To get from Macapa to the nearest big city and transport hub -Belem you have to cross huge delta of Amazon River. There are expensive planes (340 reales daytime flight) and boats whare you pay 100 for the hammock space and 170 for the bunk in crampy cabin.
I decided to go by boat because I want to see more. The name of the boat is Almirante do Mar. They say that departure time will be 9 am.
But the boats do not start from Macapa, but from Santana – some 40 kms away. I took the city bus (2,35 reales) to get there. Stressing journy for me: I did not expect that it will take almost an hour and you still have about 1 km to walk to “porto”. At 8.50 I saw my ship crossing the port gate: little, rusty and dirty. Similar to the one I once sailed on Upper Amazon Brazil to Peru.
We departed with the solid delay, but it should not be the rule…
For me it was great adventure: the route took us to the hunderesd of channels, rivers, bays and lakes. We sailed close enough to the coast to appreciate the lush rainforest and to see the houses on the poles and people living there. In the evening I enjoyed a moon and stars shining above me and reflecting in the water.
I should advise: bring you food and drink with you: the canteen on the upper deck is expensive!
