Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tranquil waters of the Rio Branco, flowing past Roraima's capital Boa Vista
Boa Vista
3
Roraima.
*
237,000.
k
~
@
n
Centro Turismo, (095) 3621 3952.
8
Roraima Adventures, (095) 3624
9611.
www.
roraima-brasil.com.br
Rio Branco
4
Acre.
*
255,000.
k
~
@
n
Av Getúlio Vargas 91,
(068) 3901 3019.
Santa Elena is dotted with
some interesting sights. The
ecological island preserve of
Ilha do Maracá
, 62 miles
(100 km) north of Boa Vista,
is known for its species
preservation and biodiversity.
Fringed with groves of
cashew trees, the enchanting
Lago Caracaranã
is located
112 miles (180 km) north.
Santa Elena de Uairén
offers the best access to the
Parque Nacional de Monte
Roraima
. The park is ideal
for trekking through a variety
of eco-niches with changing
vegetation to climb
Monte
Roraima
, a point where Brazil,
Guyana, and Venezuela meet.
At 8,970 ft (2,734 m) above
sea level, good camping
equipment and preparation
is essential.
Several Boa Vista-based
companies offer excellent
week-long packages.
International visitors require
a Venezuelan tourist card,
which can be obtained at
the Venezuelan consulate
in Boa Vista.
Another relatively new state,
Acre was annexed from
Bolivia in the early 20th
century by a pioneering army
of Brazilian rubber-tappers.
It was founded in 1904, under
the name of a rubber com-
pany, Seringal Empressa, by
Newtel Maia from Ceará.
The Parque de Maternidade
has magically transformed a
small town water canal into a
long, green city walk. In the
town center, just a couple of
blocks north from the Rio
Acre, which cuts the town in
half, stands the
Palácio Rio
Branco
. Though restored, the
building maintains its original
Neo-Classical façade with four
columns at the entrance.
It was built in the 1930s as
headquarters for the state
government, and retains a
good collection of period
furniture from the 1940s and
Created in 1991, Roraima is
one of Brazil's newest states,
and Boa Vista is its capital city.
While the savannas surround-
ing it are an important cattle
ranching territory, the gold
rush of the 1980s still drives
development in the region.
The Praça Civica forms the
heart of the town's arch-
shaped street layout. The
modern Paláçio Municipal is
here beside the Monumento
ao Garimpeiro, a local monu-
ment honoring the gold
miners who have brought
significant wealth to this state.
There are good swimming
beaches on the Rio Branco,
only 15 minutes by bus from
Boa Vista. The sandy beaches
right in the town center,
opposite the Orla Taumanam,
offer excellent swimming
when the river is low.
Environs
Boa Vista is blessed with lush
tropical rainforest, endless
stretches of savanna plains,
and pretty river beaches,
which make the surrounding
region well worth exploring.
Though ecotourism is still in
its initial stages, organized
tours are fairly developed.
A significant staging port
en route south to Manaus
or north to Guyana and
Venezuela, Boa Vista is easily
connected by bus to the
Venezuelan town of
Santa
Elena de Uairén
, located 147
miles (237 km) north. The
route from Boa Vista to
An aerial view of Rio Branco city with Rio Acre
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp383-4 and p408
