Garupa, Amazon

I have arrived in the small municipality of Gurupá, where I ended my recent cruise. From here, I will head overland to connect to the southern outlet of the Amazon River. To give context, the Amazon River has three outlets to the Atlantic River, two on the north side of Marajó Island, which lies on the estuary where the Amazon empties, and one on the south side.

Before I start my hike, I plan to explore Gurupá. This remote village was founded in 1609 as a Dutch trading post called Mariocai, named after the region's indigenous people. The Dutch traded for dye, timber, and mother-of-pearl. However, the Portuguese conquered and occupied the trading post in 1623, building the Fort of Santo Antônio do Gurupá. The fort remained occupied by the Brazilian military until the mid-20th century.

One of the main industries in Gurupá is the extraction of palm hearts, a vegetable harvested from the inner core of certain palm trees. Palm hearts are known for their delicate flavour and crunchy texture and are used as a salad ingredient or as a firm vegetable in soups or stews. They are considered a rich source of protein, containing numerous amino acids that help the body function efficiently.

The peach palm (Bactris gasipaes) is one of the palm species used for extracting hearts and is also cultivated for its edible fruit. The extraction process involves cutting down a mature tree, removing the outer layers of the trunk, and then harvesting and cutting the core into small pieces. They are often preserved in brine and canned for commercial and export purposes

The fruit of the peach palm is oval-shaped, about the size of a small apple. It has a tough outer skin that needs to be removed before eating. The inner flesh has a starchy texture and slightly sweet flavour that can be eaten raw or cooked. The fruit is often turned into jams or jellies but is also known to accompany meats or vegetables or as an ingredient in savoury dishes. It is a unique fruit that is extremely versatile and widely cultivated.

Gurupá may be small, but it has a vibrant marketplace where fresh and exotic fruits, vegetables and seafood are sold, as well as handcrafted items made by local artisans. Checking out the various stalls, I was tempted to try and taste everything. I was intrigued by medicinal herbs like 'canela de velho', used for their anti-inflammatory properties or the 'camu camu', a fruit known for its high vitamin C levels and antioxidant properties. Well, I'll wander a little more and see what else I can find before I continue with my trek.