The Amazon - The Rough Guide to Brazil - page 383

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE BOA VISTA

5

Venezuela (Tues, Thurs & Sat 7am; 24hr; R$139); Puerto
Ordaz, Venezuela (Tues, Thurs & Sat 7am; 18hr; R$112).

BY PLANE
The airport ( T 95 3198 0117) is about 4km northwest of
the city centre. Buses marked Caracã and Aeroporto
connect the airport to the centre (hourly; 15min; R$2.50),
although they run irregularly. It's safest to take a taxi into
town (5min; R$30).

BY SHARED TAXI
Shared taxis use the Terminal de Integração João Firmino
Neto, commonly known as Terminal do Caimbé, on Av dos
Imigrantes to the west of the centre. They leave when all six
seats are full; there are normally more passengers in the
mornings and therefore less of a wait.
Destinations Bonfim (1hr 30min; R$25); Pacaraima (2hr
30min; R$30); Santa Elena de Uairén (3hr; R$35).

BY BUS
The rodoviária is 5km south of the city on Av das Guianas.
Regular buses (every 20min; 10min; R$2.50) and shared
taxis (5min; R$3.10) connect the station to Praça do Centro
Cívico in the city centre; a taxi is R$20.
Destinations Bonfim (for Guyana; daily 7am, 10am, 2pm &
4.30pm; 1hr 30min; R$18.50); Manaus (daily 9am, 6pm,
7pm, 8pm & 9pm; 11-12hr; R$128); Pacaraima (for
Venezuela; daily 7am; 3hr; R$20.50); Puerto La Cruz,

BY CAR
Car rental Localiza, Av Glaycon de Paiva 1630 ( T 95 3224
7045, W localiza.com), and at the airport ( T 95 3224
1876); Hertz have a booth at the airport ( T 95 3198 0165).

INFORMATION, ACTIVITIES AND TOURS
Information The DETUR tourist o ce is at Rua Coronel
Pinto 267 (Mon-Fri 8am-noon; T 95 2121 2560); there's
also an information o ce on the riverfront just opposite
the Igreja Nossa Senhora do Carmo on Rua Floriano Peixoto
(Mon-Fri 8am-noon & 2-6pm; T 95 3621 3975).
Makunaima Expedições Rua Floriano Peixoto 136
T 95 8111 7669, W makunaima.com. This friendly
agency specializes in birdwatching tours in the Parque
Nacional do Viruá; other activities including trekking, city
tours, bike tours and kayaking. They also rent bikes for
R$35/day.

Porto do Babazinho Av Major Williams 30, São Pedro
T 95 9111 3511, E [e-mail]. Rents
out kayaks (R$8/hr), windsurfing boards (R$25/hr) and
stand-up boards (R$30/hr). They also offer windsurfing
lessons (R$200 for five sessions), kite-surfing lessons (R$600
for six sessions) and stand-up board lessons (R$60/session).
Roraima Adventures Rua Cel Pinto 86, sala 106
T 95 3624 9611, W roraima-brasil.com.br. This agency
specializes in trips to Mount Roraima; trips are for 7, 8 or 9
days (prices from R$1860/person). They also organize trips
to Angel Falls in Venezuela (3 days; starting from R$2900).

ACCOMMODATION
Aipana Plaza Hotel Praça Centro Cívico 974 T 95 3224
4800, W aipanaplaza.com.br. Boa Vista's best hotel is
located right on the main square; the spacious a/c rooms
feature wooden furniture and flat-screen TVs. There's a
pleasant pool area with loungers and a ca fé-bar, along
with an indoor restaurant serving great food. R$245
Boa Vista Eco Hotel Av Glaycon de Paiva 1240 T 95
3621 7100, W boavistaecohotel.com. One of the city's
newest hotels and still partly under construction at the
time of research, this hotel will offer nearly one hundred
comfortable a/c rooms with modern amenities, all fully
equipped with fridge, TV and safe - albeit in somewhat
soulless surroundings. There are plans to build a pool on the
9th floor, and there are nice views ove r the surrounding
area from the rooftop terrace. R$291.50
Cristal Hotel Av Nossa Senhora da Consolata 3447
T 95 3621 1410, W cristalhotel.tur.br. Located a few
minutes' walk from the bus station, since changing
hands this new place has safely become the area's best
accommodation option. Rooms are comfortable if
slightly tattered around the edges and there's a pool in

the back yard . This if is the best option if you've got an
early bus trip. R$180
Hotel Barrudada Rua Araújo Filho 228 T 95 2121
1700, W hotelbarrudada.tur.br. Just one block from the
main square, the a/c rooms here give onto a series of long
narrow corridors; they're nothing to write home about but
are perfectly comfortable, and there's a pool too - a
welcome addition in B oa Vista 's heat. Up to fifty percent
discount if paying cash. R$210
Hotel Ideal Rua Araújo Filho 481 T 95 3224 1010,
E [e-mail]. A decent budget option
offering neat and plain tiled rooms with wooden furniture
and private bathrooms; cheaper accommodation is fan
only, while slightly pricier room s have additional comforts
such as a/c, fridge and TV. R$70
Uiramutam Palace Hotel Av Cap. Ene Garcêz 427
T 95 3624 4700, W uiramutam.com.br. A reliable mid-
range option featuring standard and deluxe rooms - the
former substantially better and well worth the extra reais,
with freshly painted walls and refurbished bathroo ms. The
pool is a pleasant spot for an afternoon dip. R$130