Life Along the Amazon River: Macapa, Brazil

Macapa, Brazil is located on Equator near the mouth of the Amazon River and is known as the "Capital of the Middle of the World" by local residents. The city is served by the Port of Santana, which is an industrial port quite a ways from Macapa. Taxis and private tours are limited, so we decided to take a ships tour to see the sights of Macapa.

Click on http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=45050633&postcount=333 for informaiton on viewing my video showing the highlights of out one-day shore excursion to the city from the Holland America, ms Prinsendam, cruise of the Amazon in November/December 2014.

Enjoy,

Ron

Macapa, Brazil is located on Equator near the mouth of the Amazon River and is known as the "Capital of the Middle of the World" by local residents. The city is served by the Port of Santana, which is an industrial port quite a ways from Macapa. Taxis and private tours are limited, so we decided to take a ships tour to see the sights of Macapa. informaiton on viewing my video showing the highlights of out one-day shore excursion to the city from the Holland America, ms Prinsendam, cruise of the Amazon in November/December 2014. Enjoy, Ron

Appreciate this posting!! Looking forward to the whole series. On our upcoming 17-day Jan. 25-Feb. 11, 2015 Amazon River cruise from Barbados with Silversea, we will only have a very brief "local authorities only" stop at Macapa. We will not have time to get off of the ship, do any exploring and/or tours here.

See that you did this cruise through Holland America on the ms Prinsendam. Have heard good things on this ship, its handy size, charming character/style, etc.

Keep the "good times" rolling with your excellent reporting and sharing.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Celebrity Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Dozens of nice visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc. We are now at 190,462 views for this live/blog re-cap, including much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

Thanks for the video peek at this out of the way destination. Access is one advantage of a cruise, or of traveling up/down the river, since you can't really get there by road. The little ethnic museum looked interesting. Did the cruise line offer any excursion to the relatively nearby island of Marajo, known for its pre-Colombian culture and its flora and fauna?

Thanks for the video peek at this out of the way destination. Access is one advantage of a cruise, or of traveling up/down the river, since you can't really get there by road. The little ethnic museum looked interesting. Did the cruise line offer any excursion to the relatively nearby island of Marajo, known for its pre-Colombian culture and its flora and fauna?

Appreciate this above posting and the idea on island of Marajo. Will check more on that option. Just looked in the index of the comprehensive books by Eyewitness, Lonely Planet, Insight and Fodors on Brazil, but could find nothing listed for Marajo. Any added tips, ideas to find out and/or know more?

As of today, we are now at 22 days till flying away to Barbados and 23 days till boarding our ship to commence our Amazon River adventure.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Enjoyed a 14-day Celebrity Solstice, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 90,761 views for this posting.

I've been fascinated by the bright salmon colored ibis that live there (that I saw on a visit to São Luis, Maranhao) and the buffalo.

This might give you some idea:

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/South_America/Brazil/Estado_do_Para/Ilha_de_Marajo-1511920/Things_To_Do-Ilha_de_Marajo-TG-C-1.html

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1985-03-17/travel/8501150571_1_water-buffalo-island-huts

Also look at the Wikipedia travel article.

YouTube is also a good resource to see what places look like.

Seems from this video, though, that most access is from the other side of the island, from Belem.

This might give you some idea:

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/South_America/Brazil/Estado_do_Para/Ilha_de_Marajo-1511920/Things_To_Do-Ilha_de_Marajo-TG-C-1.html

 

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1985-03-17/travel/8501150571_1_water-buffalo-island-huts

 

Also look at the Wikipedia travel article.

Holland America did not offer any excursions for Macapa except the "City Highlights" tour on our cruise!