Brazilian Real Exchange Ratehow to get to Belém do Pará
Next year’s edition of the World Social Forum will take place in the city of Belém, capital of the state of Pará, in the north region of Brazil. This blog has an entry with information on the city (Destination: Belém). I have put together this new entry with information on how to get to Belém.
I can’t give detailed instructions for every single country on the globe, so I’m just focusing on three entry points to Brazil: São Paulo/Río de Janeiro, for those coming from the south of the continent, Europe, North America and Asia; Manaus, for those coming from across the Andes and the United States (Delta has a direct flight from Atlanta to Manaus and Tam from Miami to Manaus); and Fortaleza for those arriving from Europe (TAP has a direct flight from Lisbon to Fortaleza).
From Belém there are only direct international flights to French Guiana (Cayenne) and Suriname (Paramaribo), of no interest whatsoever for most travellers. To find out more about direct flights from your country to Brazil have a look at the list we prepared at D Airfare: Direct flights to Brazil.
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1. FROM SÃO PAULO/RIO DE JANEIRO
1.1 BY PLANE
Among all the main Brazilian airlines, only Gol and Tam have flights to Belém both from São Paulo and Rio. Check their sites for more info.
1.2 BY BUS
Departing both from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, bus companies Itapemirim and Transbrasiliana have buses to Belém. The price of a single ticket is R$370 from São Paulo. The trip lasts 51 horas. We advice you to compare the cost of flying with the cost of a 2-day trip (you will have to have breakfast, lunch and dinner during that time).
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2. FROM MANAUS
2.2 BY PLANE
Both Gol and Tam have direct flights from Manaus to Belém.
2.3 BY BOAT
The boat departs from the port of Manaus and it takes three days to reach Belém. Prices start from R$250 sleeping on a hammock on what could be described as third-class accommodation. If you want a cabin, expect to fork out a minimum of an additional R$200. There are several boats doing that route during the week (there are no daily sailings).
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3. FROM FORTALEZA
3.2 BY PLANE
Both Gol and Tam have direct flights from Fortaleza to Belém.
3.3 BY BUS
Two companies travel from Fortaleza to Belém: la Itapemirim and Expresso Guanabara. The price of a single ticket is R$195. The trip takes 24 horas. During the last couple of years buses have been robbed at gunpoint on the stretch between São Luís and Belém. We advice you to avoid night travel at all costs.
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We have an entry dedicated to Belém here on the blog: Destination: Belém.
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This post has 4 comments
May 3rd, 2009
How does one avoid night travel at all costs on a 24 hour bus journey? This is your advice for the journey between Belem and Fortaleza. Hmm.
May 3rd, 2009
David, with a bit of imagination, just include a stop along the route. Stay the one night in São Luís and take a day bus from São Luís to Belém. Like I said, the São Luís – Belém leg is notorious for night hold-ups.
May 5th, 2009
I’m travelling from Belem to Fortaleza. If I leave either in the morning or on the noon bus, will it make it past Sao Luis by nightfall?
May 5th, 2009
David, I don’t have access to the bus schedules so unfortunately I won’t be able to help you with that. You’ll have to source that information locally. Be extremely careful as there have been heavy rains over the past few weeks and the communications network in Maranhão is severely disrupted. The bus company will be able to give you the most up-to-date information.