Best Time to Visit Belem

Wet season: January to May

Belem's rain is no passing shower. From January to May it falls on almost every day, and March is the wettest month. Expect heavy downpours that often arrive in the afternoon, then steam rising off the streets. Humidity stays above 90% for most of this stretch, so the air feels thick even when the rain stops.

It's not a write-off. The city is green, hotels are quiet, and the Ver-o-Peso market (the big riverside market) still runs every day. Just plan your outdoor time for the morning and keep the afternoon for a museum or a long lunch. Travelling on a budget? This is your window, as long as you don't mind getting wet.

June to August: drying out

By June the rain eases, and by August you get a lot more sun, about eight hours a day. Evenings are still warm and sticky, but you can walk around Cidade Velha, the old town, without checking the sky every ten minutes. Brazilian school holidays fall in July, so you'll see more domestic visitors, especially for boat trips to Mosqueiro island and Outeiro.

June is also a good month for food lovers. Festas Juninas, the winter-style country parties, bring street stalls and music, and the pará-style treats are everywhere. Try tacacá, a hot, tangy soup made with tapioca and jambu leaves, which tingle your tongue.

September and October: the best bet

These two months tie as our top picks. Rain drops to its lowest level of the year, with about 15 wet days each, and humidity eases to around 70%. The catch is heat. Highs reach 34°C, so you'll want shade and a cold açaí or cupuaçu juice by midday. Mangoes drop from the city's famous tree-lined streets, which is how Belem got its nickname, the City of Mango Trees.

October is also when the city's biggest event takes place. The Círio de Nazaré, a huge Catholic procession, fills the streets on the second Sunday of the month, and it draws millions of people. Hotels fill up fast and prices rise. If you hate crowds, come in September instead. If you want to see something truly local, book early for October and expect to be shoulder to shoulder.

November and December

November is still dry-ish and hot, but the rain creeps back by December. It's a calm time to visit, with smaller crowds than October and the Estação das Docas waterfront pleasantly breezy in the evenings.