The Brazilian coast

Arriving in northeastern Brazil, we will travel down the coast. Our first city after the Amazon tour was Belém. The city has over 1 million inhabitants and is known as the gateway to the Amazon. Belém is also known for its boulevards lined with mango trees, numerous parks, and museums.

Our personal impression was that the city used to be very beautiful. Today, it is neglected, dilapidated, dirty, and stinky. Poverty and homeless people define the cityscape, and garbage dumps line the streets and attract huge vultures.

However, those who explore Belém with open eyes will still discover some beautiful places:

In São Luís, which is 800 km away, we immediately felt comfortable. A magnificent city center is lined with cobblestone streets and colorful painted houses. The colorful city offers many sights, galleries, handicraft shops, bars, and restaurants.

But the best thing for us personally: we were finally at the SEA! After two weeks in Brazil, we were overwhelmed with joy to jump into the Atlantic Ocean for the first time.

During our stay in São Luís, we also took a day trip to Alcântara. The small town with 4,000 inhabitants was once one of the richest and most important cities in the state. Numerous historical buildings and ruins, heavily damaged and destroyed, are now under historical protection.