Macapa is a city in Northern Brazil located on the Amazon River and the equator. Macapa makes an excellent starting point for Amazon river cruises. Things to do in Macapa include;
- Ground Zero Ecuador – Half The World (Marco Zero)
- St Joseph of Macapa Fortress
- Fort Park
- Trapiche Eliezer Levy
- Football Stadium – Zerao
Finding a place to stay in Macapá should be easy, they have quite a few options, even an Ibis.
Marco Zero Monument
Macapa is a major city, it’s where the Amazon river meets the Atlantic Ocean. As a result it’s located at the end of the Amazon river. In addition, it’s also located on the equator meaning it’s very hot! Being on the equator I decided to visit the the Marco Zero monument, also known as Ground Zero Ecuador – Half The World. This location is perfect for making Instagram snaps with one foot in the Southern hemisphere and the other in the Northern. To get to Marco Zero, you need to take a local bus. It’s a 10 minute journey from the center of Macapa and the huge monument (above) is easily visible so you should see it and know when to get off.
On a personal note, being on the equator signified the halfway point of my journey from Antarctica to Alaska.
St Joseph of Macapa Fortress
In the city of Macapa you’ll find a well kept Fort which is definitely worth a visit. The St Joseph of Macapa Fortress was built by the Portuguese in the eighteenth century to protect the Amazon. Most importantly, to protect it from the French who weren’t too far away in French Guiana. The city of Macapa was founded in 1758 and just 6 years later the construction of the Fort began. Outside the Fort is a beautiful park with greenery, flowers and a wonderful view of the Fort itself. Did you know there’s a similar Portuguese Fort in Maputo, Mozambique?
Trapiche Eliezer Levy and Macapa Promenade
There is a promenade alongside the beach which is probably best walked on during the early morning or evening (due to the heat during the day). As I was traveling, which meant I wasn’t really exercising I took advantage of the promenade and went for a long run in the evening. On the promenade you’ll pass Trapiche Eliezer Levy which is a long pier as well as a good place to watch the sunset.
Macapa Football Stadium (Zerao)
Zerao stadium is unique as it has been built on the equator. It’s a short walk from the Marco Zero monument. The centerline of the pitch is located on the equator. As a result one team is playing in the northern hemisphere and the other team in the southern!
How to get from Macapa to Oiapoque and French Guiana

Overnight bus from Macapa to Oiapoque, 10 hours, 99 Reais
The bus from Macapa to Oiapoque was a Santanese service which took 10 hours on an unpaved road. This journey was a little bit too short as the bus arrived in Oiapoque at around 5 am and the border to French Guiana did not open until 8 am. I decided that waiting in the bus station for 2-3 hours was the safest thing to do. At 8 am I took a taxi to the border control and was stamped out of Brazil. Afterwards I took a small boat over the Oyapock river to St Georges, French Guiana. French Guiana is officially part of France and the EU, so as I have a UK passport I did not need a stamp into the country. There are ATM machines in St Georges which dispense Euros, which of course is the official currency of France and therefore French Guiana.
How to get from St Georges to Cayenne
From the border town of St George it’s easy to find a share taxi to the capital city of French Guiana, Cayenne. The cost is €31, for a 3 hour ride which is a European price, a lot more expensive than Brazil.
It’s beyond cool that you were ON the equator! Good to know that it’s easily visible. Ten hours on an unpaved road on a bus from Macapá to Oiapoque doesn’t sound amazing. But, actually being there looks fabulous!
Congrats on being halfway through your journey north. You’re right, that is a very cool IG opportunity. I haven’t been to Brazil yet, but will consider visiting her for the once in a lifetime photo op. Have a great time on the rest of your adventure from Antarctica to Alaska!
How great that you can be in two hemispheres at the same time. I can’t believe how long it takes to travel there. And also quite surprised on the high cost of the travel. Still it looks fabulous.
Congratulations on reaching the half-way point to Alaska! I’m sure that (aside from being really hot) it is also very humid as well, which just makes it feel a whole lot hotter as well. Nice shot of you on both hemispheres there! Best of luck as you continue your journey and sharing fabulous information and photos as you go.
Very interesting destinations. I hadn’t read about anyone traveling to French Guiana before. It’s sounds really exciting. What was your hightlight from there? The only thing not so appealing about FG is European prices 🙂
And being on the Ground Zero Ecuador also sounds amazing. I will add it to my bucket list right now! Thanks for the fun insight.
Great to stand on iconic virtual line which divides world into two halves. I have been to Tropic of Cancer and I also felt same as you, it must be hooter because on Equator. Macapa Fortress looks like a worth visiting in this place.
This sounds like a really awesome journey. I would love to do something like this. I am always amazed with your travels. I love the half the world monument. Never knew that existed!
Such a neat experience to be both in the southern and northern hemisphere. Ground Zero Ecuador sounds like a highlight! Also congrats on making it halfway through your trip! So much to learn from your adventures.
That Ground Zero monument is so cool! It’s so amazing that you are standing on literally the part where the globe is divided in half! All of these other attractions look interesting too, I need to make a trip to Brazil soon!
Thank for the nice reviews of my country and I hope you had a great time in your south-north adventure in America.
Hi Marcelo. I’m happy you like my review and I had a great time thanks. I can’t wait to go back!
Great! One of the most amazing things in Macapá is the soccer arena, which was built between the north and the southern hemispheres.
Each of the teams play in a different hemisphere!
Wow, that’s amazing! I must go back and take a stadium tour here! Or better still watch a match.