Macapa to Belem
 

There seems to be a load of information about getting from Belem to Macapa but nothing about getting from Macapa to Belem. Has one done this and if so can you please let me know where / how to find a ferry in Macapa (well Santana)


Thanks

You've probably worked this out by now but this is the three-year-old info from my book:

Located on the 400km-wide Amazon estuary and strung right across the equator, expect to perspire in Macapá. For a hotel with parking try the Hotel America Novo Mundo on Ave. Coaracy Nunes 333 (N00° 01.94’ W51° 03.23’).
To get the pontoon ferry to Belém, track down Sanave TUPSANAVE. They’re based by the river in Porto Santana, west of Macapá (S00° 00.88’ W51° 12.17’). Expect nothing more than a barge pulled by a tug and a bill of a couple of hundred dollars for the duration of what may be a two day trip... Lash your bike down well – as the pontoon nears Belem the tidal swell gets a bit choppy.

Maybe you have updates?

off subject ; Loz: in your blog; can I ask you to add the names of the hotels and lodges you stay at, and if possible some idea of price and if the place was nice.
Cheers
(planning Suriname in sept 2016)

I found the following companies offering Ferry Transport on the route Belém x Macapá x Belém;

Transporte de cargas em balsas Macapá x Belém, Belém x Macapá

Transporte Fluvial em Balsa: Belém x Macapá x Belém

Listing of Ferry Companies

@Churchill, what is your planned itinerary for your Brazilian leg. I am also in the process of planning for 2016 might have some more info i already found.

Hi: 2WA
I would start (early May) and end in Buenos Aires,
Aiming go North on the pacific side; to be in Guyana early Septeber as I think its the dry season.
I would then come south along the brazilian coast.
I have to be back in Buenos Aires for work early october.
I'll be travelling in a small 4WD as the wife is joining me.

Quite happy about the trip except, do I go across Venezuela or not?
as elections are comming up there I'll wait and see

Entering Brazil from French Guiana after aprox. a 7 hour drive on the BR-156 you pass Calçoene. In the village is a good Pousada "Dom Pedro" at N2 29.864 W50 57.333 Link: Facebook - Pousada Dom Pedro

If you want to visit São Luís. Coming from Bélem you can drive the BR-316 then the MA-106 to Pinheiro. From Pinheiro keep on following the MA-106 which alters in BR-308 direction Alçantára (worth visiting) at Cujupe you find the ferry Cujupe <-> Ponta da Espera (São Luís)

Link: Cujupe to Ponta da Espera
( 5:30h (except Sundays) / 8:30h (except Sundays) / 10:30h / 15:30h / 18: 30h / 20:30h )

Porto Santana
 

Go to the south west corner of Porto Santana and work your way through the market, where you'll find a row of agents in small offices.I duck my head into a few to shop for a good price. There is a fast ferry (later I heard it was filled with drunks and crying kids) that is more expensive, then the slower barge, which I took. I followed the agent a mile or so to a slightly down stream area where my barge was docked. Remember that you are traveling with people that can't afford airfare, so keep an eye on your gear. I had no problems.

When the tide came in (2 hours after the schedule departure), the barge floated out of its dry dock and we motored out a canal and east into the night. It was about 7:30 PM. During the first night there was an armed guard in bullet proof vest and short barrel shot gun that scanned the river ahead with a powerful search light. Perhaps he was looking for objects floating in the water, at least in part. Otherwise he was watching for raiders. I laid on the deck near the from of the barge, drinking a beer and looking up at the stars.

It took ~36 hours to reach Belem. There was coffee and cracker with butter for breakfast. Hot lunch and dinner. We ate in shifts of 8 to 10 people. Before we left I picked up snacks and a six pack of beer, which the cook stored in his ice case (I gave him a beer for his trouble.)

Yes, secure your bike for the last ~10 hours as the boat travels up the Rio Para. Its a bump voyage as the vessel hits the oncoming waves. I used a tie down strap between the center stand and front wheel, then kept clear of the bike as it rocked a bit in the waves for the last few hours. If I were to do it again, tie your bike to the railing. Now that I think about it, my barge didn't have very tall railings, so that wasn't an option. Some people slept through the ruff waters that was the last night. Another passenger and I paced the deck without much sleep, until dawn. Calmer waters replaces the crashing head waves as we neared Belem.

Crossing the Amazon is one of those epic passages. One full day and two nights threading through the delta islands as the worlds mightiest river becomes one with the sea. Buy a hammock before getting on the boat. I still have mine and used it later on my trip.

There are all kinds of stories of travelers crossing the Amazon. I read about a guy who was befriended by a tug boat captain and go connected with a free ride. When I fall into idle daydreaming of my big trip through South America, the time on the barge often comes back to me. Take a book. I plugged into the electrical system (with a surge protector!) and worked on my blog for several stretches of the trip.