Macapá in the Amazon, Brazil

The capital of Amapá is a pleasant city on the banks of the northern channel of the Amazon delta. It has an impressive fortress as well as a monument to the equator, which divides the city. There is a museum detailing the research being carried out in the rainforest and at nearby Curiaú, a village originally formed by escaped slaves.

The town was founded around the first Forte de São José do Macapá, built in 1688. In 1751 more settlers from the Azores arrived to defend the region from Dutch, English and French invasions and the

aldea

became a

vila

in 1758. Many slaves were later brought from Africa for the construction of the fort.

Getting there

The

airport

, receives flights from Belém, Brasília, Foz do Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, São Luís, Fortaleza, Marabá and Cayenne (Guyane).

Buses arrive at the new

rodoviária

. Buses from Oiapoque pass through the city centre after a long and uncomfortable journey over mainly unsurfaced roads. This journey can take even longer during the rainy season (January to May). Boats from Belém and Santarém arrive at nearby Porto Santana, which is linked to Macapá by bus or taxi.

Getting around

There is an air-taxi service to some towns, however, most are linked by the trucks, buses and community minibuses, which leave from the new rodoviária. Buses to other parts of the city leave from a bus station near the fort. The centre and the waterfront are easily explored on foot.

Sights

Each brick of the

Fortaleza de São José do Macapá

, built between 1764 and 1782, was brought from Portugal as ballast. Fifty iron cannon still remain and there is a museum. The

fortaleza

is used for concerts, exhibitions and colourful festivities on the anniversary of the city's founding on 4 February.

São José cathedral

, inaugurated by the Jesuits in 1761, is the city's oldest landmark. The

Centro de Cultura Negra

, has a museum and holds frequent events. The

Museu do Desenvolvimento Sustentável

, exhibits research on sustainable development and traditional community life in Amazônia. The museum shop sells arts and crafts.

The riverfront has been landscaped with trees, lawns and paths and is a very pleasant place for an evening stroll. The

Complexo Beira Rio

has food and drink kiosks and a lively atmosphere. The recently rebuilt

trapiche

(pier) is a lovely spot for savouring the cool of the evening breeze, or watching the sun rise over the Amazon.

There is a monument to the equator,

Marco Zero

(take Fazendinha bus from Avenida Mendonça Furtado). The equator also divides the enormous football stadium nearby, aptly named O Zerão. The Sambódromo stadium is located nearby. South of here are the

botanical gardens

Excursions from Macapá

Some 16 km from the centre,

Fazendinha

is a popular local beach, which is very busy on Sunday and has many seafood restaurants.

Curiaú

, 8 km from Macapá, is inhabited by the descendants of African slaves, who have maintained many of the customs of their ancestors. They are analogous to the Bush Negroes of Suriname, making the village the only one of its kind in Brazil. It is popular at weekends for dancing and swimming. The surrounding area is an environmental reserve with many water buffalo.

This is edited copy from Footprint Handbooks. For comprehensive details (incl address, tel no, directions, opening times and prices) please refer to book or individual chapter PDF

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