HOST CITIES

Belém - PA

Basic Information

Population: 1,303,403 people
GDP per capita: BRL 20,562.10
Human Development Index (IDHM): 0.746

Belém, known as Belém do Pará, is a Brazilian municipality and the capital of Pará, located in the country's Northern Region. Those born in the state are called paraense. Those born in Belém are belenense. The city was founded on January 12, 1616. Located on the Bay of Guajará (Baía do Guajará), it has established itself as the main urban center of Pará and an access point to the Amazon. As well as being chosen as one of the capitals to host G20 activities, Belém has been confirmed as the venue for the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP-30). This conference will be held in November 2025.

The Emílio Goeldi Museum of Pará, located in Belém, is Brazil's first zoobotanical park, the oldest scientific institution in the Amazon and Brazil's second natural history museum.

Overview

Belém has a territorial area of 1,059.466 km2, and its history begins in 1615, when the Portuguese crown planned to conquer a new land in the Amazon River valley. From then on, many foreign families landed in the city.

The capital of Para reveals museums, palaces, monuments and mansions that are national heritage sites. In addition, 42 of the city's islands form part of the Belém archipelago. To visit the metropolis is to get to know a little of Brazil's history, culture and traditions. The Cidade Velha neighborhood is the cradle of Belém. The first building on this site was the Presépio Fort (Forte do Presépio), built in 1616.

Belém is also renowned for its gastronomy. It is the gateway to the cuisine of Pará and is part of the Unesco network of creative cities. The gastronomic richness combines Brazilian and European influences, with ingredients from the Amazonian fauna and flora standing out.

One of the main sources of income for many families is açaí, the purple fruit of a palm tree that is very common in the region. The smells and tastes that are part of life in Belém are mixed together at Ver-o-Peso, considered one of the largest open-air markets in Latin America. The market is almost 400 years old, and the large architectural and landscape complex is one of the most famous and recognized tourist attractions in Brazil and Latin America. The beaches of the Tapajós River and Marajó Island are also very popular.

The Círio de Nazaré is a Catholic festival that celebrates Our Lady of Nazareth, Queen of the Amazon. The procession brings together thousands of people every year in the city of Belém.

The Círio is considered the biggest religious festival in Brazil.

Pará's characteristic climate is humid equatorial, characterized by heat. The hydrography is defined by the rivers of the Amazon Basin. The Amazon River itself passes through the state and flows into the Atlantic Ocean on Marajó Island.

Pará has one of the greatest diversity of indigenous peoples in Brazil, and their influences are still rooted in the region's culture today.

Main tourist attractions

• Estação das Docas - Docks Station

• Mangal das Garças

• Forte do Presépio - Presépio Fort

• Basílica de Nossa Senhora de Nazaré - Basilica of Our Lady of Nazareth

• Ver-o-Peso Market

• Emílio Goeldi Museum

• Zoobotanical Park of the Emílio Goeldi Museum of Pará

• Theatro da Paz - Peace Theater

• Cotijuba Island

24 HOURS IN BELÉM

MORNING

The Feliz Lusitânia Complex is an important tourist attraction that offers an insight into the history and architecture of Belém. This architectural complex includes the Castelo Fort (O Forte do Castelo), the Sé Cathedral (A Catedral da Sé), the Sacred Art Museum (O Museu de Arte Sacra) and the Casa das Onze Janelas.

LUNCH

Belém, named Creative City of Gastronomy by Unesco, offers a unique culinary experience at the Ver-o-Peso Market. This historic market, by the Guamá River, is a treasure trove of smells and tastes, where you'll find a wide variety of products, from herbs to exotic Amazonian fruits such as açaí, cupuaçu and bacuri.

AFTERNOON

Refreshment in the middle of the afternoon. Founded in 1964 in Belém, Sorveteria Cairu was chosen by Taste Atlas as one of the 100 most iconic ice cream parlors in the world. The highlight is the açaí ice cream.

LATE AFTERNOON/EVENING

Take a stroll through the Estação das Docas (Docks Station). Located by the Guamá River, the station is a tourist complex with restaurants, bars, stores and cultural venues. It's a popular place to walk around, enjoy the view and taste Pará cuisine.

Airport

The Belém International Airport connects the capital to domestic and international destinations, serving a flow of approximately 3 million people per year.