Occupying a pretty pale blue house built in 1910, the family-run Brisa Hotel (Rua Senador Lameira Bittencourt 5, tel. 93/3522-1018, R$70–80 d) is one of a series of historic houses on Santarém’s oldest street. High-ceilinged rooms are very plain, but clean, and a friendly atmosphere reigns.

Facing the Mercado Modelo, the Hotel Rio Dourado (Rua Floriano Peixoto 799, tel. 93/3522-4021, R$90–115 d) is a cheery, modern place jazzed up with lots of tropically hued decorative accents. The colorful air-conditioned rooms—with white tiled or hardwood floors—are quite comfortable, although some of the furniture is sort of cheap looking. Internet access is available.

Fans of ’70s tropical architecture will be thrilled by the Amazon Park Hotel (Av. Mendonça Furtado 4120, tel. 93/3522-3361, www.amazonparkhotel.com.br, R$115–130 d). Located 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from downtown, this big boxy concrete complex was built in 1971, anticipating that the construction of the Transamazônica BR-163 highway from Cuiabá to Santarém would turn the city into a big boom town. The highway quickly deteriorated and so did the hotel. A recent renovation has spruced the place up considerably. The large rooms have been attractively refurbished and, defying the Fascist-style exterior, are quite homey. The common rooms—including a bar, lounge, and restaurant—have a swank ’70s modernist grandeur. The verdant grounds feature a circular pool and lots of shady mango trees. The views out over the river are quite splendid.