Anyone looking to combine culture and nature in Ourilândia do Norte will find two clearly defined themes: local festival and craft traditions, and the Rio Caiteté, along with the Parque Ambiental do Caiteté named after it. The Cavalgada is especially useful when choosing when to travel: its day is scheduled annually and may preferably be celebrated on the first Saturday in November.

Culture and local traditions

Since 2023, the Cavalgada has been officially recognised as intangible cultural heritage of the municipality of Ourilândia do Norte. Cavalgada Day is scheduled annually and may preferably be celebrated on the first Saturday in November. The festival includes parades through the city’s streets and avenues, where groups of muleteers and riders gather. If you plan to travel in November for the Cavalgada, check the specific event date before setting your travel dates.

Folia de Reis offers another insight into local traditions. It was established in 1987 by pioneer João Rita, together with the Teles family, as an artistic and religious tradition. In its traditional form, the celebration lasts seven days, with participants going from house to house. Another prominent religious tradition is the feast in honour of Our Lady of Sorrows, celebrated during Holy Week. The cultural dates therefore differ: the first Saturday in November is scheduled as the preferred date for the Cavalgada, while the religious feast is tied to Holy Week.

Handicrafts are also part of Ourilândia do Norte’s cultural identity, including the making of images from wood from the region. This adds a local craft theme to the festival traditions, one that can be experienced independently of any single event date.

Rio Caiteté and Parque Ambiental do Caiteté

The Rio Caiteté runs through Ourilândia do Norte and is considered the municipality’s most important natural heritage. It gave its name to the Parque Ambiental do Caiteté. The park features cold-water waterfalls and hiking trails for ecotourism. It is located in a permanent preservation area established by Municipal Law No. 394/2008 of 18 July 2008. The river as part of the city and the park with its waterfalls and hiking trails thus represent different aspects of the nature theme.

People swim in the rapids of the Rio Caiteté. If you plan to swim, check access in advance.

The access information for the Parque Ambiental do Caiteté, published in 2019, gives the route via Projeto Casulo on the edge of PA 279 and places the access point 500 metres from the highway. As this route information dates from 2019, confirm before your visit that the access route is still valid.

If you plan to hike the trails, you should also confirm access to the Parque Ambiental do Caiteté in advance.

Discover more destinations: Tucumã, Santarém, Mosqueiro, Maracanã, Tracuateua, Joanes, Castanhal, Igarapé-Açu.

For the broader travel overview: Pará.