Silversea Luxury Cruises To SANTAREM

Experience the natural beauty of the Brazilian Amazon on-foot during this picturesque, hiking excursion in the Tapajós National Forest.

Brazilian Amazon

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately one-hour drive to the Tapajós National Forest, a section of the Brazilian Amazon that is a major resource of tropical hardwoods. En route, travel along Route 163, the Santarém-Cuiabá Highway, which is the only way to reach southern Brazil by road.

Tapajós National Forest

The protected Tapajós National Forest spans an area of 1,482,660 acres (600,011 hectares). Upon arrival, begin your guided, 1.5-hour forest hike. Along the way, explore the abundant flora and fauna of this beautiful forest, and discover diverse tree species that include the Brazil nut and rubber trees. At the conclusion of your excursion, re-board your coach and commence the approximately one-hour drive back to the pier.

Enjoy a picturesque cruise along the waterways of the Tapajaa ós and Amazon Rivers.

Depart the pier in Santarém aboard a boat for a scenic river tour.

Meeting of the Waters

As you cruise down-river, encounter an unusual phenomenon called the 'Meeting of the Waters', where the mighty Amazon and Tapajós rivers merge.

Maica

Next, proceed to the Maica area, a natural outlet of the Amazon River. The advantage of this area is a much smaller stream, making it easier to see the sights during your 90-minute boat-ride through the floodplain. The lush landscape reflects the natural beauty of the Amazon Basin, and offers splendid vistas of local bird species and the occasional freshwater dolphin. Before returning to Santarém, a stop is made for piranha fishing. If you opt not to fish, you can relax on board and take in the soothing sights and sounds of the forest.

Your tour concludes with an approximate 70-minute scenic cruise back to the pier.

The scenic beauty and historic landmarks of Santarém are yours to discover during this picturesque, half-day tour of the city.

Santarém Waterfront

Begin your tour with a drive along the waterfront. Since boats are the chief mode of transportation in the Amazon, you will see cargo, produce and passenger vessels in various shapes and conditions. Proceeding toward the town center, a short stop will be made at the cathedral.

Sacred Art Museum

Next, visit this small museum which displays approximately 1,000 pieces in four sections: sacred images of the last four centuries; city themes by local artists; a long-term exposure facing history of the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Immaculate Conception, and photographs of the decades 1920 to 1950.

Meeting of the Waters

Then, continue on to a lookout point from where you can observe the Meeting of the Waters. This natural phenomenon of the muddy Amazon and the blue waters of the Rio Tapajos flowing side by side define the character of the city.

Observe local activities in the narrow streets of the old center before taking a short drive into the countryside.

Casa da Farinha

A visit to this old manioc flour factory turned farm will introduce you to a variety of native trees, including rubber trees. A short demonstration shows you how latex is extracted. Afterwards, head back to the pier.