By promoting experiences beyond short excursions, this structured route opens opportunities for local families to benefit economically, while at the same time reinforcing the value of preserving nature and cultural traditions. Its launch comes at a time when international attention is turning to Belém, the future host of COP30, positioning the Combú Route as both a tourism innovation and a legacy for the future.
A Celebration of Riverside Entrepreneurship
The launch ceremony highlighted the role of riverside entrepreneurs who have shaped and structured the Combú Route. Attendees included Embratur’s President Marcelo Freixo, Sebrae Pará’s Managing Director Rubens Magno, local entrepreneurs, tourism industry representatives, and officials from state and municipal institutions.
During the presentation, recognition was given to the individuals who built this initiative from the ground up, making it a genuine reflection of the community’s cultural and environmental identity. These entrepreneurs are not only hosts but also storytellers, craftspeople, guides, and guardians of an ancestral legacy that connects visitors to traditions passed down for generations.
A Route Born from Local Knowledge
The Combú Route evolved from the direct involvement of its residents. Rather than imposing generic models of tourism, the project placed emphasis on active listening and dialogue with community members. This gave locals the power to define and shape the itinerary, ensuring that it reflects their lifestyles, practices, and aspirations.
The result is a dynamic set of offerings that highlight the richness of Amazonian life. Activities include handicraft demonstrations, agroecological practices, lodging with local families, guided nature trails, riverside gastronomy, and cultural encounters. Each experience stems from the expertise of local entrepreneurs dedicated to showcasing the Amazon not as an abstract postcard, but as a lived, daily reality.
Immersion in Amazonian Culture and Nature
Located just 15 minutes by boat from Belém, Combú Island is celebrated for its blend of natural beauty and traditional culture. Visitors can immerse themselves in riverside restaurants, swim in calm natural streams, and savor regional delicacies prepared with generational knowledge. Instead of brief half-day visits, the new structured itinerary encourages stays lasting two to three days, creating time for deeper engagement.
Travelers are invited to experience not only the region’s tranquil landscapes but also its intangible heritage—the stories, flavors, and skills that reveal the Amazon as both a home and a cultural treasure. This shift from rapid tourism to extended stays offers the dual benefit of greater visitor satisfaction and stronger economic returns for residents.
Strengthening Entrepreneurship and Community
The Combú Route brings together 14 local enterprises, including a cooperative of boatmen who provide transport and tours between Belém and Combú. Other participants include artisans, eco-lodges, experiential workshops, and cultural initiatives. These businesses present a model of collaborative entrepreneurship, uniting diverse skills under the collective vision of sustainable tourism.
Entrepreneur Analice Mota of Samauma Eco Experiências observed that the initiative has created a sense of unity among local business owners. Within this framework, entrepreneurs see their efforts validated, gaining visibility both nationally and internationally, while aligning with the principles of community-based tourism.
Partnerships Driving the Project
The development of the Combú Route was coordinated by Sebrae Nacional and Sebrae Pará, with Embratur responsible for international promotion. Raízes Desenvolvimento Sustentável played an important role in shaping the project’s community-based approach, while Green Destinations ensured sustainability standards.
This strong network of institutional and civil society partners reflects an innovative model of cooperation. It blends technical expertise, marketing, sustainability certification, and local participation, resulting in a tourism product that is both authentic and internationally competitive.
Tourism as an Economic and Cultural Alternative
Marcelo Freixo emphasized the significance of the initiative in the broader context of COP30. The creation of the Combú Route demonstrates how tourism can generate dignified income alternatives, support environmental preservation, and reinforce cultural resilience. Freixo underscored that the uniqueness of this Amazonian route cannot be found in iconic cities such as Paris, Madrid, São Paulo, or Santiago, but only in the heart of Belém’s riverside communities.
Through the engagement of international journalists and tour operators, the project aims to showcase a Brazil that goes beyond stereotypes—a Brazil of many identities, deeply connected to its natural environment and ancestral roots.
Sebrae’s Mission to Empower Small Businesses
Rubens Magno highlighted a crucial point about tourism’s foundation: nearly 95% of the sector depends on small and micro businesses. For him, the role of Sebrae is not to design solutions from outside but to strengthen existing community potential. This approach acknowledges the ancestral heritage embedded in everyday practices on the island.
According to Magno, the project is a testament to the power of collaboration, showing that the legacies of COP30 can extend beyond the global summit into tangible opportunities for local people.
International Expansion and Recognition
Following its launch in Belém, the Combú Route will gain national attention during ABAV-Expo 2025 on October 9, Latin America’s largest tourism fair. This strategic platform is expected to amplify awareness of Pará’s Amazon, placing it firmly on the regional and international tourism map.
In addition, Green Destinations sustainability certificates were granted to entrepreneurs who met environmental and social responsibility standards. This recognition validates the project’s alignment with globally accepted best practices in sustainable tourism, enhancing its credibility and appeal to international travelers.
A Lasting Legacy for Belém and Beyond
The Combú Route embodies more than a new travel opportunity—it represents a long-term vision for inclusive, responsible tourism in the Amazon. By encouraging deeper connections between travelers and local residents, the project demonstrates that economic viability and cultural preservation can coexist.
As Belém prepares for COP30, the route stands as proof that the Amazon offers experiences that are global in significance yet irreproducible elsewhere. It is a destination where nature, community, and legacy interweave to form a sustainable tourism model that can inspire initiatives across Brazil and beyond.
Tags: Combú Route, sustainable tourism, riverside culture, Combú Island, COP30
