As cruise ships are not able to dock here you will be tendered ashore to the center of this attractive beach resort.

Printable map to take along on the cruise.

Watch a destination video.

The main attraction of Alter do Chao is sandbar that is wadeable in dry season.

The town of Alter-do-Chão is 30 km away from Santarém. It is considered the most famous resort in the area. It is the most appreciated beach in the region and an obligatory stop for foreign cruises. Bathed by the Tapajós River, the town's beach is temporary, since it is formed during the river's high water season. One of the curiosities about this town is its green lake, whose waters change color during the day, from blue to green.

From this island you can head into the Amazon jungle on foot to explore the wildlife and get a glimpse of the many different species of plants that grow here.

Brazilian Real

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Portuguese spoken.

It has a couple of Internet places but they have only two terminals each.

Basic hours for most stores and businesses are from 9am to 6pm, with an extended lunch hour from around noon to 2pm.

Many museums are closed on monday.

National holidays:

January 1
Carnival - the five days leading up to Ash Wednesday
Good Friday
April 21 - Remembrance of Tiradentes
May 1 - Labour Day
Corpus Christi
September 7 - Independence Day
October 12 - Nossa Senhora Aparecida
November 2 - Dia dos Finados (the Day of the Dead)
November 15 - Proclamation of the Republic
December 2

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