São Geraldo do Araguaia

In São Geraldo do Araguaia, the landscapes of Serra das Andorinhas meet the Araguaia River. The surrounding area combines nature experiences with archaeological sites, rock art, and regional festivals. When planning your trip, it is worth first deciding whether the river and seasonal beaches, hiking, or culture will be your main focus.

Serra das Andorinhas: Nature and Traces of the Past

Serra das Andorinhas features landscapes where the Amazon and Cerrado biomes meet. More than 300 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish have been catalogued there; many are endemic or endangered. This makes the Serra a special destination for anyone interested in nature and wildlife. Serra das Andorinhas/Martírios State Park is located in the municipality of São Geraldo do Araguaia.

The Araguaia APA is also entirely within the municipality. Its highlights include archaeological sites, caves, caverns, rock art, hiking trails, and waterfalls. The Quelônios Route offers an opportunity to explore the history of these places and landscape features. This lets you combine different interests when choosing your excursions, rather than focusing your stay on just one attraction.

The Pedra Escrita and Ilha dos Martírios can be reached via the Araguaia River within the Araguaia APA. The stone inscriptions on the island are estimated to be about 8,000 years old. Anyone interested in early traces of human history will find a special cultural connection to the river landscape here.

River, Beaches, and Waterfalls

In summer, seasonal beaches form along the Araguaia River within the APA, including Remanso dos Botos. During the July holiday period, the freshwater beaches of Ilha de Campo offer opportunities for camping, swimming in the river, and sport fishing. Camping is also available along the Araguaia River during the dry season, from June to August. These different timeframes can help you plan your stay around river activities or seasonal beach landscapes.

Praia da Gaivota lies on the banks of the Araguaia River, less than 6 km from the town center. It is suitable for relaxing and swimming, and can be reached by land or water. The Cachoeira das Três Quedas is a different proposition: it lies 28 km from the town, on the border between the São Geraldo do Araguaia APA and Serra das Andorinhas State Park. Several pools and waterfalls with crystal-clear water characterize this site. Waterfalls in the Serra are fed by springs that flow down the mountainside toward the Araguaia River; their clear, mineral-rich water attracts visitors for swimming.

For ecological hikes, Cooperge, also known as “Os Raposas da Serra,” organizes tours along trails and assists visitors to Serra das Andorinhas/Martírios State Park. Sítio Bela Vista also offers ecological hikes, as well as a camping area and birdwatching. Honey from stingless bees is produced there. These options give nature enthusiasts several specific ways to plan their excursions.

Festivals and Regional Cuisine

Festejo do Divino Espírito Santo is an annual nine-day religious celebration at Casa de Pedra in Serra das Andorinhas. It concludes with a pilgrimage in honor of the Divino Espírito Santo. Festival do Arroz was first conceived and held in Vila Novo Paraíso in 1994, and takes place every September. It is considered an important cultural celebration for the municipality.

The XX Festival do Cari is considered cultural heritage of the municipality of São Geraldo do Araguaia. At the festival, stalls run by the riverside community at Feira do Peixe in the Beira Rio neighborhood serve Caldeirada de Cari, as well as pie and pastries filled with Cari. At Sítio Bom Sossego, Casa do Artesão also makes souvenirs from clay crafts. If you want to include local traditions and cuisine in your trip, you can consider these cultural offerings alongside nature excursions.

Find Accommodation to Match Your Travel Focus

São Geraldo do Araguaia does not have its own commercial airport. When looking for a holiday apartment, you can therefore first decide which experiences are essential to your trip and take the distances to the relevant excursion destinations into account. Praia da Gaivota is less than 6 km from the town center, while Cachoeira das Três Quedas is 28 km from the town. These distances refer to the destinations mentioned and can help you assess different excursion plans.

Sítio Remanso dos Botos has a camping facility, rooms for overnight stays, bathrooms, and a restaurant that is open on weekends. Camping da Sapucaia is on the banks of the Araguaia River and focuses on peace and quiet and close contact with nature.

More places to explore: Medicilândia, Tucuruí, Castanhal, Conceição do Araguaia, Marituba, Trairão and Terra Santa.

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