Discover Santarém: Rivers, Culture and Nature

In Santarém, striking river landscapes meet archaeological collections, religious buildings and regional specialities. At the Orla de Santarém, you can go for a walk, watch the sunset and take in the view where the Tapajós and Amazon rivers meet. Families can also enjoy a variety of discoveries, from picnic spots at Parque da Cidade to the natural and cultural themes that shape a stay here.

River Views and Time Outdoors

The Orla de Santarém combines a stroll with a special view of the rivers. If you like to spend the evening outdoors, it is also a place to watch the sunset. The meeting of the Tapajós and Amazon rivers gives this landscape experience a clear connection to Santarém.

At Parque da Cidade, leisure, sport and environmental education take centre stage. The park offers opportunities for walks and family picnics. This provides an alternative to visiting collections and historic sites: you can include exercise and time outdoors in your trip without the park being limited to a single activity.

Another viewpoint is at Praça Fortaleza do Tapajós. The square was once a defensive fort and is now home to a viewpoint overlooking the city waterfront. Kiosks and seating areas invite you to linger and enjoy the view.

Ceramics, Crafts and History

At Centro Cultural João Fona, you can explore Tapajós culture through a valuable collection of archaeological ceramics. Exhibitions on the history of the region’s ancestors round out the visit. Museu Dica Frazão has a different focus: it displays more than 150 pieces made from roots, fibres and seeds, including a famous patchouli dress. The two museums offer different ways to explore regional history and design.

In the historic centre, Museu de Arte Sacra is next to Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora da Conceição. The museum preserves religious objects from the 18th and 19th centuries. Catedral de Nossa Senhora da Conceição is one of Santarém’s oldest buildings; its construction began in 1754. Masses are still celebrated in the cathedral. Here, you can discover religious art, architectural history and living religious practice as distinct aspects of Santarém.

Terminal Fluvial Turístico is more than a boarding point: you can watch the sunset there and see craft exhibitions. Mercadão 2000 offers regional fruit, fresh fish, cassava flour, medicinal herbs and crafts. If you are interested in local products, you will find a wide variety of goods under one roof.

Nature-Watching Nearby

ZooUnama combines environmental education and nature conservation and is home to animals from the Amazonian fauna. Nearby, Lago do Maicá is also an important place to observe birds, river dolphins, caimans, sloths and monkeys, especially in the flooded forest. These natural attractions offer a different focus for your trip from the city’s museums and buildings.

Across from Santarém lies Igarapé-Açu. There, canoe trips offer a way to reach riverside restaurants and observe the landscape, birds and artisanal fishing. When planning your trip, you can choose between Santarém’s cultural attractions and nature experiences nearby, depending on what you would like to focus on.

Getting There and Other Destinations

River transport is a particularly important means of moving people and goods in Santarém. Medium-sized boats travel along the rivers to Belém in the state of Pará, Manaus and Macapá. Santarém also has daily air services using aircraft of various sizes. These connections give an idea of the importance of river and air transport to the area.

Other destinations: Anajás, Bom Jesus Do Tocantins, Tomé-Açu, Castanhal, Belém, Marabá, Tracuateua and Bragança.

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