The Floresta Nacional do Tapajós is a protected national forest spanning 527,000 hectares south of Santarém along the western bank of the Tapajós. It is one of the best-preserved stretches of Amazonian rainforest accessible from a city of any size, and the communities of Ribeirinhos (river-dwellers) who live inside the forest offer guided visits that are among the most genuine and non-extractive ecotourism experiences in the Amazon.
Canoe trips through the flooded igapó forest, night safaris for caiman and tarantulas, and early-morning birdwatching are the main activities. Pink river dolphins are resident in the river channels through the forest. Access is by boat from Santarém or from the town of Aveiro; tours can be arranged in Santarém through several operators.