Castanhal: Nature Trails, Pilgrimages and Regional Cuisine

Castanhal brings together protected nature, religious traditions and distinctive landmarks with a unique food culture. Visitors can shape their stay around a wide range of interests: ecological trails, pilgrimages and sacred art, or regional dishes. Agricultural fairs and kart racing events are also among the experiences described in the city.

Nature Trails and a Water Landscape

The Parque Natural Municipal de Castanhal was established in 2018 in the Cariri neighborhood, at the seat of the municipality of Castanhal. As a conservation unit, it belongs to the full protection group, Category II, and covers approximately 15,225 hectares. Its ecological trails are designed for different groups of people and have varying levels of difficulty and durations. When planning a nature visit, you can therefore consider the particular trail option as part of your day’s plans, rather than treating all the trails as equivalent routes.

An environmental education trail with information panels offers an immediate, interactive experience of nature. The panels give the walk a particular focus: nature can be experienced not only while walking, but also through the information along the route. Distinct from this are the ecological hikes and guided visits held at Parque Ambiental de Castanhal for students from public and private schools. These are described as specific visiting experiences, not as a general program for every stay.

Vila Centenária de Apeú offers a different perspective on the landscape, with numerous igarapés and the river that gives the place its name. It can be reached via the paved BR-316 and Avenida Barão do Rio Branco. The waterways shape the character of this place and offer a travel theme alongside the ecological trails of Parque Natural Municipal.

Landmarks, Cathedral and Pilgrimages

The city administration considers the locomotive Maria Fumaça one of Castanhal’s main tourist attractions. It is located at Praça do Estrela. Another distinctive landmark is the Monumento do Cristo Redentor, which the mayor described as the city’s largest landmark. Visitors interested in urban history and public symbols will find different points of connection here, though the two attractions need not tell the same story.

Catedral Santa Maria Mãe de Deus is the mother church of the Diocese of Castanhal. It was consecrated on February 27, 2011. Pilgrimages are also part of the area’s religious tradition: the 27th Romaria de Castanhal took place on October 19, 2025, and included a procession approximately six kilometers long. This date refers to the event at the time; it is not an indication of a future date.

Círio de Macapazinho is a pilgrimage in honor of Our Lady of Nazareth in the Quilombo community of Macapazinho. The procession begins on the Rio Apeú at Agrovila de Boa Vista, continues on foot in Macapazinho, and ends with an open-air Mass. The transition from the river route to the land procession, and the shared conclusion with a Mass, give this pilgrimage its distinctive form.

Regional Cuisine and Events

The traditional Feira do Peixe Vivo takes place simultaneously at four locations in Castanhal, including in the district of Apeú. The program included a Cozinha Show, where regional dishes made with typical ingredients such as tucupi and jambu were prepared and then sampled. Travelers interested in regional cuisine may also enjoy Estação Gourmet Maria Luiza da Silva Lima in Vila do Apeú, near Castanhal. The food complex has 12 stalls selling snacks and typical dishes from Pará and northeastern Brazil, including Carne de Sol do Apeú.

With a different focus, EXPOFAC is dedicated to agriculture. The fair takes place in the first days of September along the BR-316 at kilometer 64. Motorsport adds to the events calendar: Kartódromo Bené Maranhense is located on the BR-316 near the Transapeú route and hosts the Campeonato Paraense de Kart in the Novatos and Graduados categories. The BR-316 runs through Castanhal and connects the state capital with the North, Central-West, Southeast and South regions of Brazil. The route indicated for reaching Monumento Maria Fumaça is the paved state highway PA-136, the Castanhal–Curuçá route.

When choosing a holiday rental, you can first consider which side of Castanhal you want to shape your stay: nature trails and waterways, religious culture, regional cuisine or events. These interests are quite distinct; the roads and event venues mentioned here provide specific points of reference for planning the rest of your trip.

More destinations to research: São Geraldo do Araguaia, Medicilândia, Tucuruí, Trairão, Conceição do Araguaia, Marituba, Terra Santa.

For the broader travel overview: Pará.