Fazenda São Jerônimo: Marajó's Buffalo Swim Farm

Fazenda São Jerônimo sits about 3 km from Soure on the road to Pesqueiro, and it runs one of the strangest tours on the planet: a 2.5-hour circuit that ends with you swimming beside an 800 kg water buffalo. The fixed rate is R$250 per person, booked in advance by WhatsApp, and the schedule shifts daily with the tide — which is why no two visits start at the same hour.

Marajó holds roughly three buffalo for every human resident, but this farm is not a buffalo ranch. It makes its money from dried coconut and tourism, keeping only a small herd of calm, working animals. That detail changes the feel of the visit: you are walking through a working property, not a staged attraction.

What the Tour Actually Involves

The circuit runs in four stages, and the order matters because the tide controls the water level in the igarapé.

The forest trail

A short walk through secondary Amazon forest opens the tour. Guides stop to name the trees — rubber, açaí palms, andiroba — and explain how Marajoara households use them. It is the least dramatic section, and on a hot morning the shade is genuinely welcome. Listen here; the plant knowledge comes back later when you taste coconut water on the beach.

The canoe through Tucumanduba

At the stream's edge you board a rowed canoe and head down the Igarapé do Tucumanduba toward the mouth of the bay. Mangrove roots close in on both sides. This is the stretch most people photograph, and with good reason — the water turns tea-dark from tannins, and the light through the canopy does something no phone camera quite captures.

The crossing to the far bank can be done by boat or, for those who chose that option, by hanging onto a swimming buffalo. Guides manage the animals throughout; you are never handling an 800 kg animal alone.

The suspended walkway and Goiabal beach

A raised boardwalk crosses the mangrove before the route reaches Praia do Goiabal, an empty stretch of sand that appeared in the Globo TV series Amor, Eterno Amor and the reality show No Limite III. You get coconut water here, cut fresh. The beach is private in the practical sense — no vendors, no other groups, just the bay in front of you.

The boardwalk has drawn criticism. Some visitors have reported loose planks and exposed nails, so wear closed shoes rather than flip-flops and watch your footing where the wood looks weathered.

Riding and swimming with buffalo

The finale is the part everyone comes for. You mount a buffalo — bareback, with a guide holding a rope — and either ride it across shallow water or slide off beside it while it swims. The animals are slow and unbothered. The first thirty seconds feel precarious; after that it is oddly peaceful.

Fewer than a handful of places worldwide offer this, and none with Marajó's scale of herd. Anyone with small children should confirm age limits and restrictions directly with the farm before booking — the animals are heavy, and the farm sets its own rules.

Planning Your Visit: Costs, Timing, and Getting There

Price and what it covers

Expect R$250 per person as of recent reporting. Older reviews cite R$150 and even R$100, so the rate has climbed steadily — treat any figure you find online as indicative and confirm the current price when you book. Bring cash; card payment has been unreliable here.

Children up to six have historically entered free, with half price for ages seven to twelve. Confirm this at booking, since family policies are the first thing to change.

Booking and tide-dependent hours

The farm lists opening hours of 7:00 to 19:00, but that is the property's window, not the tour schedule. Tours run at specific times determined by the tide, capacity is limited, and same-day walk-ins often fail.

Book at least 24 hours ahead — a week in high season is safer. Contact is by WhatsApp at (91) 99347-2364 or through the farm's Instagram, @fazenda_sa. Morning departures around 8:00 are the most rain-resistant option if your dates land in the wet season.

Getting there from Soure

Mototáxi is the main transport in Soure. A ride from the town center to the farm costs about R$15 and takes ten minutes on the Pesqueiro road. For comparison, the center to Barra Velha runs R$10–15 and to Vila Pesqueiro around R$25. A rented bicycle at roughly R$15 per day is a cheaper, sweatier alternative.

Do not book the farm on your departure day. The circuit finishes around 10:30, which leaves too little margin for the boat back to Belém.

When to go

The dry season from July to December brings passable roads, wider beaches, and the most reliable conditions for the trail and canoe sections. August and September are the sweet spot: summer is fully established, but the July school holidays and the October–November peak have passed.

Rain does not cancel the tour — the farm runs it in wet weather — but January to May turns interior roads to mud and floods much of eastern Marajó. Temperatures sit between 26°C and 32°C year-round, so start early whatever the month.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the buffalo swim safe for children?

That depends on the child and the farm's current policy. The animals weigh around 800 kg, and the farm sets its own age and restriction rules, so ask directly on WhatsApp before you book rather than assuming. Children up to six have historically entered free, with half price from seven to twelve.

How far in advance should I book?

At least 24 hours, and a week ahead in high season. Tours follow the tide rather than a fixed clock, group sizes are capped, and the 8:00 departure is the most popular. Booking through WhatsApp at (91) 99347-2364 gets you the exact time for your date.

Can I pay by card?

The farm has a record of cash-only operation, so carry reais. The rate has risen over the years to around R$250 per person — confirm the current figure when you reserve, as fees are subject to change.

How long does the whole visit take?

Plan on 2.5 hours for the circuit itself, plus roughly 20 minutes of transport each way from Soure by mototáxi. Most visitors are back in town before lunch, which makes it easy to pair with an afternoon at Barra Velha.

What should I bring?

Closed shoes for the boardwalk, swimwear you do not mind getting muddy, a dry bag for phones, and cash. The farm provides guides and life support on the water, but not towels or changing facilities worth relying on.