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Alter do Chão: Indigenous Festival & Tapajós Traditions

The Alter do Chão festival — held in September during low-water season — celebrates the indigenous cultures of the Tapajós with dances, crafts, and the famous pirogue boat races on the crystal Tapajós

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1
Festival das Tribos Indígenas
The Festival das Tribos Indígenas de Alter do Chão – held in September – brings together indigenous groups from across the Tapajós region to perform traditional dances; the elaborate feather costumes, body painting and ceremonial music draw large crowds
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Pirogue Canoe Races
The pirogue races on Tapajós during the Alter do Chão festival – teams paddling traditional canoes at speed across the turquoise river – are among the Amazon's most spectacular sporting events
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Tapajós River Culture
The river culture of the Tapajós – the ribeirinho communities that live by fishing, gathering açaí and growing cassava – is expressed through their boat building traditions, their knowledge of river navigation and the social life of the waterside communities
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Ilha do Amor Low season
Alter do Chão beaches and Ilha do Amor are at their largest and most beautiful during the dry season (September-November) when the river is at its lowest; the festival coincides with the beach's maximum extent
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Craft market in Alter do Chão
The craft market of Alter do Chão – with its carved wood, woven baskets and Tapajós jewelry made from seeds and feathers – is one of the Amazon's best small craft markets; the native artisans sell directly to visitors
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Tapajós sunset
The Tapajós sunset from Alter do Chão — the turquoise river turning gold, the forest silhouetted on the far bank, the fishing canoes returning — is one of the Amazon's most beautiful daily events and the reason the village fills with visitors at dusk