Açailândia

Açailândia is a city of 113,000 people (2020) in Maranhão, on the intersection of the Belém-Brasília highway and the São Luís-Parauapebas railway.

Understand

Açailândia grew out of the construction of the Belém-Brasília highway in 1958. The city is an important center of agribusiness as the surrounding area has the largest cattle stock in Maranhão. The main source of the municipality's economy is the export of pig iron produced by five steel industries. The city houses many of the workers who produce charcoal in the area. The city has one of the most important railway stations on the Carajás Railway line.

The climate is hot and humid in the middle of the year and the rains are heavier from November to May, with March being the rainiest month in the region. From June to August the climate becomes drier with hot days, and relatively cold dawns with temperatures of up to 16 °C, with fog being common. From September to November the climate is warmer, with some showers starting in October.

Get in

Açailândia has a small but very busy bus terminal with interstate buses to all regions of the country, every day of the week at different times.

The railway does not carry passengers.

See

Squares

• Praça do Patizal - in Vila Ildemar, the square has a plantation of palm trees.
• Bible Square - Inaugurated on December 22, 2000.
• Praça do Pioneiro - Homage from the people of Açailândia to João Mariquinha, considered one of the pioneers and one of the first residents to arrive in the then village of Açailândia.
• Praça da Esperança - Commonly known as "UPA square".

Do

• Açaí-Folia - Micareta is one of the biggest attractions in the city, held for the municipality's birthday party, always in June. It is the largest off-season carnival in the region and one of the largest in the state, attracting tourists from all regions of the state and from other states.

Eat

• Pizzaria Zeppelin, R. Fortaleza 100, ☏ +55 99 35381200. Tu-Su 18:00-00:00. Pizza with a good range of cocktails. (updated Jan 2018)

Sleep

• 1 Paraíso Hotel, R. São Paulo, ☏ +55 99 3538-9901. (updated Jan 2018)