Festival das Tribos Indígenas: Alter do Chão's Living Heritage
The Festival das Tribos Indígenas — held in September in Alter do Chão — is one of Brazil's most important indigenous cultural festivals; indigenous groups from across the Tapajós region celebrate their traditions with the beach and the river as backdrop
Snorkelling the Tapajós: Crystal Water Adventure
The Tapajós's extraordinary clarity makes it one of the only major Amazon rivers where snorkelling and freshwater diving are possible — the visibility in the dry season can exceed 5 metres, revealing an underwater world unique to the Amazon
Tapajós Wildlife: Otters, Dolphins & Amazon Wonders
The Tapajós River system near Alter do Chão has outstanding wildlife — pink dolphins, giant otters, caimans, anacondas, and an extraordinary array of birds are accessible on short canoe trips from the village
Alter do Chão: Stargazing Under the Amazon Dark Sky
Alter do Chão's distance from major light pollution and its position at the Amazon equator makes it one of the world's best stargazing locations — the Milky Way reflected in the Tapajós, with both hemispheres' constellations visible, is extraordinary
Tapajós Forest Canoe: Into the Flooded Amazon
The flooded igapó forests of the Tapajós near Alter do Chão — paddled by canoe through the submerged trees — offer an intimate Amazon experience impossible from roads; the wildlife, the sounds, and the turquoise light filtering through the canopy are extraordinary
Alter do Chão: Freshwater Caribbean in the Amazon
Alter do Chão is the Amazon's most beautiful beach destination — the turquoise Tapajós River, the white sandbars, the pink dolphins, and the rainforest backdrop create a scene that rivals any tropical beach on Earth
Alter do Chão Village: The Soul of the Tapajós
Alter do Chão is a small river village with one of Brazil's most beautiful waterfront settings — the combination of the turquoise Tapajós, the craft market, the excellent river fish restaurants, and the laid-back atmosphere make it irresistible
Tapajós Ribeirinho: Life on the Amazon's Clear River
The ribeirinho (riverine) communities along the Tapajós tributaries near Alter do Chão maintain a way of life adapted to the Amazon's rhythms — fishing, growing manioc, harvesting açaí, and navigating by river — largely unchanged for generations