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Cachoeira Falls |
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The city makes verge to the north
with the cities of Amajari, Pacaraima and Normandy, to the south
with the cities of Mucajaí and Cantá, the east with the cities
of Cantá and Bonfim, and the west with the High city of Glad. |
DISTANCE
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Boa Vista – Manaus (Amazonas) 758 Km
Boa Vista – Santa Elena do Uairén (Venezuela) 230 Km
Boa Vista – Caracas (Venezuela) 1.582 Km
Boa Vista – Georgetown (República da Guiana) 641 Km
Boa Vista – Lethem (República da Guiana) 125 Km |
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Outras Localidades: |
Alto Alegre - 89 Km
Amajari - 154 Km
Bonfim - 120 Km
Cantá - 30 Km
Caracaraí - 155 Km
Caroebe - 358 Km
Iracema - 93 Km
Mucajaí - 55 Km
Normandia - 190 Km
Pacaraima - 220 Km
Rorainópolis - 298 Km
São João da Baliza - 320 Km
São Luís do Anauá - 336 Km
Uiramutã - 306 Km |
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Cachoeira do Aracá |
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in Brazil
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This waterfall appears to have been discovered very recently,
possibly as late as 2001, and is now thought to be the tallest
waterfall in Brazil at 365 meters[1197 feet]. This, however, may
be valid pending further information about Cachoiera do Pilao,
an alledged 2000 footer in the northern Amazon region.
Regardless of the height, this appears to be a very heavy volume
waterfall, stretching as much as 100 feet wide at peak flow. [more
at world-waterfalls.com] |
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Located on the left bank of the Rio
Branco, only 220 km from the border of Brazil and
Venezuela, Boa Vista is
the only Brazilian capital located entirely above the Equator, and a gateway for ecoturismo to the Amazon, Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname.
The
state itself is named after Mount Roraima and represents a symbolic
challenge of uniting the hemisphere, as well as an irresistible invitation to
the adventurers and seekers of mother nature's place in the 21st
century.
Immigration en masse to Boa
Vista started in 1980, with the discovery of gold and
diamonds. In 1950 the population was
5,132; today there are over 240,000 inhabitants.
Wide avenues, woody streets, and a clean and organized
city often surprise the first time visitor. This modern, planned city,
built around a radial axis, is
distinguished among the capitals in the North Region of Brazil.
Boa Vista has a strong observance of
the afternoon siesta, with many closing their business doors for two
hours after the lunch.
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Attractions
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Praca de Agua,
prominent for the monument Vestibule of the Milênio,
constructed for the arrival of year 2000. Good night spot
encircled with bars and restaurants, with frequent music events
and dancing. |
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Anauá park
With natural lake, aquatic park and prime area for leisure and sports.
It shelters the Museum of Roraima, with aboriginal
objects av. Brig. Eduardo Gomes is the site of many
important annual events
ORLA TAUMANAN On the edge [orla]
of the Rio Branco, with snack bars, restaurants and two
outdoor stages for shows on weekends. The official tourist
office is here on Rua Floriano Peixoto.
It is adjacent to the historical center, also along the
edge of the Rio Branco, where the city of Boa Vista was born in
1830. The first church is still there; don't miss the central
square,
Praca Barreto Leite.
MUNICIPAL PARK AUGUST GERMANO SAMPAIO
Lots of green area and a lagoon.
COMPLEX AYRTON SENNA Located in the
center of the city, the complex Ayrton Senna contains 3 square
km of sports - tennis, volley ball, soccer, basketball,
tracks for bicycles and runners, as well as bars and restaurants.
TOURISM VELIA SODRÉ COUTINHO The
exposition center can accommodate 8,000 people and has a nice
view of Praça das Águas |
The First
Church of Our Lady of Carmo
was constructed in 1909 for Benedictine priests from
Germany, in substitution of the small chapel raised for
the Franciscan missionaries in 1892.
Leia More PRELATURE - Constructed in 1907 in a neoclassical style, the building
preserves its original architecture, and represents a
landmark in the architecture and the culture of Boa
Vista. |
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The Monument to the
Goldpanners, in the Barreto Leite
square, is the city's most famous monument and recognizes
great period in the 1970's & 80's where the goldpan put the
local economy into motion. Located in the Civic Center Complex |
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GETTING TO & FROM
THERE
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Boa Vista Airport (BVB)
Regular flights for Manaus Belém, Macapá, Altamira,
Santarém, Óbidos, Itaituba, Oriximiná and Golden Monte.
voemeta.com Boa Vista based
airline that flies
between Boa Vista, Georgetown, Guyana &
Paramaribo (nicknamed
Par'bo - the capital of Suriname).
Many regular flights by
Gol
Transportes Aéreos |
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Bus:
There is regular bus service connecting the various cities in
the state, and also routes to Manaus and Puerto La Cruz, in
Venezuela
eucatur.com.br/ |
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By car take BR-174
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 Crossing the
border into Brazil
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You will need: |
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---To cross the border into Brazil
you need a health card showing yellow fever vaccination -
international yellow fever certificate [more
at virtualtourist.com]
---Canadian
& USA citizens must have visa only obtainable from local
consulate back home. |
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Venezuela <->
Brazil
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 Rented
cars cannot cross the border: the documents must be in the name
of the driver.
The road is well maintained and nicely paved.
There is bus service to Manaus and Puerto La Cruz, in Venezuela. |
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Guyana <->
Brazil
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Boa Vista has bus connections to
Manaus
and destinations in
Venezuela. There are also six daily buses to Bonfim and the
border with Guyana. If crossing the border, do not get off in
Bonfim; the bus will continue to the border.
The road is well maintained and nicely paved.
Rented cars cannot cross the border: the documents must be in
the name of the driver.
Lethem by carnaval.com
-Guyana Border town
Brazil-Guyana Relations by mre.gov.br |
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State of Roraima -
Brazil
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Roraima is the least
populated Brazilian State, and also the one with the
highest rate of population growth, growing from 92,000 in 1980
to 324,000 in 2000. About 72% of the State (southern and western
zones) is covered by the Amazon forest; the remaining 28% are
composed of savannahs (or cerrados, as they are called
in Brazil), where most of population lives.
The striking radial planning of the capital city of Boa Vista
was done by the first state government. The main avenues
converge at the Civic Center Plaza, where the headquarters of three governmental
branches reside (legislative, judiciary, and executive). It was planned by the
architect Darci Aleixo
Deregusson, who designed the city in a similar fashion to that of
Paris, France. It was built under the direction of
Captain Ene Garcez, the first governor of Roraima.
In 1943, during the middle of World War II, Boa Vista became the
capital of the recently created Federal Territory of Rio Branco.
The territory grew due to the mining in the area. The then
Federal Territory of Rio Branco was elevated to statehood, and
after some time it was known as Roraima. Later, mining with
machines became prohibited because of damage to the lands.
Most of the state is at low altitudes; on the border with
Venezuela, one finds the mountain chains of Parima and Pacaraima.
Monte Caburaí
is
the most
northern point of Brazil. This is where the river Uialã is born,
impressive for the beauty of its rapids, beyond the
fauna and flora riquíssimas. The waterfall of the Garã Garã is
prettiest of all, with a fall of 200 meters. Flowers are another true treasure
of this mountain range.
Ilha de Maracá is a biological reserve located the
100 km to the north of Boa Vista, in the city of Amajari. It is
in a transitional band between the Amazonian forest and open
savannah; Maracá encloses about 100. ha of surface, with
hills at the center of the island. Painted ounce, tapir, ariranha and guariba are some endangered species that
thrive here. International researchers come here with the
authorization of the IBAMA (Brazilian Institute of the
Environment and Natural Resources Ibama: Av. Brigadier General
Eduardo Gomes, 1332. Boa Vista - RR Phone: (95) 3224 - 4011:
Fax: (95) 3224-4847 )
Fort S. Joaquin
Access over land can be difficult. It is better to take the boat trip
(2h30 min). The fort, today in ruins, was constructed in 1775 for
the Portuguese to contain the advance of Spaniard and English,
whose military expeditions searched the legendary treasure
of El Dorado. Today it is headquarters of aboriginal area S.
Landmarks and functions as a center of Amerindian conventions.
Spotted rock
Giant granite block (60 meters of diameter and 35 meters of
height) by the edges of the river Parimé. Pre-Columbian
paintings and markings - some believed to be 2500 years
old.
Caracaranã lake October to April is
a good time to enjoy
swimming, windsurf, diving, fishing and other water
sports. There are bars, restaurants, and camping areas. 170 km
from Boa Vista on the BR-401.
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Monte Roraima
National Park
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Brazil's
Monte Roraima National Park, created in 1989, covers an area
of 116,000 hectares. It is a region of beautiful savannah,
intersected by rivers, waterfalls and 2,727 metres high Monte
Roraima. There are over 400 species of bromélias. Few have
scaled Mt Roraima from the Brazilian side, which
is
reserved for expert rock climbers. The Brazilian side has a thick
wall of 600 m in height. In the sandstone plateau (40 km2), time and
the wind has sculptured animals in the rocks, if the creative
mind uses the cracks and abysses well.
Academic Vincenzo Lauriola
discusses the local Ingariko Indians across the Serra do Sol and
integrating their own cultural ecological perspective
into the conservation of nature and indigenous peoples in
Brazil. Roraima Mount: National Park vs. Raposa-Serra do Sol
Indigenous Land. Ambient. soc., Campinas, v.
6, n. 1, 2003. Available from:
scielo.br |
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Weather
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Humid, hot, tropical climate.
Temperature varies from 21º to 36º with an average annual
temperature of around 25 degrees Celsius |
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ANNUAL EVENTS
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20/JAN -
São Sebastião |
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CARNAVAL |
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1 FEB
-
Queen and King Momo of the Carnival |
Carnival
5 days before
Ash Wednesday
Carnajaí is celebrated in Mucajaí |
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April:
International Mountain Bike
competition in Anauá park |
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29/JUN - São
Pedro Festival in Praca Barreto Leite |
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9/JUL -
Aniversário de Boa Vista in the center of the City |
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AUG: FEMUR - Festival of
Music of Roraima in Anauá park |
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SEP: Week of the Native
land Av. Ene Garcez |
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OCT: Boa Vista Folia on Av.
Ene Garcez |
DEC: EXPOFERR - Exposition
and Farming Fair of Roraima at Exposition Park
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A Dream called
Roraima |
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detail from
Monument to the Pioneers by Luíz Canará, which pays
tributes to the early influences in the state |
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Beaches of the Rio
Branco
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Between September
and April the water level drops very low on the Rio Branco,
creating gorgeous, inviting white sand beaches. Rental boats can easily
be found in the port of Boa Vista; head towards the
Amazon forest to discover a lively scene with beach bars and
restaurants.
Island of the
GRANDE
BEACH Located 6 km from Boa Vista, on
the left bank of the Rio Branco. A large fertile valley island
with plenty of white sand.
BEACH OF THE GOOD WATER Located 15 km away, to the edges
of the river Cauamé. Its waters are calm. Surrounded for
typical vegetation of the Amazônia, they are the beaches of the
Caçari, Curupira, Polar and Cauamé, all endowed
with support infrastructure, bars and
restaurants.
GETTING THERE: Rent a boat through a tourist agency |
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Amerindians
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The Yanomami Indians of the
state are part of the population that give Roraima state the
largest representation of Amerindians. They are a culture rich in
folklore and their cuisine have strongly influenced the evolving
culinary arts of the state. They are joined by the Maiogong,
Taurepang, Macuxí, Ingaricó, Waimiri-Atroari, and Wai-Wai. |
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Trip Reports
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Crossing the border to Brazil from Venezuela
by VW caravan:
"While his mechanic was doing this, Guillermo [the owner of
Hotel Frontera ]drove us all to the
Brasilian border, where he herded us into a room to get the exit
stamps in our passports. He then found a different person who
put an exit date on the auto visa also in our passport.
Next, Guillermo drove us over to the Brasilian side of the
border, where he confirmed that we could get all of the
paperwork done to bring our cars into the country. Normally, the
border crossing gives auto visas good
until Manaus but no further. You need to stop in Boa Vista to
get the paperwork to bring the cars further into Brasil.
Guillermo explained that we were driving the length of the
country, and they agreed to type up the papers necessary to
bring the cars further into Brasil.
We returned to the garage, where Guillermo called a friend who
is a sort of customs agent. She agreed to do all of the
running-around necessary to get our papers from customs for
15,000 Bs. or about US$20 per car. This
sounded great to us. She came over, we gave her our paperwork
bundles, and off she went..... The whole situation is very sad,
and the proportion of women to men will continue to increase as
long as men chase gold in Santa Elena." [follow
the caravana from San Francisco at vanagon.com as it continues
on to Manaus the Brazilian capital of the Amazon in Oct-2000 by
Ron Lussier]
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Tres Punto on Mt. Roraima
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"We will reach the valley of the crystals,
the obelisk monument Triple point (border of Venezuela-Brasil-Guyana),
no
passport required there ! and will hike on to " el Pozo" , a
natural water pit with a small cave system below it
[more
at arassari.com tours] |
Birding in vicinity
"Boa Vista, the state capital, is a well laid out city and a
good centre for birding. There are now plenty of hotels but
hotel accomodation outside Boa Vista is sparse. The Quatro Rodas
map of Roraima is very small scale. You can buy a large scale
map from the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE)
shop just off the main square in Boa Vista. This map is
eccentric – it marks fazendas and Indian villages but not small
towns – but useful.
The Ilha São José, mentioned by Forrester, is
20km, not 10km upstream, almost an hour in a boat. The wetlands
across the river are only accessible by boat."
[more
at arthurgrosset.com
] |
Bike Riding through to Venezuela
"When I reach the day's halfway point (the brand spanking new
bridge over the Rio Branco), it is already one in the afternoon
and I realize that I won't make Boa Vista without pedaling into
the night. I continue on to the town of Maracajai, where I allow
myself to hop aboard a bus for the final 52 kilometers to Boa
Vista. I rationalize the short bus ride because I don't want to
ride in Brazil at night and I must obtain a Venezuelan visa in
Boa Vista before the weekend begins. I am justifiably worried
about visa delays and think I should begin the application
process on thursday morning. Total distance biked 209
kilometers.
new bridge over the Rio Branco
"June 7 -It takes
me 20 minutes to get the free visa for Venezuela. It is a
pleaure to speak Spanish with the staff at the consulate even
though they are not really too friendly. I guess I am just kind
of lonely surrounded by all these Portugese speakers
[More
about the bicycle trip at woodskunk. addr.com] |
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