Hotels in Belém

Belém: Gateway to the Amazon Delta

Belém stands at the mouth of the Amazon River in northern Brazil, capital of Pará state, roughly 120 km from the Atlantic Ocean. Founded by the Portuguese in 1616 as Forte do Presépio, the city of 1.5 million anchors the eastern Amazon and sits just 1° south of the Equator. The Ver-o-Peso market, operating since the 17th century on the waterfront, remains the largest open-air market in Latin America — vendors sell açaí, tucupi, jambu, and Amazon fish daily from pre-dawn. The Mangal das Garças ecological park and the neoclassical Teatro da Paz (inaugurated 1878) define the civic core around the Cidade Velha and Campina districts.

Where to Stay in Belém

Most hotels concentrate in Batista Campos, Umarizal, and along Avenida Nazaré, within 2–4 km of Ver-o-Peso. Business travelers book near the Hangar Convention Centre in the port district. The annual Círio de Nazaré procession each October draws over two million participants, filling every property citywide — book months ahead for that window.

Practical Tips

• Climate: Rain falls year-round; the heaviest months run January–May. Pack a light rain layer regardless of season.
• Airport: Val de Cans International Airport (BEL) sits 11 km north of the center; taxi runs roughly 30–40 minutes in traffic.
• Currency: Brazilian real (BRL); ATMs are widely available in Umarizal and Batista Campos.
• Food: Try tacacá (hot soup with jambu leaf) and pato no tucupi at Mercado de São Brás.