Alter do Chão is a riverside village in the Brazilian state of Pará, on the banks of the clear Tapajós River. Though part of the larger municipality of Santarém, Alter do Chão has its own rhythm and identity, known far beyond Brazil for the white-sand beaches that appear when river levels drop between July and December. One of the most famous spots is Ilha do Amor (Love Island), a sandbar just off the village shore that feels almost like a hidden world of warm water and bright sky.
Beyond the famous beaches, Alter do Chão’s waterways offer a different kind of discovery, inviting visitors to explore the lush landscapes and hidden corners of the Tapajós River that lie just beyond the village shore. Lago Verde (Green Lake) is a favorite for canoe trips that thread through forested waterways when the river rises, and boat tours along slow curves of the Tapajós often include stops at quieter, less-visited sandbanks. At sunset, many visitors gather at Ponta do Cururu, where the sky turns deep gold and orange and dolphins, including the iconic tucuxi, sometimes appear near the river’s edge.
