Explora Journeys in Parintins

Parintins is a river town of about 100,000 on an island in the Amazon, famous for the Boi-Bumba folklore festival, a three-day spectacle each June built around the legend of a resurrected ox and a rivalry between two teams, red Garantido and blue Caprichoso. The festival fills the Bumbodromo, a purpose-built arena whose roofline echoes a bull's head. Cruise ships call outside those three days, so the town stages a scaled-down version of the show for visitors and the rest of the day is a walkable small-town stroll.

What to do on a day in Parintins

• Watch the scaled-down Boi-Bumba folklore show that the winning team stages for cruise passengers in an auditorium near the pier, the closest you get to the June festival on a normal call
• See the Bumbodromo, the open-air arena shaped like a bull's head, a short walk or triciclo ride from the dock
• Walk the compact downtown, where Bumba dancers in red and blue often greet arriving passengers
• Visit the Catedral de Nossa Senhora do Carmo on the central square
• Browse the riverside market and craft stalls near the port for Boi-Bumba themed handicrafts

Getting ashore

Ships dock right at downtown Parintins or, if large, anchor and tender, with the town center an easy walk of about 1.5 km and colorful triciclos (pedicabs) on hand for a small fare. The town is small enough that a half day covers the show, the Bumbodromo, and a downtown walk, so one day is more than enough.

When to book the ship's excursion vs your own →

Weather and when to visit

• November to December (Grand Journeys Amazon calls). Typically hot and sticky, highs around 33-34 C with lows near 26 C and humidity often above 80 percent. Late November sits near the drier end of the year; rain frequency climbs into December as the high-water season approaches.