Brazil Travel Packages: Alter do Chao

The small fishing village of Alter do Chao, with about 5,000 inhabitants, has become the most famous tourist destination of the region during the last 15 years, without losing its own charm. It is located 19 miles (30 kilometers) from Santarem and its airport, near the mouth of the Rio Tapajos leading into the Amazon. The endless white beaches and shallow clear waters of the Rio Tapajos gave the village the nickname of "Caribbean of Amazonia." Directly from the village, several small streams flow into the Rio Tapajos, which are separated by a sand tongue and thus form a lake. This sand barrier is the landmark of the village and was affectionately called "Ilha do Amor" (Island of Love). On the beaches there are small huts with tables and umbrellas, where drinks and both local and seasonal food are offered. But after only a few meters of walking do visitors find themselves all alone on the wide beaches and can enjoy the colorful idyll of nature. Alter do Chao is sustained on eco-tourism and offers many different excursion possibilities. One of the most popular destinations are the giant trees of the Tapajos Forest National Park. The jungle is used sustainably and only for local fishing villages who cultivate mandioca near the river bank. Due to its extraordinary biodiversity, this forest is one of the most protected areas of the entire Amazon Rainforest.
The climate in Alter do Chao is very warm and humid year round with temperatures between 77 °F (25 °C) and 86 °F (30 °C). In the dry season, from June to November, the water sinks and the beaches become visible. After that, the water level rises by a total of 16 feet (5 meters) in the rainy season from December to May, so that from March onwards no beach is visible at all. But it is this exact time that offers a very special attraction in the region, as it is possible to paddle in canoes through the flooded forest along the Tapajos, known as "Floresta Encantada" (Enchanted Forest). The best way to observe the diverse fauna is to glide quietly between the trees.

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