Territory capital · Brazil
Macapá
Go for 2 nights only if you want the equator line and a river fort; otherwise skip — flights from Belém cost more than the city repays.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- BRL
- Best months
- Aug–Nov (drier, hotter)
- avoid Dec–Jul (heavy rain; Apr–Jun for the pororoca only)
- Airport
- MCP
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 7Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
- South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
- South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
- South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
- Brazil ↗US, Canadian and Australian citizens need an e-visa (about US$81 — check) applied for online at the official VFS portal before travel; EU and UK citizens do not. Check your passport with Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs before booking.
- Brazil ↗Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for many areas, including the Amazon and Pantanal; check with a travel clinic at least 10 days before travel.
- Brazil ↗Keep your phone out of sight in the street and on beaches; phone theft is the most common crime against visitors in big cities.
- Brazil ↗Carnival 2027 runs about 5–10 February (Tuesday 9 February; Salvador from 4 February): book Rio, Salvador and Recife/Olinda months ahead or avoid those dates.
Macapá is the capital of Amapá and sits exactly on the equator, so the city's one real draw is standing at 0° latitude. It has no road link to the rest of Brazil — you arrive by plane from Belém or Brasília, or by river boat via Santana. Two nights covers the fort, Marco Zero and the riverside; the heat and rain do the rest of the planning for you.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Macapá, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Brazilian real (BRL, R$).Brazil-wide
- SIM or eSIMVivo, Claro and TIM cover the country; buying a prepaid SIM needs a passport and sometimes a CPF — an eSIM before you fly is easier.Brazil-wide
- Tap waterDo not drink tap water; filtered water is provided in most homes and hotels.Brazil-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 10% service (serviço) usually on the bill; optional but normal.Brazil-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/N. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 127 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Brazil-wide
- SafetyMacapá is calm by Brazilian big-city standards, but use taxis after dark, keep to the riverside and Centro at night…
- RestroomsPut toilet paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places.Brazil-wide
- Emergency numbers190 police · 192 ambulance · 193 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysCarnival shuts many businesses for several days; museums often close on Mondays.Brazil-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckMCP Macapá–Alberto Alcolumbre International (Flights from Belém and Brasília; about 15–20 min by taxi to the centre (check fare)).
- Getting aroundTaxis and moto-taxis are the practical way around; buses exist but are slow and hard to read without Portuguese.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- BeerBeer at a riverside barR$8–15 (≈ US$2–3)
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 miTaxi across the centreAgree the fare first.R$15–30 (≈ US$3–6)
- Museum or sight ticketMuseu Sacaca entryGuide tip extra.Free
- Budget bedHostel or simple pousada bed, a night, per personR$70 (≈ US$13)
- Mid-range bedMid-scale double room, a night, per roomR$250 (≈ US$50)
- High-end bedMid-scale double room, a night, per roomR$450 (≈ US$85)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget R$200 (≈ US$40) · Mid R$350 (≈ US$65) · High R$650 (≈ US$130)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- MCP Macapá–Alberto Alcolumbre International (Flights from Belém and Brasília; about 15–20 min by taxi to the centre (check fare))
Weather and climate
Macapá: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
31°C88°F
24°C75°F
20 rd
Feb
30°C86°F
24°C75°F
21 rd
Mar
30°C86°F
24°C75°F
23 rd
Apr
31°C88°F
24°C75°F
22 rd
May
31°C88°F
24°C75°F
20 rd
Jun
32°C90°F
24°C75°F
17 rd
Jul
32°C90°F
24°C75°F
14 rd
Aug
33°C91°F
24°C75°F
7 rd
Sep
33°C91°F
24°C75°F
3 rd
Oct
34°C93°F
24°C75°F
3 rd
Nov
33°C91°F
24°C75°F
5 rd
Dec
32°C90°F
24°C75°F
11 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Taxis and moto-taxis are the practical way around; buses exist but are slow and hard to read without Portuguese. Agree the taxi fare before you get in. Marco Zero also has an express bus from the centre.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Santana
cautionDoor to door: About 40 min
Taxi or bus south on the AP-010, about 25 kmTaxi or bus south on the AP-010, about 16 mi
Port town for river boats; go only if you are boarding or want the market.
Oiapoque
overnightDoor to door: 7–12 h
Bus or shared 4x4, 7–12 h depending on road condition
French Guiana border; not a day trip, and slow in the rains.
Bioparque da Amazônia
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Taxi on the AP-010 toward Santana
Amazon flora and fauna; reopened 2019, check current hours.
Apa do Curiaú
goDoor to door: About 25 min
Taxi, about 8 km from the centreTaxi, about 5 mi from the centre
Quilombola village with Marabaixo traditions; try gengibirra.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Centro / Beira Rio
Riverside hotels, the fort and the lunch restaurants within walking distance; best for a short stay.
Near the fort (Fortaleza)
Quieter riverside strip; a R$15 taxi hop from the centre (check).
Santana
Port town 20–25 km south; only worth it if you leave by boat early.Port town 12–16 mi south; only worth it if you leave by boat early.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- R$180–280 (≈ US$35–55) excl. bed
- Mid
- R$280–500 (≈ US$55–95) excl. bed
- High
- R$500 (≈ US$95)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-scale double room1 × 2 nights × R$250 | R$500 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × R$350 | R$1,400 |
| Airport taxi, both ways2 × R$40 · check | R$80 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × R$60 | R$120 |
| Museu Sacaca guide tip1 × R$50 · check | R$50 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | R$215 |
| Trip total≈ R$591 per person per day, bed included | R$2,365≈ US$450 |
Ask for the 20–30% discount on posted rates.
2026 estimate in reais; flights and boat tickets excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Riverside lunch plate near the fortServed roughly 11:30–14:00.Served roughly 11:30 AM–2:00 PM. | R$20–40 (≈ US$4–8) |
| Regional fish or shrimp dish | R$50–90 (≈ US$10–17) |
| Beer at a riverside bar | R$8–15 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Taxi across the centreAgree the fare first. | R$15–30 (≈ US$3–6) |
| Museu Sacaca entryGuide tip extra. | Free |
| Marco Zero entryClosed Mondays. | Free |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- No road connection to the rest of Brazil: you fly or take a boat via Santana.
- Rain is heavy Dec–Jul and roads to Oiapoque can be impassable.
- Equatorial sun and humidity: plan outdoor sights before 10:00 or after 16:00.Equatorial sun and humidity: plan outdoor sights before 10:00 AM or after 4:00 PM.
- English is rare outside hotels; have addresses written in Portuguese.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 190
- Ambulance
- 192
- Fire
- 193
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
MacapáMacapá
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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—
—
Para este endereço, por favorTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police190
- Ambulance192
- Fire193
Embassy
No embassies in Macapá; the US, UK and most others are in Brasília. Consulates for some countries are in Belém (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Taxi MCP airport → centre: R$15–30 (≈ US$3–6) (check), about 15–20 min
- Taxi centre → Marco Zero: R$20–35 (≈ US$4–7) (check); ask the driver to wait
- Boat Santana → Belém: about 24 h; hammock and cabin fares vary (check)
Say or show
- Bom dia — Good morning (bom JEE-ah)
- Obrigado / Obrigada — Thank you (oh-bree-GAH-doo / -dah)
- Quanto custa? — How much is it? (KWAN-too KOOS-tah)
- A conta, por favor — The bill, please (ah KON-tah por fah-VOR)
- Onde fica o forte? — Where is the fort? (ON-jee FEE-kah o FOR-chee)
- Não falo português — I don't speak Portuguese (nowng FAH-loo por-too-GAYS)
Tipping: a 10% service charge is usually already on the bill.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Macapá. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Aug–Nov (drier, hotter) · avoid Dec–Jul (heavy rain; Apr–Jun for the pororoca only) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for MCP: taxi fare bands, night arrival fallback, riverside hotel rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Forte and Beira Rio, Centro, Marco Zero, Fazendinha.
- Place pages with verified hours (fort, Museu Sacaca, Marco Zero, Bioparque) and eat pages with lunch cutoffs.
- Boat-departure fixtures for Santana so the Belém and Manaus legs can go green.