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Voykit pocket guide · Brazil
Santana
Skip Santana as a destination: it's a port suburb of Macapá. Use it only to catch Amazon river boats or for a quick meal if you're passing through.
Santana is Amapá's second-largest town and its main port, 25 km southwest of Macapá. It has a working harbour, a civic square and a weekend beach on Santana Island. Most travellers pass through on the way to river-boat departures or Oiapoque. One hour is enough unless you're waiting for a boat.
- Country
- Brazil
- Best months
- Jun–Nov (drier, less rain for river travel)
- Avoid
- Dec–May (heavy rain, some roads may flood)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- BRL
- Money
- Currency is the Brazilian real (BRL, R$). About R$5–5.8 per US dollar in 2026 — check. Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere, even at beach kiosks.
- Daily spend
- Budget R$80–150 · Mid R$150–300 · High R$300+ (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vivo, Claro and TIM cover the country; buying a prepaid SIM needs a passport and sometimes a CPF — an eSIM before you fly is easier.
- Emergency
- Police 190 · Ambulance 192 · Fire 193
- Plugs
- Types N, C · 127 V (Rio, São Paulo) or 220 V (Brasília, much of the Northeast) · Check the voltage on the socket; most chargers are dual-voltage.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10% service (serviço) usually on the bill; optional but normal.; Beach kiosk / bar: Often included; round up.; Taxi / Uber: Not expected; round up.; Guide: US$5–15 per person per day.; Hotel staff: Small tip for porters.
- Water
- Do not drink tap water; filtered water is provided in most homes and hotels.
- Toilets
- Put toilet paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places.
Get in
By air
- MCP · Macapá International Airport – Alberto Alcolumbre
- About 30 min by taxi; flights from Brasília, Belém and Campinas
Typical fares
- Taxi Macapá airport → Santana
- about R$30–50 (negotiable)
- Bus Macapá → Santana
- about R$5–10 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Metropolitan buses connect Santana to Macapá. Taxis are negotiable from Macapá for about R$30. BR-156 is the main road but has potholes.
See and do
Known for
- Port and manganese loading
- Círio de Nazaré procession (third Sunday of October)
- Balneário Recanto da Aldeia (weekend beach)
- Gateway for Amazon river boats
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Macapá | Bus or taxi (25 km (16 mi), about 30 min)Bus or taxi (16 mi (25 km), about 30 min) | 30 min |
| Oiapoque | Bus via BR-156, about 4–5 h | 5–6 h |
Sleep
- Near the bus terminal
- Basic hotels; best for a night before a river boat.
- Macapá centre
- More options, 25 km (16 mi) away; take a taxi or bus.More options, 16 mi (25 km) away; take a taxi or bus.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Olá |
| Thank you | Obrigado/a |
| How much? | Quanto custa? |
| Where is the port? | Onde fica o porto? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, hug or cheek kiss (one in São Paulo, two in Rio); avoid: Being stiff with new acquaintances
- Gestures: Use thumbs-up freely; avoid: The OK hand sign (it is rude)
- Language: Try Portuguese; say obrigado/obrigada; avoid: Defaulting to Spanish
- Time: Expect relaxed social punctuality; avoid: Being late for tours and flights
- Beach: Bring only a towel, cash and a copy of your ID; avoid: Leaving things unattended
Scams and watch-outs
- River boats depart from Santana port; confirm schedules in advance.
- BR-156 is not fully paved; expect rough sections.
- Círio de Nazaré draws 50,000 people – book accommodation early if attending.
Santana is generally safe during the day. Avoid the port area after dark. Keep valuables out of sight.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Santana yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Port and manganese loading
- Círio de Nazaré procession (third Sunday of October)
- Balneário Recanto da Aldeia (weekend beach)
- Gateway for Amazon river boats
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Santana, revision 5048435 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5048435
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/santana). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.