Places of Interest - Brazil

Santarem is a friendly, pleasant medium-sized city in the middle of the Amazon that seems like a good stop on the route between Manaus on the one hand and Belem on the other. It is here where the brownish Amazon river meets the reddish river "Tapajos". There is a mild climate here and is and serves as a perfect base to go to the nearby "Foresta Nacional de Tapajos" (FLONA) or to the idyllic beach village "Alter do Chao" both in the middle of the jungle. Already thousands of years people live in and around the current city of Santarem, it was only in the 17th century that the name Santarem was used for the establishment. Like Manaus, the city flourished at the time of the rubber (trees) and collapsed like a pudding when it disappeared. New revivals due to various gold discoveries from the 1950s. Nowadays the economy is floating on soy, rubber, wood, nuts, black pepper, mangoes, fish and a bit of tourism.

Santarem - Alter do Chao: on Av. Rui Barbara, Av Barao do Rio Brando etc a bus goes about every hour towards AdC - duration: 45 minutes, costs R $2.50.

Santarem - Floresta Nacional do Tapajos: Every day around 11:00 a bus goes through all the small villages of this national park. The ride takes about 4 hours (big bus) and costs R $ 7

On the coastal road (Av Tapajos) in Santarem there are several small restaurants that grill outside of fish. Tasty, cheap and a great view.

• Name: Hotel "Brasil" (Santarem)

Address: Travessa dos Martires

Price: 25 R $ per person (double)

Content:

A beautiful old colonial red building - inside and outside with a very friendly host. The rooms are small and not super but the breakfast served in the large dining room makes up for a lot. Light, colorful and a very exotic feeling will come to you with its wooden floor and staircase and attractively decorated house. There are separate toilets and showers.

If you want to visit FLONA you are obliged to walk past "IBAMA" office just outside the center along the "Ave Tapajos" in Santarem. The man here can tell you everything about the national park and the possibilities to stay here with any families.