In Acre, traces of ancient landscapes meet collections and places of remembrance in Rio Branco. The geoglyphs offer insights into the settlement and population development of the Amazon region; in Rio Branco, museums and historic sites explore political history, fossils, and crafts. When choosing accommodation, it is worth first deciding on the focus of your trip: cultural sites in Rio Branco, archaeological sites, or nature observation in Acre.

Geoglyphs and Archaeology in Acre

The geoglyphs of Acre are geometric earthworks made up of ditches cut into the ground and raised embankments. They contribute to our understanding of settlement and population development in the Amazon region. This archaeological field includes the Sítio Arqueológico Jacó Sá in Acre, which was listed by Iphan under Decree-Law No. 25/1937. Along BR-317, the Sítio Arqueológico Jacó Sá, as well as Baixa Verde and Severino Calazans, are named as places suitable for visits. Check current access conditions in advance before planning a visit.

History in Rio Branco

In Rio Branco, the Passarela Joaquim Macedo connects the two districts separated by the Rio Acre. Mercado Velho is a revitalized historic landmark that reflects the city’s trading period in the 1920s and 1930s. Typical dishes such as tapioca, mingaus, bolo de macaxeira, and cuscuz are offered or showcased there; individual vendors’ offerings may change. Also associated with this period is the Complexo Calçadão da Gameleira: this historic area is considered the place where Rio Branco originated and includes, among other things, revitalized houses dating from the 1920s and 1930s.

Palácio Rio Branco was built in 1930 in the neoclassical style. It houses a museum about the creation of the state of Acre and preserves its political and cultural memory. Memorial dos Autonomistas honors the leaders of Acre’s autonomist movement in the 1960s. On Praça da Revolução, also called Praça Plácido de Castro, there is a life-size statue of José Plácido de Castro and a monument to the unidentified fighters of the Acre Revolution. Together, these places show different aspects of political history and public remembrance.

Collections, Fossils, and Crafts

Museu dos Povos Acreanos preserves collections on the history and culture of Acre, including historical, archaeological, paleontological, and ethnographic materials. The Sala de Paleontologia at UFAC houses the original skull of the crocodilian relative Purussaurus brasiliensis. Its fossil collection includes more than 5,000 specimens collected in river areas and along roads in Acre. At Museu da Borracha Governador Geraldo Mesquita, displays and old objects explore topics relating to the history of Acre’s population groups, as well as Santo Daime and the geoglyphs. Paleontological evidence and the region’s history thus sit side by side, although they do not deal with the same subject.

Further insights into regional topics are offered by Biblioteca da Floresta, which specializes in themes and authors from the Amazon region and Acre, and Casa do Artesão. The latter showcases crafts by artisans from Acre, made mostly from forest products. Travelers focusing on cultural institutions can take these different collection and interpretation themes into account when planning their trip.

Nature and Trip Planning

Acre also offers several areas of interest for nature lovers. Área de Proteção Ambiental Lago do Amapá in Rio Branco is cited as an area for ecotourism. Birdwatching is especially popular in Parque Estadual Chandless; conditions for observation vary by season and location, and access may also change. Therefore, check current local guidance before planning. When searching for hotels in Acre, you can use your planned visits as a starting point and decide which places will be the focus of your trip.

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