Belém (map) is capital and largest city of the state of *Pará. It is the gateway to the Amazon River with a busy port, airport, and bus/coach station. It became an extremely wealthy city with the Rubber Boom at the end of the 19th century and many beautiful colonial buildings from this era are still visible.

Every year, on the second Sunday of October, Belém features one of the largest Catholic parades in the world, Círio de Nazaré (unesco.org).

Belém is a lively and friendly city but it can look quite unappealing at first sight. There are a lot of modern high rises, but between them particularly in Cidade Velha and Campinas there are a vast number of well preserved colonial buildings, from the rubber boom and earlier.

Founded in 1616 by the Kingdom of Portugal, Belém was the first European colony on the Amazon but did not become part of Brazil until 1775. The colonial portion retains the charm of tree-filled squares, churches and traditional blue tiles. The city has a rich history and architecture from colonial times.

In many ways, Belém’s colonial architecture reflects the seventeenth-century architecture of Lisbon in Portugal which served as the inspiration for the main housing projects of the time, with the frequent use of tile-hung facades. Neoclassical architecture is also present in buildings such as the Theatro da Paz (map), built in 1874.

Belém began with the narrow streets of the Cidade Velha (Old City, map), a district which still preserves some structures that the Portuguese colonials built here, places like Forte do Castelo, a fort built to defend the region against French, Dutch and British colonization attempts, and one of the first structures in the capital.

Mercado Ver-o-Peso (map) – by the waterfront, the first and foremost tourist attraction of the whole Pará state. Here you will find fish, fruit, vegetables, regional items and offers a good insight into traditional local culture.

Estação das Docas (map). Revitalised docks with bars, shops, music etc. next to Ver O Peso.

Forte do Castelo (map). The old fortress in the oldest part of town.

Guichê Virtual is an online platform that allows you to search and book bus tickets for various destinations in Brazil. It covers a wide range of bus companies and provides a user-friendly interface for planning your bus travels.

⇒ The bus schedule for the urban passenger transport service in large and small cities can be consulted on the website ⇒ Horario de Onibus

BUS: Huge bus terminal a few kilometers east of the center. Many local buses pass here. It is possible to travel by air-conditioned coach to Belém from most major points in Brazil. Brazil Bus Travel – specializes in bus travel in Brazil. Green Toad Bus – knows that booking local transport and activities around South America can be challenging and confusing at times. Busca Ônibus is a useful resource for finding bus schedules.

TRAIN: The Companhia Brasileira de Trens Urbanos (CBTU) is the official website of the Brazilian Urban Trains Company. + vale.com / Serra Verde Express

AIRPORT: Most all airports with regular passenger traffic are operated by the federal – Infraero. They have a very convenient website, with an English version. By far, the largest international airport in Brazil: São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport • Rio de Janeiro-Galeão International Airport

FERRY: Passenger terminal at the north end of the docks. Many daily boats to nearby islands, including twice to Rio Branco. Also to Macapá, Santarém Belem and Manaus, with connections further north and west.

Amazon Explorers is a tour operator specializing in boat trips and river transport in the Amazon region. Paraty Tours is a tourism company in Paraty, a coastal town in Rio de Janeiro state. + CCR Barcas (Rio de Janeiro) • Internacional Marítima (Bahia).

Today we explore Belém, “The gateway to the Amazon. Belem is in Para State, an Amazon State of Brazil. Pará is in northern Brazil and traversed by the lower Amazon River. This area of the country is so interesting, you never know what to expect. We are traveling around the State of Pará for a while, so come with us and see an Amazon region of Brazil, meet some people, try some food, and see what life is like for people around here.

⇒ video source: The Travelbum / youtube.com /

Visas are required for foreigners to enter and stay in the Brazilian territory for any period of time. Special Visa Categories.

Eventbrite is a platform that allows you to discover and book tickets for a wide range of events happening in Brazil.

Brazil Bus Travel is a website that specializes in bus travel in Brazil. Search for bus routes, schedules, fares, and book tickets online.