Discover Peixe

In Peixe, river experiences meet lively festival traditions and distinctive cuisine. Sport fishing expeditions on the Rio Tocantins explore the area around the city; cultural discoveries range from the Festejo do Divino Espírito Santo to the Reizado in December. If you’re looking for a vacation rental for your trip, you might first consider whether your main focus is fishing, nature or getting to know local traditions.

Sport fishing and nature by the river

Guilherme Santos leads sport fishing expeditions on the Rio Tocantins in Peixe. He has worked as a fishing guide in Peixe for nine years and is considered a leading figure in local sport fishing. For travelers coming specifically to fish, this activity offers a concrete reason to choose Peixe as a destination.

Nearby is Pedra da Baliza, located 40 km, or about an hour downstream, from the administrative center of Peixe. A guided visit there offers opportunities to swim in the river and observe nature. In regional folk belief, the rock is considered protected by the twins Ana and Honorato. This combination of river, nature observation and traditional storytelling offers a different perspective on the area than a trip focused on sport fishing.

Festivals and local traditions

The Festejo do Divino Espírito Santo includes the traditional Missa dos Vaqueiros, followed by a horseback procession through the city’s main streets. Bolo do Divino is also traditionally served during the festivities. The festival is one of the attractions that draws tourists to Peixe. Those interested in religious and community traditions will find an opportunity here to make the destination’s cultural side the focus of their visit.

The Reizado is also part of Peixe’s cultural life. The tradition is observed in December; Peixe is considered the only municipality in Tocantins that preserves it. This custom therefore takes place at a different time from the Festejo do Divino Espírito Santo: the Reizado is specifically associated with December, while the elements described above are part of the Festejo celebrations.

Dishes and festival pastries from Peixe

Peixe’s cuisine brings together Indigenous, quilombola, riverside and migrant influences, along with fresh ingredients from the Cerrado. One dish associated with the area is Peixe na folha de bananeira: fresh fish is wrapped in banana leaves, seasoned with local herbs and fruits, and cooked over hot coals. Arroz com pequi is another dish from Peixe; the rice is cooked in a pequi broth.

At Espetinho do Sandro, you can try the local Jantinha. It combines vinaigrette, rice, tropeiro-style beans, boiled cassava and a skewer. Options include meat, chicken wings and homemade sausage. When planning your trip, you can therefore consider not just a single dish, but different elements of the local cuisine.

Sweet specialties are also part of the local food culture. Traditional festival cakes in Peixe are passed down through generations, made by hand and baked in clay ovens. Rivaldi, the cake maker for the Festejo do Divino, makes cakes and cookies during the festivities and supplies these specialties throughout the year as well.

Praia da Tartaruga

Praia da Tartaruga combines clear water with a 225,000 m² stretch of white sand. It is also a site where turtles gather. Nature and scenery thus add another dimension to Peixe’s cultural and culinary experiences. If you’re choosing a destination with a particular interest in river experiences, nature or traditions, these different themes offer concrete starting points for planning your trip.

You can also discover Lagoa da Confusão as another destination.

For the broader travel overview: Tocantins.