Palmas
Brazil · Americas
About Palmas
Palmas is the capital and largest city of the state of Tocantins, Brazil. According to IBGE estimates from 2020, the city had 306,296 inhabitants. Palmas has a metropolitan area with 471,639 inhabitants.
Palmas was founded in 1990 and developed from the ground up in a former agricultural area as the capital of the new state of Tocantins, formed under the 1988 constitution. It was intended to develop a relatively undeveloped area of the nation to provide better jobs for people. The city has a well-designed road system, and its urban zoning is modeled on that of Brasília, the national capital. A symmetrical park lies at the city centre, and a large central avenue similar to Brasília's Monumental Axis extends north to south. The city is home to the Federal University of Tocantins.
In 2002, the Lajeado Hydroelectric Power Plant was completed on the Tocantins River, creating a large reservoir and giving the city new beaches. The project also included construction of a huge bridge: the Fernando Henrique Cardoso Bridge, 8 kilometers (5.0 mi) long, connects Palmas with the major highway BR-153 and the district of Luzimangues in Porto Nacional.
The Palmas Airport connects Palmas with many Brazilian cities.
Palmas travel guide
Getting there
This is pretty much the middle of nowhere. Both bus and plane connect better southwards, via Brasilia. 973km from Brasilia, 1,271 km from Belem.
See
The city is interesting as a study of urbanism. It was dimensioned for several times its current population.
Praça dos Girassóis. This plaza contains the Carlos Presetes Memorial, designed by Oscar Niemeyer, a marker which represents the geodesic center of Brazil, and an array of panels representing the indigenous peoples of Apinajé, Khahô, Xerente, Karajá, Javaé and Xambioá.
Do
There is a fresh water beach a couple of km from the center. Take any bus that goes to the university.
Sleep
Hotel São Paulo, 103 Rua NO (just off main square, next to Unibanco), ☏ +55 63 3215-1630. Single, shared bath R$ 18, with bath R$ 35..
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.