Fast Facts

Area Code-- The area code for Belém is 091.

Banks & Currency Exchange-- Banco do Brasil, Av. Presidente Vargas 248, Comércio (tel. 021/2223-2537). Open Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm. 24-hour ATM on-site. Turvicam on Praça da República, Av. Pres. Vargas 640, loja 3 (tel. 091/9609-5539), changes cash and traveler's checks. Open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, Saturday 8am to 1pm.

Car Rentals-- Avis is at the airport (tel. 091/3257-2277) and Hotel Hilton (tel. 091/3225-1699). Also at the airport is Localiza (tel. 091/3257-1541).

Consulates-- U.S., Rua Oswaldo Cruz 165, near Praça República (tel. 091/3223-0800). Great Britain, Av. Governador José Malcher 815, suite 410 (tel. 091/3222-5074).

Dentist-- Ângela A. De O. Fernandez, Rua Almirante Wandenkolk 1243, suite 601 (tel. 091/3224-9043).

Emergencies-- Police tel. 190; Fire and Ambulance tel. 192.

Hospitals-- Hospital da Ordem Terceira, Travesia Frei Gil de Vila Nova 59 (behind the Colegio Sto. Antônio), Centro (tel. 091/3216-2777).

Internet Access-- TVTron Business Center, in the basement of the Hotel Hilton on Praça da República (tel. 091/3225-0028). Open Monday to Friday 7:30am to 10:30pm, Saturday and Sunday 7:30am to 6:30pm. R$7.50/US$3 per hour.

Pharmacies-- Farmacia Big Ben, Av. Serzedelo Correa 15, near Praça da República (tel. 091/3241-8642), open Monday to Friday 8am to 10pm and Saturday 8am to 4pm. Big Ben also has an order-by-phone service (tel. 091/3241-3000) that is open 24/7.

Safety-- Pickpockets and purse snatchers are common in The Ver-o-Peso Market. They're especially fond of the two-man distract-and-snatch technique, so keep your wits about you and your bag or purse in front of you. Avoid the Old City completely on Sundays, and on weekdays after dark stick to main streets and squares (the Praça da República, Av. Pres. Vargas, and the Estação das Docas are well-lit and policed in the evening, but as always, look out for pickpockets).

Taxes-- Hotels add a 10% accommodations tax directly to your bill. There are no other taxes on retail items or goods.

Time Zones-- Belém is 3 hours behind GMT, the same as Rio.

Visa Renewal-- Go to the Policia Federal, Av. Generalísimo Deodora 697 (tel. 091/3242-5267), open Monday to Friday 8am to 11:30am and 2 to 5:30pm. The fee is R$63 (US$26), and you may need to show a return ticket and proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay.

Weather-- Belém has two seasons: hot and humid and rainy from December to May, and hot, humid, and less rainy from June to November. The daytime maximum temperature usually reaches 92°F (33°C) or slightly higher, and relative humidity is always above 90%. Rain comes in the form of short violent thundershowers, usually in the afternoon.