Get to know Castanhal through its protected natural areas, religious traditions and regional cuisine. When choosing where to go, consider whether you would like your stay to focus on trails in the nature park, churches and monuments, pilgrimages or events featuring local food. The places and events mentioned are located in different parts of Castanhal and in the district of Apeú; they offer different perspectives on the city without prescribing a fixed day-by-day itinerary.
Nature Trails in Parque Natural Municipal
Parque Natural Municipal de Castanhal was established in 2018. It is located in the Cariri neighbourhood, within the seat of the municipality of Castanhal, belongs to the full-protection conservation group, Category II, and covers approximately 15.225 hectares. The park therefore combines a clearly defined protection category with a specific location within Castanhal.
Its ecological trails are designed for different groups of people and vary in difficulty and duration. An environmental education trail with information panels offers a direct, interactive experience of nature. When choosing, you can take the difficulty and duration of each trail option into account.
Churches, Monuments and Religious Traditions
Catedral Santa Maria Mãe de Deus is the mother church of the Diocese of Castanhal and was consecrated on 27 February 2011. Another notable destination is the Maria Fumaça locomotive at Praça do Estrela, which the city government describes as one of Castanhal’s most important tourist attractions. The Monumento Maria Fumaça is designated as historic heritage and was moved to Praça Inácio Loyola Gabriel in the Estrela neighbourhood.
The Monumento do Cristo Redentor is also part of the cityscape; the mayor described it as the city’s greatest landmark. Catedral Santa Mãe de Deus also received the third phase of the installation of sacred mosaics. These details highlight different aspects: religious significance, public monuments and sacred art can be explored as distinct themes in Castanhal.
Círio de Macapazinho is a pilgrimage in honour of Our Lady of Nazareth in the Quilombo community of Macapazinho. The procession begins on the Rio Apeú at Agrovila de Boa Vista, continues on foot in Macapazinho and ends with an open-air Mass. Another religious event is the Romaria de Castanhal: its 27th edition took place on 19 October 2025 and included a procession of approximately six kilometres. This date refers to the 2025 edition, not to a current event calendar.
Apeú, Regional Cuisine and Events
Vila Centenária de Apeú has numerous Igarapés and the river that gives the place its name. In Vila do Apeú near Castanhal, Estação Gourmet Maria Luiza da Silva Lima was described in 2022 as a gastronomic complex with twelve food stalls. It offered snacks and typical dishes from Pará and northeastern Brazil, including Carne de Sol do Apeú.
Feira do Peixe Vivo is a traditional event held simultaneously at four locations in Castanhal, including in the district of Apeú. In the edition reported on 6 April 2026, the programme included a Cozinha Show: regional dishes made with typical ingredients such as Tucupi and Jambu were prepared and then sampled. EXPOFAC, an agricultural fair, takes place in the first days of September on the outskirts of BR-316 at kilometre 64. The calendar therefore features different kinds of events: a culinary festival, an agricultural fair and religious processions.
Road Connections and Regional Orientation
The federal highway BR-316 runs through Castanhal and connects the state capital with the North, Central-West, Southeast and South regions of Brazil. Further road information can help you find specific destinations: the paved access road to Monumento Maria Fumaça is PA-136, the state highway from Castanhal to Curuçá. Vila Centenária de Apeú can be reached via the paved BR-316 and Avenida Barão do Rio Branco.
Kartódromo Bené Maranhense is located on BR-316 near the Transapeú circuit and hosts the Campeonato Paraense de Kart in the Novatos and Graduados categories. Road connections vary by destination; together with the cultural and natural attractions, they provide a factual basis for choosing what to explore in Castanhal according to your travel interests.
Discover more destinations: São Geraldo do Araguaia, Medicilândia, Conceição do Araguaia, Marituba, Terra Santa, Tucuruí, Trairão.
For the main travel overview: Pará.
