Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
5
SAFETY IN BELÉM
Belém is not especially dangerous, but the usual cautions apply regarding
security
. Be careful
about walking the narrow streets off
Presidente Vargas
around
Praça da República
at night,
as it's been a red-light district for centuries. The
Bar do Parque
on the Praça next to the Teatro da
Paz is one of the loveliest places to sit and drink a beer in the city, but it's unfortunately infested
by pimps, prostitutes and various low-lifes drawn like a magnet by the hope of snaring a rich
tourist from the
Hilton
across the road. The whole area around
Ver-o-Peso
market is an
essential sight, but keep a sharp eye on your pockets and be careful about cameras and bags.
The riverfront street leading down from the
fort
to the harbour is picturesque but to be
avoided at night and treated with caution even in daylight. Though bustling during the week,
the whole central area empties at
weekends
, when you should not stray off the main streets.
(
T
91 3201 1251), also with a kiosk at the airport; or Dallas
Rent a Car, Tv Quintino Bocaiuva 1273 (
T
91 3182 2237).
BY CAR
Car rental
Try Localiza, Av Governador José Malcher 1365
INFORMATION AND TOURS
Tourist information
The friendly state tourism agency
Paratur is at Praça Waldemar Henrique (Mon-Fri
8am-5pm
T
091 3110 8700); there is also a Paratur kiosk
at the airport (daily 8am-10pm;
T
91 3210 6330). The
municipal Belemtur is on the 13th floor at Av Presidente
Vargas 158 (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm;
T
091 3230 3926); there
are no signs indicating the of
ces of Belemtur - just walk
into the building and take the lift to the 13th floor.
through the streams of the Rio Guamá includes a short
jungle trek and is a great introduction to the Amazon's flora
and fauna. Multi-lingual guides are available.
Valeverde Turismo
Estação das Docas (
T
91 3212
3388) and at the airport
T
91 3210 6333,
W
valeverdeturismo.com.br.
A reliable tour company
offering city tours and packages to the surrounding area.
Both o
ces offer excursions to Ilha dos Papagaios, an
island near Belém where tens of thousands of parrots zoom
out of the trees at dawn, an unforgettable sight at R$160 a
head, including pick-up from your hotel at 4.30am - it's
worth the bleary eyes. Guides speak good German and
French, as well as English.
TOUR COMPANIES
Amazon Star Turismo
Rua Henrique Gurjão 210
T
91 3212 6244 or 24hr line
T
9982 7911,
W
amazonstar.com.br.
An excellent French-run agency
specializing in ecotourism. Their half-day tour (R$140)
ACCOMMODATION
Amazônia Hostel
Av Governador José Malcher 592,
W
amazoniahostel.com.br.
Belém's only hostel features
beautiful wooden floors and lovely high ceilings. Rooms are
set on two floors, with separate male and female dorms;
they're a bit small, but are comfortable, with sturdy bunks and
personal lockers. There's wi-fi in the lobby and a communal
chill-out area wit
h TV. Discoun
ts for HI
members (see
rates in
brackets). Dorms
R$50 (R$40)
; doubles
R$99 (R$88)
Belém Hilton
Av Presidente Vargas 882
T
91 4006
7000,
W
hilton.com.
Dominating the Praça da República,
the
Belém Hilton
was built in the 1980s and still very much
retains a feel from bygone days; the furniture is rather drab
and outdated although management have tried to
brighten up some of the standards with a splash of colour.
There's a well-equi
pped gy
m and outdoor pool too. Wi-fi is
an extra R$32/day.
R$529
Belém Soft Hotel
Av Braz de Aguiar 612,
W
belemsofthotel.com.br.
The corridors of this hotel are a
bit sterile although the tiled double rooms decked out in a
mellow layer of green paint are very clean, with king-sized
beds. Accommodation is set on thirteen floors and each a/c
room is equipped with fridge, safe, cable TV and wi-fi.
R$165
Hotel Grão Pará
Av Presidente Vargas 718
T
91 3321
2121,
W
hotelgraopara.com.br.
This excellent-value
hotel offers spacious a/c rooms set on fifteen floors with
cable TV, fridge and wi-fi. The hotel interior is a bit dull and
staff are a little absent
-mind
ed but the price doesn't get
much better than this.
R$120
★
Hotel Manacá
Travessa Quintino Bocaiuva 1645
T
91 3222 9224,
W
manacahotel.com.br.
A lovely mid-
range option in a smart area of town featuring nineteen
cosy rooms with wooden decor, which are kept spotless.
Breakfast is served by the little pool area, which
has a
pretty hedged privacy screen and wooden loungers.
R$250
Le Massilia
Rua Henrique Gurjão 236
T
91 3222 2834,
W
massilia.com.br.
A little oasis of calm in the middle of
the hustle and bustle of Belém, this French owned place is
an excellent mid-range choice. Rooms are set around a leafy
patio with hammocks, loungers and a pool - perfect for a
refreshing dip in Belém's stifling heat. Most of the spacious
a/c rooms feature an open brick wall, with large
r duple
x
rooms sleeping three and four set on the first floor.
R$160
