One of most beautiful places in the whole of the Amazon Basin, the town of Alter do Chão is well worth travelling out of your way for. Situated approximately half way between Belem and Manaus, this picturesque town makes a perfectly relaxing break on a journey between the two. Alter is easily accessible by taking a scenic 45 minute bus from Santarem, however Santarem itself is only accessible by plane or boat.

Surrounded by lush forest, the small town sits on the Tapajós a tributary of the Amazon, at the entrance to Lago Verde. It is not without good reason that this town is known as the Caribbean of the Amazon as it is one of the world’s most beautiful river beaches. The photogenic highlight of the town is Ilha do Amor (“island of love”) a sandbar that slowly extends across the lagoon towards the town as river levels recede during the dry season. Although still attractive in the wet season this spit flanked by the lagoon and the river is what makes Alter unique.

An extremely short trip in a canoe will take you to Ilha do Amor. If you want to get wet then swimming or wading are also possibilities depending on the season. Once on the sandbank, it is possible to while away hours sunbathing and enjoying the scenery. The existence of many temporary small restaurants and bars means that there are no excuses to ever leave the Ilha.

There are many activities in Alter do Chão some of them more strenuous than others. It is possible to explore the lagoon by canoe and the forest on foot. A great way to understand the magnitude of the Amazon rainforest and size of the river is by climbing one of the two hills that overlook the town. To avoid climbing in the harsh daytime heat it is best to enjoy these panoramic views at the end of the day, this also gives you the opportunity to watch the sun set over miles and miles of Amazon.

Alter do Chão is an extremely quiet charming town and if your aim is to relax this is the perfect place. This atmosphere does however dramatically change at weekends when hotels in Alter do Chão fill up and the town is transformed into a busy resort with lively nightlife.