Where the dark waters of the Tapajós River meet the muddy currents of the Amazon, Santarém sits like a secret hidden in plain sight — a city that few travellers expect to love as much as they do. This mid-sized Brazilian port punches well above its weight, offering genuine Amazonian wilderness, fascinating history, and a warmth from its people that lingers long after you’ve sailed away. If your cruise itinerary includes Santarém, consider yourself lucky.
Arriving by Ship
Cruise ships dock at the Porto de Santarém, situated right in the heart of the city along the riverfront. The setting alone is worth stepping outside for immediately — the famous Encontro das Águas, or meeting of the waters, where the blue-green Tapajós refuses to blend with the brown Amazon for several kilometres, is visible from the waterfront promenade. Unlike some Amazon ports, Santarém is compact and walkable from the dock, so you can orient yourself quickly without needing to hire a taxi for every errand. The city centre is clean, lively, and immediately accessible, making embarkation smooth even if you’re exploring independently.
Things to Do
Santarém rewards curious travellers. The Museu do Santarém (also called Museu João Fona) offers an excellent introduction to the region’s Indigenous cultures, colonial history, and the Amazon ecosystem — a genuinely worthwhile stop before you head into the landscape itself.
The real draw, however, is what lies beyond the city. Alter do Chão, a small village roughly 35 kilometres away, is one of the Amazon’s best-kept secrets. Here, freshwater beaches of white sand emerge from the Tapajós between July and December, creating a scene that looks more Caribbean than South American. The Alter do Chão sunset is particularly legendary among travellers who’ve witnessed it. 🎟 Book: Alter do Chao Sunset Tour
For a deep-dive into the surrounding ecosystem, the Maicá Lake tour takes you into a quieter, bird-rich corner of the floodplain where giant Victoria amazonica water lilies float on glassy water. 🎟 Book: Santarém Maica Lake Tour If you want to maximise your time and tick off Alter do Chão’s top experiences in one go, a dedicated tour covering the village’s best attractions covers beaches, viewpoints, and local culture efficiently. 🎟 Book: Live the best 10 attractions in Alter do Chão
The FLONA Jamaraquá, a national forest reserve near Alter do Chão, is ideal for anyone wanting to walk actual Amazon trails with a knowledgeable guide and hear the forest breathe around them.
Local Food
Santarém has a cuisine shaped entirely by the river. Tacacá, a steaming broth made with tucupi (fermented manioc juice), dried shrimp, and jambu leaves that make your tongue tingle pleasantly, is the dish you need to try here. Street vendors sell it from gourd bowls in the late afternoon, and joining the queue at a local tacacazeira stall is as much a cultural experience as a culinary one.
Pirarucu — one of the world’s largest freshwater fish — appears on menus grilled, salted, or tucked into pies. The açaí in Santarém is also notably different from what you may have tried elsewhere: served savoury and thick, paired with fish or tapioca, it tastes nothing like the sweet purple bowls sold in health food shops back home. Markets along the waterfront are excellent for sampling fresh fruit you may never have seen before, including cupuaçu, bacuri, and muruci.
Shopping
The Mercado Municipal 2000, a short walk from the port, is your best bet for authentic local purchases. Vendors sell handwoven baskets, jewellery made from Amazonian seeds and nuts, ceramic pieces reflecting Tapajós Indigenous artistry, and bottles of locally produced essential oils and medicinal plants. Prices are very reasonable, and gentle bargaining is accepted and expected. Avoid purchasing anything made from animal products or exotic wood, both to protect local wildlife and because such items may be confiscated at customs. Hand-painted ceramics and seed-bead jewellery make beautiful, lightweight souvenirs.
Practical Tips
- Currency: Brazil uses the Real (BRL). US dollars are rarely accepted in Santarém, so carry local cash from an ATM at the port or city centre bank.
- Language: Portuguese is spoken almost exclusively. A translation app on your phone will be invaluable.
- Weather: Expect heat and humidity year-round. Light, breathable clothing and strong insect repellent are non-negotiable.
- Safety: Stick to tourist areas near the waterfront and use guides for excursions outside the city. Petty theft can occur in crowded markets.
- Time: Santarém operates on UTC-3, but confirm with your ship’s local time to avoid missing departure.
Cruises That Visit Santarém, Brazil
Santarém appears most frequently on Amazon River expedition and exploration itineraries, with luxury and expedition-focused cruise lines leading the way. Silversea Cruises includes Santarém on its Amazon voyages aboard Silver Wind and Silver Cloud, typically departing from Manaus or Belém in Brazil, and occasionally as part of longer transatlantic repositioning cruises from Lisbon or Barcelona. These sailings generally run between 10 and 21 days, combining multiple Amazon ports with coastal Brazilian stops.
Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises periodically include Santarém on South American grand voyages, often departing from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or Buenos Aires. These itineraries tend to be longer — frequently 20 days or more — and combine Amazonian calls with Argentine and Uruguayan ports.
Viking Cruises has introduced Amazon itineraries in recent years that include Santarém, appealing to culturally curious travellers departing from Manaus. Voyage lengths typically fall between 12 and 16 days.
The best time to visit Santarém by cruise ship is between July and November, when water levels drop to reveal the famous beaches of Alter do Chão and wildlife viewing improves significantly. December through June brings the wet season and higher river levels, which can limit beach access but makes certain floodplain and lake excursions more dramatic.
🚢 Cruises That Stop at Santarem Brazil
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Santarém is the kind of port that surprises you — a place where the sheer scale and beauty of the Amazon becomes suddenly, personally real. Whether you spend your day wandering the waterfront, chasing sunsets over the Tapajós, or sitting with a bowl of tacacá in a market stall, you’ll board your ship that evening with a stronger sense of what this extraordinary river world actually means. Don’t underestimate it.
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📍 Getting to Santarem Brazil
Use the interactive map below to explore the port area and plan your route from the terminal.
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