Tourist Guide Porto Velho
Porto Velho is the capital of the Brazilian state of Rondônia. The name ‘Porto Velho’ means ‘Old Port’, and the city grew as a port on the banks of the river Madeira.
Porto Velho expanded after the construction of the Madeira-Mamoré Railroad. Initially, the city’s development was directly connected to the railway’s activities, but Porto Velho prospered during the rubber boom, and later with the discovery of gold and cassiterite (mineral).
The climate is equatorial, warm with plenty of rainfall. The annual average temperature is around 27°C. A good time to visit is between May and October when the rainfall is low.
With a population of 370,000, the main economic activity is mining. The town is also an important trading centre of cassiterite.
