Oiapoque in the Amazon, Brazil

North of Macapá the road divides at

, and a branch heads northwest to

where manganese extraction has now ended (

and several bars and restaurants). The BR-156 continues north, passing the turnings for two jungle hotels. The paved road goes as far as

on the shores of the Rio Araguari. Further on is

, formerly the territorial capital and location of a Second World War American airbase. There are a few hotels. Beyond Amapá is

, with a government- owned hotel that serves expensive food in an adjoining canteen; very cheap sleeping space is also advertised in a café on the Oiapoque road. North of Calçoene a road branches west to

, whose goldfields still produce even after decades of prospecting. The main road continues north across the Rio Caciporé and on to the border with French Guyane at

, on the river of the same name.

This is a ramshackle little gold-mining town with dirt streets lined with little guesthouses, spit-and-sawdust bars and shops buying the precious metal by the gram. It lies 90 km inland from

, Brazil's northernmost point on the Atlantic Coast and the site of one of its wildest and remotest national parks. Access to the park is very difficult although guides can sometimes be arranged through the boatmen on the river docks in Oiapoque.

Oiapoque town has its share of contraband, illegal migration and drug trafficking and can be a little rough; visitors should be cautious, especially late at night. With the building of the road between St-Georges Oyapock and Cayenne, the town has become a popular spot for French Guianan weekenders, most of them single men and in search of more than a drink. The

rapids can be visited, upstream along the Oiapoque river, where it is possible to swim, US$30 by motor boat. The

, in front of the Banco do Brasil, provides information about the indigenous peoples that live in the area, and the indigenous Uaçá reserve.

The road construction has led to significant environmental damage with much deforestation along the Brazilian side of the road in Amapá, and Brazilian

and hunters illegally flooding into Guyane have been causing havoc in pristine forests.