Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tocantins state
Created in 1989, the
state of Tocantins
is not an obvious geographical or cultural unit,
merely a political and bureaucratic invention. Most visitors pass through the region
rather than spend time around the state's hot and not very exciting towns. The Rio
Araguaia, with its many beautiful sandy beaches, forms the state's western frontier, and
its huge river island,
Ilha do Bananal
, containing the
Parque Nacional do Araguaia
, is
the state's only real attraction, but it is underdeveloped and can be an expensive, tiring
headache of a place to get to unless you're taking a guided tour. Otherwise, you may
end up changing buses in either
Palmas
or at
Araguaína
-
a flyblown settlement in the
middle of a largely converted savannah - on your way overland through the state to the
Amazon or the Northeast.
6
Palmas
The state capital of
PALMAS
is a newer example of a Brazilian planned city than Brasília,
started in the late 1980s and still incomplete, but with nothing approaching the
imagination and stylishness that make the national capital a success. Home to almost
190,000 residents, it lies just under 1000km north of Brasília and just over 1200km
south of Belém. The town itself, which has long, wide avenues and a pleasant average
temperature of around 27°C, is inconveniently set back on the banks of the Rio
Tocantins, some 150km by minor roads from the main Brasília-Belém highway
BR-153, and there's little reason to come here.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
PALMAS
By bus
Buses serve Araguaína (2 daily; 7hr), Brasília
(1 daily; 14hr) and Goiânia (5 daily; 12hr). For Belém,
change at Araguaína, where there are four connections
daily to Belém (15hr).
ACCOMMODATION
Casa Grande
Av Joaquim Teotônio Segurado 201 Sul,
Conjunto 1, Lote 01
T
63 3216 8000,
W
hotelcg
.com.br.
Bright, modern, family-friendly hotel with
well-equippe
d room
s and a pool - all-round, a good-
value option.
R$179
Rio do Sono
Av Joaquim Teotônio Segurado 101 Sul,
Conjunto 1, Lote 10
T
63 3213 3851,
W
hotelriodosono
.com.br.
Palmas's best hotel, where the rooms are a good
size, and all come equipped with wi-fi, a big TV and a
fridge. There's also an in-house restaurant, bar, sauna and
swimming pool, and various ex
cursion
s on offer, including
visits to Araguaia river beaches.
R$329
