"Ilha de Marajo" a Ilha de Marajó Travel Page by mircaskirca

Ilha de Marajo lies in the Amazon estuary just below equator, surrounded by fresh and salt water (the rivers Amazon, Tocantins and the Atlantic Ocean), and it's the largest marine-fluvial island in the world. It was the ancient home of the Marajoaras indigenous culture, notable for their ceramic. Covering about 50.000 square km it is slightly larger than Switzerland. Most of the island is virgin jungle and wetlands. During the rainy season the entire east side of the island becomes a flooded marshland. Ironically, this is where the most of 250.000 friendly residents live. But in the dry season (June - January), the island is one of the Eastern Amazon's best destinations for jungle and rural adventures, with an emphasis on bird-watching, caiman focusing, canoe trips and buffalo rides. The western side consists predominantly of flooded forest.

There are four main towns on the island. Boats coming from Belem generally dock at Camara. Joanes is a sleepy town about 5 km off the main road. Salvaterra, where the island's best tourism facilities are located, is a favourite beach destination for residents of Belem. The most popular beach is called Praia Grande but the most beautiful is without doubt Praia do Pesqueiro. Not far from Salvaterra is the island's unofficial capital Soure which is located on the other side of a river. It's famous for its ceramic artists and buffalo ranches, which are open for guests visits and overnight stays. An interesting spot to visit is also Cashoeira do Arari, known for its incredible waterways, lakes and caboclo culture.

It's a world apart, where bicycles outnumber cars and water buffalo graze around town. According to local legend the arrival of the water buffalo was an accident, the result of the wreck of a ship traveling from India to French Guyana.