Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
5
Casa do Artesão
Av Azarias Neto s/n • Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat & Sun 3-9pm • Free •
T
96 3223 7545
This handricraft centre aims to promote and support artisans in the city and
surrounding areas. It's a great spot to buy souvenirs, such as crafts, paintings, earrings
and woodwork, at very reasonable prices.
Fortaleza de São José de Macapá
Rua Cândido Mendes s/n • Tues-Sat 8am-noon & 2-6pm, Sun 2-6pm only • Free
The one highlight of Macapá is the
Fortaleza de São José de Macapá
, one of the
largest colonial forts in Brazil, built in 1782 from material brought over as ballast in
Portuguese ships, in response to worries that the French had designs on the north
bank of the Amazon.
Marco Zero do Equador
Rodovia JK, Km 2, Bairro do Zerāo • Daily 8am-7pm • Free •
T
96 3241 1951
Located right at the borderline between the northern and southern hemispheres,
Marco
Zero
is Macapá's pride. Here visitors can take a snapshot with one foot to the north and
the other to the south of the equator. The nearby stadium is allegedly the only place in
the world where two teams in one game play in different hemispheres.
Museu Histórico Joaquim Caetano da Silva
Av Mário Cruz 0376 • Tues-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat & Sun 9am-1pm • Free •
T
96 3223 5432
The small
Museu Histórico Joaquim Caetano da Silva
traces the history of the state of
Amapá and its people from colonial times until the twentieth century. There's a handful
of objects on display including beautiful wooden boats, musical instruments and a few
archeological finds, although the majority of the museum consists of informative panels
- sadly, though, none is translated into English.
Museu Sacaca
Av Feliciano Coelho 1509 • Tues-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat & Sun 10am-1pm & 2-6pm • Free •
T
96 3212 5342
The beautiful open-air
Museu Sacaca
collaborates closely with Amapá's institute of
scientific and technological research. The museum reproduces the habitat of the people
of the forest, with replicas including nutgatherer and riverside dwellings and a floating
market used to trade medicines, weapons, salt, fabrics and other native products to
isolated communities. Visitors take in the exhibits strolling along wooden walkways
within the pretty grounds; the entire complex is a lovely verdant spot that feels a world
apart from Macapá's monotonous centre.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
MACAPÁ
By plane
The airport is 4km from town on Rua Hildemar
Maia (
T
96 3223 1057). TAM, Gol, Sete and Azul serve
Belém (14 daily; 40min), from where there are connections
to numerous national and international destinations. A taxi
to the centre from here is about R$15.
By boat
The port is 25km southwest at Porto do Santana,
connected to Rua Tiradentes in the city centre by bus
(40min; R$2.35).
Destinations
Belém (Mon-Wed & Fri-Sun 10am daily,
Thurs noon; 24hr; hammock R$130, cabin for two R$500);
Santarém (daily 10am; 24hr; hammock R$140).
By bus
The rodoviária (
T
96 3251 3435) is at Jardim
Felicidade, about 4km outside town on the BR-156; from
there, local buses run to Rua Tiradentes in the centre (every
15min; 20min; R$2.10).
Information
There's a small tourist o
ce at the Eliezer
Levy Pier on Av Beira Mar (daily 8am-1pm & 3-7pm).
ACCOMMODATION
Hotel Do Forte
Av Beira Rio 248
T
96 3223 2855,
W
hoteldoforte.com.
One of the city's most comfortable
options offering clean and tidy rooms with wi-fi, along
with a pool which, despite being small, offers a much
welcome respite from the city's stifling heat. Pricier
executivo
rooms have river views, although they're not
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