Paddling near Santarém, Pará

Santarém sits at the confluence of the Rio Tapajós and the Amazon in western Pará, a position that puts paddlers within reach of some of the most storied river water in South America. The wide, clear-water Tapajós is the dominant paddling corridor, running past white-sand beaches and rainforest communities toward Alter do Chão, while the Amazon itself has been kayaked in multi-day expeditions passing through the city. Canoe trips at sunset from riverside communities along the Tapajós are a well-established part of the local experience.