Belém and the Amazon estuary
Belém lies on the Guajará Bay in the wider estuary of the Amazon. It is the gateway to the river mouth and to Marajó, but the whole main stream does not fall into the sea at the city. The estuary is a large water landscape of channels and islands, and Belém sits on its edge.
Come here for the market, the harbour and the island trips. Day trips and boat excursions are listed on our page for Amazon River tours. If you travel the river from the upper Amazon, the long boats to Belém are covered under Amazon river cruises and on the getting there page.
Our pick: the channels near Belém
A half-day boat trip into the river channels near the city, with a riverside community visit.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Belém and Marajó tours
Market walks, harbour and island trips around Belém, with live prices and availability.
Ver-o-Peso market and the harbour
The city's best-known sight, after its renovation.
Ver-o-Peso
The city handed over the fully renovated Ver-o-Peso complex on 12 January 2026. It includes the meat market, the Mercado de Carne Francisco Bolonha, which stands on the Guajará Bay. Vendors who had moved out during the works are returning. The building works are over. Opening hours of single stalls vary, so check locally before you go.
COP30 and today
Belém hosted the UN climate conference COP30 from 10 to 21 November 2025. The city calls the market renovation part of the event's legacy. The conference is in the past.
Marajó Island: ferries and fares
Marajó Island lies in the estuary and is reached by ferry from Belém. A car ferry on the Camará line serves Salvaterra, and a separate catamaran runs from the Belém river terminal to Soure. Do not mix up the two starting points: the car ferry leaves from Icoaraci, on Rua Siqueira Mendes, and the catamaran leaves from Terminal Hidroviário in Belém.
Passenger fares are BRL 30 for an economy seat and BRL 40 for an executive seat. The surcharge for the executive room is BRL 10 to 14, so confirm it at the counter. Cars are charged by size: BRL 175 for a small car, BRL 205 for a medium car and BRL 235 for a large one. The driver rides without paying the economy passenger fare. Check the current timetable before you go, because crossing times and departure days change.
Fares and boats at a glance
Values for 2026.
| Trip | Detail | Fare |
|---|---|---|
| Marajó ferry, economy seat | Camará line, arrives at Salvaterra | BRL 30 |
| Marajó ferry, executive seat | Camará line | BRL 40 |
| Car on the ferry | Small, medium or large | BRL 175, 205 or 235 |
| Manaus to Belém by slow boat, hammock | About 4 days 12 hours to 5 days | BRL 580 |
| Manaus to Belém by slow boat, cabin for 2 people | About 4 days 12 hours to 5 days | BRL 4,350 |
On the slow boats the hammock is not included, so bring your own. Check what meals and water are included before you pay, because offers differ. For most travellers, the ferry is the simple choice for a day on Marajó, and the slow boat is a trip in itself that needs five days of your schedule.
Marajó Island and the river mouth
Soure and Salvaterra are the island towns that the ferries serve. The island is part of the estuary landscape, where the Amazon and its channels meet the Atlantic. Almost 20 percent of the river water that reaches the world's oceans comes from the Amazon. The river discharges roughly 200,000 m³/s on average and more than 340,000 m³/s at high water.
Because the length of the river is still an open question between the Amazon and the Nile, this guide gives the river's course and numbers on the Amazon River facts page.
Health notes for Belém
Based on German travel advice as of October 2026.
Direct entry from Germany needs no compulsory vaccination. Yellow fever vaccination is recommended, and the states of Amazonas and Pará count as risk areas. Dengue and Oropouche fever occur in Brazil, so use mosquito protection by day and by night. German travel advice also recommends against swimming in inland waters in Brazil because of schistosomiasis. For boats coming from Manaus, see the Manaus jungle guide.
Plan the rest of your trip
More from the Amazon River.
Belém: frequently asked questions
Does the Amazon River end in Belém?
Not exactly. Belém lies on the Guajará Bay in the wider estuary, which is the gateway to the river mouth. The main stream reaches the Atlantic across the estuary, not at one point in the city.
Is the Ver-o-Peso market open?
Yes. The city handed over the fully renovated complex on 12 January 2026. Single stalls keep their own hours, so check locally.
How much is the ferry to Marajó?
On the Camará line, an economy seat costs BRL 30 and an executive seat BRL 40. A small car costs BRL 175, a medium car BRL 205 and a large car BRL 235.
How long does the boat from Manaus to Belém take?
About 4 days and 12 hours, or 5 days, depending on the boat. Bring your own hammock.
Do I need a yellow fever vaccination for Belém?
Vaccination is recommended for Brazil, and the state of Pará counts as a risk area. It is not compulsory for direct entry from Germany.
Is this the official website of Belém?
No. This is an independent travel guide to the Amazon River. It is not run by the city, a ferry line or a tour operator.