# Ilha do Mosqueiro

Ilha do Mosqueiro is an island with a string of beaches just outside Belém. The island has 17 km (11 mi) of beaches with freshwater tides, which draw vacationers primarily in the dry season. The largest settlement on the island is the town of Vila (often referred to simply as Mosqueiro) on the westernmost part of the island.

## Understand

In June 2011, an amphibian identified as belonging to the species Atretochoana eiselti was photographed near Praia de Marahú, on the island of Mosqueiro. A. eiselti, previously known only from two preserved specimens dating from the late 1800s, is the largest known lungless tetrapod.

### Climate

The island has a tropical climate, with an average temperature of 27 °C (81 °F). The rainy season peaks in March, while the dry season peaks in November.

## Get in

Buses leave at least every half hour from the terminal at the Vila´s main square, and can be hailed anywhere en route. R$ 3-4, 1 - 1.5 hours. On weekends and holidays there is a daily boat connection.

## Get around

By bus.

## See

* Ilha do Mosqueiro offers numerous beaches, among which are: Praia do Farol, Praia do Bispo, Praia Grande, Praia Marahú, Praia do Paraíso and Praia do Chapéu Virado. All beaches have excellent infrastructure and wonderful landscapes.
* -1.1324-48.45681 Chapéu Virado (on the plaza bearing its name, at the intersection of avenues 16 de Novembro and Beira Mar). It was built as a modest inn and restaurant of wood construction, dating from the heyday of the rubber plantation industry in the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries. The hotel was constructed in a mix of European architectural styles, with allowances for the local climate. After the original structure was destroyed by fire, the mayor of Belém and the governor of Pará provided funding for its reconstruction.
* -1.1328-48.45662 Capelinha do Sagrado Coração de Jesus (Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) (on the plaza Chapéu Virado). The Capelinha was constructed by Guilherme Augusto de Miranda Filho in fulfillment of a promise he made to God while ill on the island, in exchange for the return of his health. The chapel was dedicated on December 17, 1909, by the acting archbishop of Belém. On the second Sunday in December, the chapel holds a special observation for the patron saint of the people of Mosqueiro.
* Villa Porto Franco (on the plaza Chapéu Virado). A neoclassical Villa Porto Franco that was once home to Portuguese artist José Franco.
* Sebastião Rabelo de Oliveira Bridge. At a length of 1,430 m (4,690 ft), it connects Mosqueiro with the mainland.

## Do

* -1.147-48.45941 Parque Municipal da Ilha de Mosqueiro (Mosqueiro Island Municipal Park), Travessa Siquiera Mendes. 190 hectares (1.9 km²) of the island have been set aside as a municipal park by the city of Belém, which is seeking to promote ecotourism. The park includes 3 km (1.9 mi) of trails. (updated Feb 2023)

## Sleep

* -1.1187-48.43781 Pousada Senador, Avenida Beira Mar, 640, Murubira Beach, ☏ +55 98 98121-8991. 7 suites, each with smart TV, minibar and air conditioning. Swimming pool with wet bar, free WiFi. Double R$ 130, triple R$ 220, quadruple R$ 340. (updated Feb 2023)