Travel Ilha de Marajó, Brazil

Ilha de Marajó lies at the mouth of the Amazon River and is named after the ancient Marajoaras indigenous culture. This island is a whole new experience from anything else you have seen in Brazil so far. This is an area where bicycles outnumber cars and water buffalo graze openly around town. The island also has a buffalo mounted police force, which is a sight to behold itself.

The eastern shore is the only area of the island that is easily accessible to tourists. Three small towns populate the eastern shore; Soure, where you will find the most services, and Joanes and Salvaterra, both of which have the best beaches. The inner island is mostly wetland and is great for bird watching, as it is home to countless avian species.

When you come to this island be sure to bring some extra cash in from Belem because credit cards are scarcely accepted and the only ATM on the island is very picky about which cards it accepts.

Where to Stay

See individual cities (Soure, Salvaterra, Joanes) for sleeping information.

Ilha de Marajó Bus and Boat Routes:

Busses, minivans, boats, and bikes are all popular ways to traverse the island and get from town to town.

Heading up the Amazon you will travel by solely by boat – unless you tire of this, in which case you can hop on a plane, which, if you use your bargaining sills, can cost about the same, but you won’t earn nearly as much bragging rights.

The boat trip from Ilha de Marajó to Manaus is five days. You should break it up with fun activities in Santarém. The boat ride from Ilha de Marajó to Santarém is a two day trip and costs R$140 to R$160 for a hammock space and includes food - you might want to bring your own though. The boat stops in Monte Alegre along the way.