Ilha do Amor in Alter do Chão: How to Get There, Prices and Tips

If one image sums up Alter do Chão, it is Ilha do Amor: a strip of white sand ringed by clear fresh water, directly opposite the village. Here is everything you need to know before you go.

How to get to Ilha do Amor

The crossing is quick and leaves straight from the village pier. On a catraia — the traditional rowing canoe of the region — it usually costs between R$ 10 and R$ 20 per person. By speedboat the fare is a little higher, and the trip takes under five minutes.

When to visit

The island only surfaces during the Tapajós dry season, between August and December. For the rest of the year it lies submerged beneath the high water. If your goal is to stand on that famous white sand, plan your trip within that window.

What you will find there

Beach huts serve grilled fish, tacacá and other regional dishes, with tables set up right in the water. Weekdays are calm; at weekends and on public holidays the island gets busier, full of people making a day of it.

A tip from just across the water

Staying at Casa das Seringueiras, you do not have to negotiate for a boat at the pier: the guesthouse hires a speedboat to take guests directly to Ilha do Amor and other spots along the Tapajós, at whatever time suits you.