Benjamin Constant

Benjamin Constant is a Brazilian town of 44,000 people (2020) across the river from Peru in Amazonas (Brazil) region. It lies about a half-hour motorboat ride southwest from Leticia and Tabatinga.

Understand

River port

The area is inhabited by Ticuna Indians. In 1988 the town was the scene of the murder of 14 Ticunas in a dispute between them and logging interests.

The town was named after the Brazilian revolutionary Benjamin Constant (1836–1891).

Get in

About 30 minutes by fast boat from Tabatinga for R$ 15 (reais). Boats leave every half-hour or whenever they are full.

See

Benjamin Constant church

• 1 Magüta Museum (Museu Magüta), Avenida Castelo Branco Nº 396. Centro, ☏ +55 97 98421-0059. M-Sa 08:00-17:00. A museum devoted to the Ticuna culture and language with an extensive collection of objects relating to the most varied aspects of the material culture of the Ticuna people. (updated Oct 2021)

Do

• Feast of San Francisco, 25 September to 4 October. On the last day, 4 Oct, the procession takes place, which is the biggest procession in the city. And the devotees who make a promise (request) or help to San Francisco that day, walk and neglect almost the entire city following the procession.
• The Festival Folclórico Benjaminense (Folklore Festival) is the biggest festival of Alto Solimões, with the dispute between the "Boi-Bumbá Courajoso" and the "Boi-Bumbá Mangangá" in July. The Festival is held at the Cultural Center of Benjamin Constant (Bumbódromo de Benjamin Constant). The festival presents allegories, legends and typical figures from Amazonas and Alto Solimões.

Eat

There is a fruit and veg market down by the port.

Sleep

• 1 Hotel e Restaurante Cabanas, 374, R. Valdir Lima, 2 - Colônia, ☏ +55 97 3415 5332. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 12:00. Hotel and restaurant outside of town, 2.5 km from the port. Single R$80, double R$ 140, triple R$ 210, quad R$ 280. (updated Oct 2021)