General Information

Area: 238.512 square kilometers
Population: 1.339.507 inhabitants (1995).
Capital: Porto Velho
Main Cities: Ji-Paraná, Cacoal and Ariquemes
Holidays: January 24, May 24 (Nossa Senhora Auxiliadora) and October 2
Main products: subsistence agriculture, mining (diamonds, cassiterite, gold).
Main industries: timber, mining and foodstuffs.


Useful Information

Telephone Calls
The code for the state is (+69).
Time Zone
(-1) hour in relation to Brasilia time. When daylight savings time is in effect in the center-south of Brazil, these difference is (-2) hours.
Airport
Aeroporto Belmont, Porto velho
Tel: (069) 225-1339
Air Taxi
Mamoré - (069) 221-7077
Rio Madeira - (069) 222-2627
Medical Services
Hospital Central
Tel.: (069) 221-4115
Rua Júlio de Castilho, 149


Lodging

Hotéis Vila Rica
Av. Carlos Gomes, 1616
Tel: (069) 224-3433
Fax: (069) 22-3433

Aquarius Selva
Rua Norberto Souza, 1760
Tel: (069) 225-2525
Fax: (069) 222-3198

Rondon Palace
Av. Governador Jorge Teixeira
Tel: (069) 223-3422
Fax: (069) 223-3422


Transportation
Air transport | River transport | Highways providing access

Air transport
Cities served by air connections
Cacoal: Tam
Costa Marques: Tavaj
Guajará Mirim: Tavaj
Ji-Paraná: Passaredo e Tam
Porto Velho: Vasp, Tam, Varig, Rico and Tavaj
Vilhena: Tam and Passaredo


Companies
PASSAREDO
Toll Free: 0 800 163777
RICO
Porto Velho
(092) 800-8333
Rio de Janeiro
(021) 220-2592
TAM
Porto Velho
Tel: (069) 225-2540
VARIG
Porto Velho
Tesl: (069) 225-1675 / 224-4224
VASP
Porto Velho
Tels: (069) 225-3226 / 223-3765


Local Companies
TAVAJ
Porto Velho
Reservation and information:
Rua Lauro Sodré s/n -
Aeroporto Belmont
Tel/Fax (069) 225-2999

Costa Marques
Reservation and information:
Av. Demétrio Mela Congianca, 1823 - Centro
Tel/Fax ( 069) 651-2274

Guajará-Mirim
Reservation and information:
Av. Campos Sales, 191 - Centro
Tel/Fax (069) 541-4420
Aeroporto: Tel (069) 541-2400


Attractions

Guaporé Valley
PEco-tourism program in the Pedras Negras Extractive Reserve, located in the valley of the Guaporé River, in the southwest of the state of Rondonia. The reserve is situated in the transition zone between the Amazon forest, the Pantanal (marshlands) and the region of the cerrados (arid plains); it is host to many centers of endemism and presents extraordinary bio-diversity. In addition to the natural wonders of the region, another attraction is the community that inhabits the reserve, consisting of 17 families who are descendants of runaway slaves. Visitors have an opportunity to interact with this centuries-old community and observe the activities of extraction and smoke-curing of rubber, gathering of Brazil nuts, handicraft manufacture of cassava flour, and fishing, etc. Among other things, the expedition includes boat excursions to the Guaporé Biological Reserve, the Curralinho State Extractive Reserve and the Madeira-Mamoré Railway; and visits to the Rubber Tappers' Association of the Guaporé Valley (AGUAPÉ), the Príncipe da Beira Fort and the headquarters of the Chelonia Project of the Amazon, etc.
This program is included in the project, "Community-Based Eco-tourism in State Extractive Reserves in Rondonia," executed by the Organization of Rubber Tappers of Rondonia (OSR), with the support of the NGO's, Guaporé Ecological Action (ECOPORÉ) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The package takes at least 5 days and must be planned one month in advance. Groups consist of 4 to 8 people. The best time to visit the region is the dry season, which goes from August to November.
Information:
OSR:
Tel/fax: (069) 224-1368.
E-mail: osr@enter-net.com.br
R. Joaquim Nabuco, 1215. Areal
78916-420 - Porto Velho - RO
ECOPORÉ:
Tel/fax: (069) 442-2477
ecopore@procopeonet.com.br
Caixa Postal 068
78987-000 - Rolim de Moura - RO

Restaurante Caravela do Madeira
For those who want to taste the best fish in the Amazon region, especially tambaqui (Myletes bidens). On the riverbank, on Rua José Camacho 104, Porto Velho. Tel. 221-6641.

Porto Velho
http://www.ronet.com.br/~marrocos
The history of Porto Velho; burroughs; old photographs; list of hotels, restaurants and public agencies; among other information.


Tourism agencies and operators


Shopping