BRAZIL: Visit Macapa Capital Of Amapa State

Macapa is the capital of Amapa, and surely the most deserted state capital of Brazil. As it sits north of the immensely wide mouth of the Amazon river, there are no highways leading out. Unless you count the road into French Guyana, that is.

Macapa is a city in Brazil, population 397,913 (2010 census). It is the capital of Amapa state in the country's North Region. It is located on the northern channel of the Amazon River near its mouth on the Atlantic Ocean.

The city is on a small plateau on the Amazon in the southeast of the state of Amapa. The only access by road from outside the province is from French Guiana, although there are regular ferries to Belem, Brazil.

Macapa is linked by road with some other cities in Amapa. The equator runs through the middle of the city, leading residents to refer to Macapa as - The capital of the middle of the world.

It covers 6,407.12 square kilometres (2,473.80 sq mi) and is located northwest of the large inland island of Marajó and south of the border with French Guiana.

Macapa gained international notoriety in December 2001 when international yachtsman Peter Blake, from New Zealand, was murdered while anchored on his explorer yacht Seamaster in Macapa port.

According to Business Insider, Macapa is the 45th most violent city in the world, with 32.06 homicides per 100,000 people.

Macapa has a few roads to other cities in Brazil and is mainly connected to the rest of the country by air and sea. Macapa is located 345 kilometres (214 mi) from Belem, but the cities are separated by the large inland island of Marajo and have no direct highway connections

The city is accessible only by boat or airplane. Macapa is connected to French Guiana by the Brazilian federal highway BR-156, which runs north of the city through the Amazonian jungle.

The city is connected with the rest of the North Region via the following highways: the AP-010, linking Macapa to Santana to the southwest; the AP-030, linking to the city of Mazagao; the BR-156, linking to the south of Amapa and Laranjal do Jari; and the Ap-330, linking to the northern town of Oiapoque.

The Oyapoque River Bridge has been open to traffic since 20 March 2017, linking Brazil and French Guiana by road for the first time.

Macapa International Airport or Aeroporto Internacional de Macapa – Alberto Alcolumbre is located 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from the city center and serves as a vital link between Macapa and other cities in Brazil.

Commercial flights connect the Macapa to Belem, Brasilia, Fortaleza, Recife Airport, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, and Sao Paulo. The airport traces its history to a small air base built by the United States during World War II to secure strategic bases in the South Atlantic region

Macapa is an economic center of northern Brazil and serves as a commercial hub of the state of Amapa. Gold, iron, lumber, manganese, oil, timber, and tin ore from the interior of the state pass through Amapa on to Port Santana in the neighboring municipality of Santana.

It is the fifth wealthiest city in northern Brazil, with a GDP of R$2,826,458,000 (2005). The city has a notably high rate of economic growth and a per capita income of R$7,950 (2005).

The fortress of St. Joseph is a Vauban-style star fort built between 1764 and 1782 to replace two previous fortifications located in the city. It was built to safeguard the northern extremity of Brazil and to control the estuary of the Amazon. It is one of the main sights of the city of Macapa.

The Marco Zero monument was built to mark the position of the equator in the city and to show the passage of the sun. At the spring and the autumn equinox the sun rises and sets on the line of the equator and shines on the monument along the Avenue Equatorial, which runs for a mile due east of it.

The Estadio Milton Correa, usually known as the Zerao or Big Zero, from its position on the equator, is a multi-purpose stadium located in central Macapa on the R. Ilvaldo Alves Veras east of the university (UNIFAP).

The stadium has a maximum capacity of 10,000 people and was built in 1990. It is used mostly for football matches and hosts the home matches of several local teams.

The municipality contains the 111 hectares (270 acres) Parazinho Biological Reserve, created in 1985 to protect an island in the Amazon river.

It contains the 21,676 hectares (53,560 acres) Rio Curiau Environmental Protection Area, create in 1992 to protect an area near the urban center from city sprawl, and to protect the culture of the traditional inhabitants.

It contains the 137 hectares (340 acres) Fazendinha Environmental Protection Area, created in 2004.

The Macapa region includes large tracts of tropical rainforest and experiences relatively high rainfall. Macapa features a tropical monsoon climate (Am) under the Koppen climate classification, with a lengthy wet season from December through August, and a relatively short dry season that covers the remaining three months.

However, a noticeable amount of rain is observed even during the dry season, a trait common to a number of other areas with this climate. Average temperatures are relatively consistent throughout the year, hovering around 23 °C (73 °F) in the mornings and 31 °C (88 °F) in the afternoon.

Most flights connect in Belem. A taxi from the centre can be negotiated at R$ 15.

Boats from nearby Santana can take you to Belem(24 hours), Santarem (40 hours, hammock R$ 125, cabin R$ 250) and Manaus(5 days), among other smaller destinations.

There are buses to Oiapoque on the border of French Guyana. Travel time varies greatly with the rains though is approximately 11 hours in the dry season. 3 departures per day.

Apart from buses, mototaxis are the cheapest means to transport. A mototaxi from the bus station to the centre costs approximately 7 - 10 BRL (c. 15 BRL in a taxi). From the centre to the Monument to the Equator a taxi should cost approximately 5 BRL.

Marco Zero is right south of the city. Where the equator comes through, and even crosses a football stadium! edit There is a museum below the monument which has a short video available in English and Portuguese.

Fortaleza de Macapa. There are free guided tours available of the fort throughout the day and speak Portuguese only.

Museu Sacaca, Av. Feliciano Coelho, 1509 - Trem, Macapa - AP, 68901-025. A remarkable museum. A lot of Amerindian artifacts, Amazonian trees and a small boat.

There are a number of small beaches around the city, particularly popular on Sundays. The easiest to access is Fazendinha, with direct buses from the centre.

Manganese artifacts. Local produced artifacts are sold.

The local cuisine is very diversified and very Amazonian. There are lot of local fishes and fruits. Try filahote and pirarucu fishes; pato ao tucupi or duck in a manioc sauce; jambu meaning your tongue will be numb.

Fruits like tapereba, murici, cupuaçu, bacuri and graviola. Near the fort, in the town center, there are lot of small stalls, serving regional fare, and great ice cream parlors, one near the wharf, other almost directly across the street from the Fort.

Sorveteria Santa Clara, R. Leopoldo Machado com Pedro Baiao, Macapa - AP. Arguably one of the best ice cream parlors in a city that craves for ice cream. Try one of the local delicacies, like cupuaçu, bacuri or murici (Amazonian fruits); banhoff, paraense and tapioca are favorites too.

Peixaria Amazonas, Rua Beira Rio, 218 - Santa Ines, Macapa - AP, 68901-470. Great Amapaense food. One of the best views in town.

Rod's Bar, Complexo Turistico do Araxa - Rua Beira Rio, 450 - Santa Ines, Macapa - AP, 68901-470. Great food, great view. It's close to Amazon river and you get all the breeze

Restaurante Dona Flor, road between Macapa and Santana. Very good. Right on the river. As you eat you can see the river and the people that live there.

Tsu, Av. Padre Julio Maria Lombaerd, 1339 - Central, Macapá - AP, 68900-030. Japanese restaurant.

Peixaria do Jairo, Rua Rio Gorijuba, 9 - Santa Ines, Macapa - AP, 68901-370. Great food, Try anything with filhote and shrimp.

Armazem, situated 15 blocks west of the center. Lively Sunday evenings until the wee hours.

Most mid-scale hotels give a straight 20-30% discount on posted prices.

- Hotel do Forte.

- Hotel Mais.

- Atalanta Hotel.

Perhaps the only internet option on Sundays is inside the Mara Hotel at Rua Sao Jose just off the corner of Rua. Internet now is widespread with SIM Cards and almost all hotels have a computer in the lobby.

Other Attractions

Mazagao - Close city, picturesque views.

Oiapoque- gateway to French Guiana. Access by road, about 120 km without asphalt.

Calçoene- It contains the Brazilian Stonehenge.

Afua - located in Marajo Island in Para state, it has easy access by boat from Macapa. It's known as Marajo Venice, as it's not allowed any car over the wood platforms in this small but picturesque city.


Tourism Observer