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Santarém is located on the southern bank of the Tapajós River (a tributary of the Amazon], in northern Brazil. It's the second-largest city in Pará, and located just about midway between Manaus and Belém.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By boat

Santarém is about three days by river boat from Manaus and Belém, making it an ideal place for a few days' stopover on a trip along the Amazon. All boats stop here.

[edit] By plane

There's a domestic airport(Santarém-Maestro Wilson Fonseca Airport), but few foreign travelers use it to get in. It's handy if the Amazon gets to you and you need a quick ride out, though.

[edit] Get around

[edit][add listing] See

• Mercado Modelo -- the city market.

• History Museum, on the eastern end of the waterfront. Good for a half-hour's worth of learning about the city, and attended by a helpful staff. Between the millennia-old pottery shards and the portraits of every single mayor of Santarem, there should be something to hold your attention.

[edit][add listing] Do

• The river beach of Alter do Chão is the city's biggest attraction.

[edit][add listing] Buy

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Mascote, Pça. do Pescador, 10, (91)523-2844. A popular restaurant located on the waterfront.

• Peixaria Piracatu, Av. Mendonça Furtado, 174, (91)522-7580. Excellently prepared river fish such as surubim and tambaqui.

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

• Hotel Equatorial, Av. Rui Barbosa and Silvino Pinto

[edit] Mid-range

• Santarem Palace Hotel, Av. Rui Barbosa 726

[edit] Splurge

[edit] Get out

Alenquer is a small town on the north bank of the river. From there, it's about two hours by taxi to Vale do Paraíso, an eco-resort built around the Viuva da Noiva waterfalls.