PA · Brazil
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Get to know the place
Belém is the city where the Amazon arrives as food: açaí served in a bowl with manioc flour, tacacá (a hot, tangy shrimp broth) in the late afternoon and a market that has been running since the 17th century. Downtown holds the fort where the city was founded, plus the theater and basilica of the rubber-era Belle Époque, and just a few minutes away by boat, Ilha do Combu (island) swaps pavement for stilt houses and cacao. It is an Amazon capital with culture, food and forest on the same trip.
This destination brings together 4 cities: Belém, Ananindeua, Marituba, Benevides.
A look at the place
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
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One destination, many paths
Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.
Belém brings together markets, theaters and historic churches among Amazon rivers and islands. The old center, the tree-lined squares and the culture of Pará bring visitors close to the history of the state capital and its waters.
Ananindeua combines urban life, parks and island communities in the Belém area. Its religious heritage and green spaces reveal aspects of local history and of the Amazon's presence in the municipality.
Marituba is part of the Belém metropolitan area and keeps traditions tied to the Child Jesus (Menino Deus). The main church and its square shape daily life downtown and the community's religious celebrations.
Benevides preserves memories of the abolition of slavery in Pará and the religious traditions of its communities. In Benfica, the heritage of the main church and the riverside landscape reveal part of that history.
The local experience
A market on the edge of the Baía do Guajará, running since the 17th century, with the towers of the Mercado de Ferro (Iron Market) beside it. It brings together fish, herbs, herbal tonics, fruit and smells you will not find anywhere else.
Opened in 2012 in the Coqueiro neighborhood, it preserves a grove of rubber trees on 12,000 m², recalling the rubber boom in the Amazon. Registered as a museum, it has an amphitheater, an outdoor gym and an environmental education area.
Discover Museu Parque Seringal
On the Benfica River, the district's waterfront was revitalized with kiosks, leisure areas and a riverside promenade. Benfica has a historic role: on March 30, 1884, the province's first letters of manumission were signed there.
Created in 2010 on the grounds of the former Pirelli estate, it protects about 6,300 hectares of forest in four municipalities of Greater Belém. It has trails, and visits require prior authorization from Ideflor-Bio.
Discover Refúgio de Vida Silvestre Metrópole da Amazônia
The old water tower supplied the locomotives and the workers' village of the Belém–Bragança railroad, whose local station opened in 1884. Downtown there are still railroad workers' houses and the old workshop building.
Discover Caixa d'água da Estrada de Ferro de Bragança
Old port warehouses turned into restaurants, bars and a performance space, with the original cranes preserved. The best place in the city to watch the sunset over the bay.
One of the municipality's river islands, about 40 minutes by boat from the waterfront. A trail of almost 3 km through preserved forest links the Nova Esperança and Bela Vista communities.
A rustic trail of about 1 km through the Taiassuí forest, passing giant kapok trees and labeled centuries-old trees. The route reaches a wooden pier leading to a clean-water igarapé (creek).
A nature park on the riverbank with an Amazon bird aviary, a butterfly house and a lighthouse-shaped viewpoint. You can see scarlet ibises up close.
The municipality's main river, popular for leisure in contact with nature and outings along its forested banks. Its waters draw canoeists, stand-up paddleboarders and jet skiers.
A church of marble and stained glass inspired by the Roman basilicas, the heart of the Círio de Nazaré. Even outside October, the grandeur of its interior is impressive.
Discover Basílica Santuário de Nossa Senhora de Nazaré
An 1878 neoclassical performance hall, a symbol of rubber-era wealth, with a grand salon and a horseshoe-shaped auditorium. It hosts concerts and guided tours.
A research institution founded in the 19th century, with a zoo and botanical park, an archaeological collection and exhibitions about the Amazon. The walk is under centuries-old trees.
Discover Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi
Fifteen minutes by boat from downtown, an island of forest and stilt houses with riverside restaurants and artisan chocolate making. Having lunch there with your feet almost in the water is a must.
A colonial ensemble in the Feliz Lusitânia complex, where the city began in 1616, now with museums and views of the bay. The terrace is great in the late afternoon.
Discover Forte do Presépio e Casa das Onze Janelas
Your base to explore
Where you stay is part of the trip. Choose the area that best fits your itinerary.
A hotel on Avenida Augusto Meira Filho, in downtown Benevides, with a garden, an event hall, breakfast and parking. It suits visitors to the town and people attending events there.
A chain hotel on the BR-316, at the entrance to Belém, in the Atalaia neighborhood of Ananindeua, with breakfast, a restaurant, a gym and event rooms. It is convenient if you arrive by car or are traveling for work.
A hotel opened in late 2025 in the old Federal Revenue building, on the Baía do Guajará waterfront, near the Estação das Docas and within walking distance of Ver-o-Peso. It has a pool and its own restaurants and suits travelers who want to stay next to the historic center.
A hotel in a historic building on Rua Doutor Assis, in the Cidade Velha, near the Mangal das Garças, with exposed stone walls, a pool and a regional cuisine restaurant. It suits travelers who want to stay inside Belém's historic center.
A hotel on the Rodovia Mário Covas, in the Coqueiro neighborhood of Ananindeua, with a pool, a sauna, a gym and event spaces. It suits business travelers and people attending events in the Belém metropolitan area.
A small hostel on Rua Parabor, by the BR-316, in the Guanabara neighborhood of Ananindeua, with a game room and a TV room. It is a budget option in the Belém metropolitan area.
A riverside hotel opened in 2025, within walking distance of the Estação das Docas, with a large outdoor pool and meeting rooms. It caters to tourists and corporate events.
Flavors of the destination
A regional food restaurant on Rua Dezesseis, in the Júlia Seffer neighborhood of Ananindeua. It opens in the evening and is listed in the municipality's tourism inventory.
A contemporary Amazonian cuisine restaurant in the Onze Janelas complex, on Rua Siqueira Mendes, in the Cidade Velha. Highlights include regional fish such as pirarucu and tambaqui, and it is a good stop when visiting the historic center.
A marina, bar and restaurant on the banks of the Mocajatuba River, in the Nova União neighborhood, with home-style dishes such as fried fish, steamed shrimp and açaí. The place has a natural pool, a sandy beach, kayaks and boat trips.
A gastropub on Travessa WE 67, in the Cidade Nova development, in Ananindeua, with burgers, varied dishes and drinks. It is an option for a casual night out.
A restaurant serving Pará cuisine on Rua Domingos Marreiros, in Umarizal. The menu centers on tucupi (a yellow manioc broth), jambu (a tingly local herb) and Amazon fish, for anyone who wants to try typical Pará food.
A Pará cuisine restaurant in the Almir Gabriel neighborhood of Marituba, near the neighborhood square, with typical dishes, breaded shrimp, cold cut boards and house cocktails. It suits anyone who wants a regional meal in Greater Belém, away from the bustle of the capital.
A steakhouse on the Rodovia Mário Covas, in the Coqueiro neighborhood of Ananindeua. It serves charcoal-grilled meats with a buffet and salad bar and caters well to families.
A restaurant inside the Mangal das Garças park, in the Cidade Velha. It serves regional and Brazilian dishes, with fish, meat and pasta, and pairs well with a stroll through the park.
Before you go
A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.
Fly into Belém International Airport (BEL); by land, access is via the BR-316 and BR-010.
From June to November, when it rains less; October brings the Círio de Nazaré, the largest procession in the country.
Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.
