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COP30 Brasil Radio Bulletin
COP30 Brasil Bulletin #24 - Discover More about the Islands and Beaches of an Astonishing Belém
The Capital of Pará is surrounded by 42 Islands with paradise scenery, accessible by boat or car. In today’s episode, we explore the islands of Combu, Cotijuba, Outeiro and Mosqueiro. Listen to the report and know more.
Report: Maiva D’Auria | maiva.dauria@cop30.br
Narration: Bárbara Bezerra and Laura Frederico
Reporter: Freshwater and saltwater beaches, paradise islands, and even a chocolate factory. Where can you find all of this? In Belém. In the second episode of the series Belém to the World, we show that the COP30 host city offers far more than carimbó and Pará’s renowned cuisine.
Belém is surrounded by 42 islands, remarkable for their beauty, tranquility, and vastness—ideal settings for spending the day swimming in the Amazon rivers that, in their immensity, resemble the sea. They are perfect places to slow down, with breathtaking landscapes, authentic experiences, and abundant natural heritage.
Among Belém’s main islands are Combu, Cotijuba, Mosqueiro, and Caratateua. Some can be reached by car; others, only by boat.
Combu Island, the city’s fourth largest, lies just ten minutes away by boat from downtown. Visitors there encounter igarapés—the small streams of Amazonia—riverside communities, traditional restaurants, and a delicious attraction: the famous artisanal chocolate factory, where one can witness cacao from Amazonia being processed and, of course, sample exquisite chocolates.
Reaching Cotijuba requires a longer crossing, but visitors are rewarded with fine white sand and freshwater beaches, such as Prainha, Praia da Saudade, and the best known, Praia Vai-Quem-Quer. On the island, transportation is by motoretes—a hybrid between a motorcycle and a carriage, capable of carrying up to eight people.
One tourist who enjoyed this experience was Carol Oliveira. Born in Rio de Janeiro, she is the daughter of a Pará native and lived in Belém from age three to fourteen. She now resides in Rio de Janeiro due to her father’s work but insists her heart belongs to Belém. On vacation in Pará, she visited Cotijuba Island.
Carol Oliveira: “For me, it has been wonderful. A hammock by the water, warm, calm, freshwater. It is amazing. I’m very happy that Belém is gaining recognition. The North is now being seen by the world—so much culture, so many people, such a rich region. For me, the food here is the best cuisine in all of Brasil. You come here and leave in love, because this is the root of Brasil. Wonderful! Just come.”
Reporter: Mosqueiro Island is another favorite. Located 70 kilometers from downtown Belém, it boasts 17 kilometers of freshwater beaches. The most famous are Chapéu Virado, Murubira, and Marahu. In addition to its beaches, Mosqueiro offers trails, igarapés, and expansive green areas.
There is also Outeiro, 25 kilometers from the city center, with its fishing villages. Its most popular attractions include Praia Grande—ideal for families—Praia do Amor, a more secluded beach, and Praia da Brasília, known for its lively atmosphere and rougher waters. And of course, no visit to Outeiro is complete without trying the traditional pairing of fried fish with açaí—a combination synonymous with Pará.
Translation: Tadeu Azevedo (POET/UFC)
Proofreading: Michel Emmanuel Félix François (POET/UFC)
