Alter do Chão
Go for sand beaches on the Tapajós River, quiet lake walks and slow days in northern Brazil's Amazon.
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Alter do Chão is a small town in Pará state, in northern Brazil, on the bank of the Tapajós River, a clear-water tributary of the Amazon. Santarém, the nearest larger city, is the usual gateway, and the town lies about 35 km away by road.
The beaches widen when the water drops, and Lago Verde, a calm lake nearby, is a common place to swim. Visitors spend their days swimming, eating fish on the riverfront and taking boat trips into the forest and river channels. The town suits travelers who want unhurried days on the water and a simple base for Amazon excursions. The dry season, roughly July to November, is when the beaches are largest. Two to four days covers the main sights.
Alter do Chão in five
- Fly into Santarém (STM) firstAlter do Chão has no airport of its own. Fly into Santarém and take a taxi or transfer by road for about 35 km to the town.Getting around
- Carry reais in cash for stalls and boatsSmall stalls and boatmen may take cash only, so bring reais (BRL) from before you travel. Agree the boat price before you step on board.Money and costs
- Get a Brazilian SIM or eSIM before you arriveSignal can drop on the river and along the lake shore. Set up an eSIM or local SIM before you travel so you can message operators and check transfers.Phones and eSIM
- Pack repellent and check dengue adviceMosquitoes are common in the Amazon lowlands, so pack a repellent that contains DEET or picaridin. Ask a travel clinic about dengue and yellow fever before you fly.
- Book river boats through a local operatorBoats to the beaches, Ilha do Amor and the lakes are sold by local operators at the waterfront. Confirm the route, the time and the price before you board.Tours and tickets
Need to know
- Currency
- Real (BRL)
- Entry
- Depends on your passport; check Brazil's entry rules before you fly
- Emergency
- 190 police, 192 ambulance, 193 fire
- Tipping
- 10% service often added to restaurant bills; tipping otherwise optional
- Time
- UTC-3, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRainy, high water
- FebruaryRainy, high water
- MarchRain, river high
- AprilRain easing
- MayWater falling
- JuneDry season starts
- JulyBeaches forming
- AugustBeaches, busy
- SeptemberSandbanks, warm
- OctoberLow water, hot
- NovemberHot, low water
- DecemberRains return
Right now in Alter do Chão
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
34
- Feels like
- 37°
- Humidity
- 46%
- Wind
- 8 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 59%
Alter do Chão
04:43 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today34°28°59%Monday: Drizzle. High 34°, Low 28°. Chance of rain 59%.
- Tue33°28°47%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 33°, Low 28°. Chance of rain 47%.
- Wed34°27°22%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 34°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 22%.
- Thu34°28°14%Thursday: Cloudy. High 34°, Low 28°. Chance of rain 14%.
- Fri34°27°2%Friday: Cloudy. High 34°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sat34°28°0%Saturday: Drizzle. High 34°, Low 28°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun35°27°8%Sunday: Cloudy. High 35°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 8%.
Updated 12:20 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 5.437 BRL
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Santarémby road from townThe airport city, with shops and a larger town than Alter do Chão.
- Monte Alegreby road and boatA town known for its ancient rock art caves, reached by road and boat.
- Ilha do Amora short boat ride from townAn island reached by a short boat ride, good for a swim and a picnic on a calm day.
Before you go to Alter do Chão
Rules for Alter do Chão, checked
- Check Brazil's entry rules for your passport before you fly, since some nationalities need an eVisa.
- Yellow fever vaccination is advised for travel in the Amazon; see a travel clinic well before you leave.
- Entry to Indigenous lands near the Tapajós needs permission from FUNAI; go with a local guide who holds the permits.
Plan around Alter do Chão
Flights to Santarém, transfers and boats to the lake
Read the guideVisas and entryEntry rules by passport before you fly to Brazil
Read the guideMoney and costsReais, cards and typical prices for a night and a day
Read the guideWhere to stayTown, lakeside and beach stays compared
Read the guideAll of BrazilCities, regions and entry rules across the country
Read the guideAlter do Chão FAQ
Is Alter do Chão worth visiting?
Yes, for lake and river swims, sandbanks in the dry season and quiet days on the water. It is a poor choice if you want city sights, nightlife or a busy shopping street.
How do you get to Alter do Chão?
Fly to Santarém's Maestro Wilson Fonseca airport (STM), then travel about 35 km by road or boat to the town. Book your transfer before you land.
When is the best time to visit Alter do Chão?
August to October, when the water is low and the sandbanks and beaches are exposed. December to May is the rainy season, with high water and fewer boat trips.
Can you see pink river dolphins from Alter do Chão?
Yes, river dolphins live in the Tapajós and the lakes nearby, but sightings are not guaranteed. Ask the boat operator about the route and the time spent on the water.
Can you pay by card in Alter do Chão?
Some hotels and larger restaurants take cards, but many small stalls and boat operators take cash only. Bring enough reais for the whole trip.