Today we’re starting a new series, “Off the Beaten Path,” to feature tourist attractions in Brazil that few foreigners know about.

The Tapajós River runs from the north of Mato Grosso state through the Amazon all the way to Pará state. The river reaches 21 kilometers at its largest width, making it practically a freshwater sea. In the summer, when the tides are low, white sand beaches form along the river, forming tropical islands in crystal clear, green water.

In the city of Santarém, the Tapajós River meets the Amazon, where their waters literally remain separate as they exit to the ocean. For more information about tourism in this area, click here. To watch a video about the river, click here.