Santarém hop right on a bus to Alter do Chão, a cool little town 35km away with white-sand river beaches and a laid-back backpacker ambience. Both towns provide easy access to the Floresta Nacional do Tapajós (FLONA Tapajós), a beautiful national forest where you can hike, canoe, and stay the night with rubber-tapper families. And while Alter do Chão has good tours to FLONA (and elsewhere), Santarém is where you catch the bus to go there independently. Santarém also has a couple of good museums, a nearby private reserve, and an agreeable waterfront, all handy for a day or two’s stay.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
