Belém (Icoaraci) Cruise Port
Belém, Brazil · South America
Cruise ships anchor offshore in Belém — tenders ferry passengers to the port.
Plan my port daysTender landing in Icoaraci, a pottery district 20 km north of central Belém. Allow 45–60 minutes each way by shuttle, Uber or taxi to Ver-o-Peso, the Cidade Velha and Estação das Docas.
At a glance
Port summary
Belém is the capital of Pará state and the main city at the mouth of the Amazon. Ocean cruise ships on Amazon itineraries usually anchor in the Baía do Guajará off Icoaraci, a riverside district of Belém about 20 km north of the centre, and tender passengers to the Terminal Hidroviário de Icoaraci, a new waterfront ferry terminal opened in October 2025. On cruise days the state and city tourism offices set up a welcome desk with maps. Icoaraci itself is worth an hour: a riverside promenade and the Paracuri workshops, where potters still make Marajoara-style ceramics. Most visitors head into Belém. The traffic-prone ride takes 45–60 minutes by ship shuttle (if offered), Uber or 99, or about an hour on city bus 889. In the centre, Ver-o-Peso market and the Estação das Docas warehouses sit on the waterfront, and the Cidade Velha with the Forte do Presépio, the cathedral, Santo Alexandre church and Casa das Onze Janelas is a short walk south. Theatro da Paz and the Basílica de Nazaré are a quick ride inland. Note that most state museums, Mangal das Garças and the Goeldi park close on Mondays. Some calls may instead use the Porto de Outeiro berths, also about 20 km from the centre. It is hot and humid all year, with heavy rain showers from December to May.
Cruise dock
Terminal Hidroviário de Icoaraci (tender landing)
Ships anchor in the Baía do Guajará and tender passengers to the Icoaraci waterway terminal on the riverside promenade. Opened in October 2025 with floating docks; it is also the hub for ferries to Ilha de Cotijuba.
Latitude: -1.299426, Longitude: -48.490624
See dock on port map →Getting to Belém
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Use a card and Uber or 99 for most things, but carry R$100–200 in small notes for the market, buses, museum tickets and craft stalls.
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Inside the South America collection
Here's a peek at everything waiting for your Belém cruise day.
Typical weather
Emergency & contacts
Excursions compared
3 comparedBest of Belém: Ver-o-Peso market, Forte do Presépio, Mangal das Garças and the Basílica de Nazaré
≈ 5.5 h · sold by 1 cruise line
Cruise line
€100$112
Do it yourself
€27$30
Save ≈ €73Save ≈ $82 (73% off)
Tenders land at the Terminal Hidroviário de Icoaraci; request an Uber or 99 there to Ver-o-Peso (about 20 km, 45–60 minutes, roughly R$40–70 ≈ €7–12 per car). Ver-o-Peso, the Forte do Presépio (about R$4, closed Mondays) and the Catedral da Sé are all within a 10-minute walk of each other, and Mangal das Garças is a 15-minute walk south (park free, small fees for the aviary and tower; closed Mondays). Take a short Uber to the Basílica de Nazaré (free) and ride back to Icoaraci from there.
See the DIY plan →
Art and culture of Belém: Theatro da Paz, Museu de Arte Sacra and the Cidade Velha
≈ 6 h · sold by 1 cruise line
Cruise line
€100$112
Do it yourself
€27$30
Save ≈ €73Save ≈ $82 (73% off)
Take an Uber or 99 from the Icoaraci terminal to the Theatro da Paz (about 20 km, 45–55 minutes, R$40–70 per car). Guided tours of the theatre run Tuesday to Sunday for about R$6; then walk Praça da República and take a 5-minute Uber to the Cidade Velha, where Santo Alexandre / Museu de Arte Sacra (about R$6), the Forte do Presépio (about R$4) and Casa das Onze Janelas are side by side. All state museums close on Mondays and are free on Sundays.
See the DIY plan →
Ready-made port days
7 plansBest of Belém: Ver-o-Peso, the Old Fort, Mangal das Garças & the Basílica
The day the ship's coach sells, done by Uber: the riverside market, the 1616 fort where Belém began, the heron park and the pilgrimage basilica, for a third of the price.
Rubber-Boom Belém: Theatro da Paz, the Basílica & Sacred Art
Gilded boxes, Italian marble and Jesuit carving: a mostly indoor day through the buildings Belém paid for when Amazon rubber made it rich.
Ilha do Combu by Boat: Rainforest Channels & Dona Nena's Chocolate
Fifteen minutes across the river from the city, a rainforest island where you walk through cocoa trees, taste bean-to-bar chocolate and eat fish on stilts above the water.
Free Icoaraci on Foot: Riverside, Craft Fair & the Paracuri Potters
Skip the long ride into Belém: walk off the tender along the riverfront, browse the craft fair and watch potters shape Marajoara-style ceramics in their backyard workshops.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Belém?
- Belém is a tender port: your ship anchors offshore and passengers transfer to shore by small boat.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Belém?
- Yes. Belém is walkable from the cruise port — many cruisers reach the city centre on foot.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Belém centre?
- Typical options include On foot, Ride-hail (Uber/Bolt), Shuttle bus, Local bus, Taxi. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Belém?
- Plan for at least 4 hours ashore to see Belém independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Belém and are cards accepted?
- Belém uses the Brazilian real. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Wi-Fi isn't reliably available at the Belém cruise terminal. Consider a local SIM or your cruise line's data package.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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