The very best issues to do in Lençóis Maranhenses, Brazil

October 3, 2022

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If you happen to’re searching for a tremendous Brazilian journey vacation spot that’s off the crushed path, look no additional than Lençóis Maranhenses. This unimaginable space is situated within the northeast of Brazil and is made up of white sand dunes and crystal-clear blue lagoons. It’s undoubtedly price including to your journey bucket record as this is likely one of the finest locations to go to in Brazil! On this weblog put up, we’ll present an in depth 7-day Lençóis Maranhenses itinerary. From the place to remain to the perfect issues to do in, this Lençóis Maranhenses journey information will assist you to plan a unbelievable journey to this Brazilian gem!

Different journey guides you would possibly discover helpful…

Lençóis Maranheses is a nationwide park situated within the state of Maranhão, within the northeastern area of Brazil. The park is made up of huge sand dunes (lençóis) and freshwater lagoons (maranhenses). It’s a very distinctive place you gained’t discover anyplace else on the earth!

This place will not be the best to get to, however I’ve highlighted the right way to get to Lençóis Maranheses on this weblog put up so travellers from close to and much can expertise this pure surprise for themselves.

The very best time to go to Lençóis Maranhenses is from late June to September when the rains have stopped, and the lagoons are stuffed with water. Nonetheless, take into account that that is additionally the busiest time of 12 months, so it’s finest to e-book your lodging and excursions upfront. It’s excessive on Brazilians’ and worldwide travellers’ bucket lists because it’s the most effective locations to go to in Brazil.

Earlier than studying on, listed below are some businesses I’d advocate reserving excursions listed on this itinerary with:

Caetes Turismo (Barreirinhas)
G.I Concet Viagens (Barreirinhas)
Nativus (for Atins)
Atins Dunas Tour (Atins)

And in relation to lodging and the place to remain, there are suggestions on the place to remain in Lençóis Maranhenses all through the itinerary.

So with out additional ado, right here is your detailed Lençóis Maranheses journey information for a 7-day itinerary.

A 7-day Lençóis Maranheses itinerary…

Day 1: São Luis and Barreirinhas

Catch a morning flight to São Luis so you possibly can take advantage of this primary day of travelling; you’ll need to take advantage of your time to discover the most effective locations to go to in Brazil!

After arriving within the metropolis of São Luís, make your solution to the bus station to catch a bus headed to Barreirinhas. The journey will take roughly 4 hours. When you arrive in Barreirinhas, examine into your lodge and loosen up for the remainder of the day.

There are various motels and pousadas (guesthouses) to select from in Barreirinhas, however I like to recommend selecting a lodge barely outdoors of city and by the river as this can be a a lot quieter space and lots of the pousadas have decks and pontoons you possibly can loosen up on whereas having fun with the river views.

If you happen to haven’t booked a tour on-line or with a tour company already, converse to reception and ask them to e-book tomorrow’s tour. They’ll then verify what time pick-up is for tomorrow morning (often round 8-9 am).

I stayed at Pousada Boa Vista and would 100% advocate staying there for the primary a part of your Lençois Maranhenses itinerary. It’s nice when it comes to affordability. The rooms are easy however have aircon (you’ll need this after a protracted day within the solar!), and the meals is scrumptious. The workers are additionally extremely pleasant and useful.

Different pousadas you might keep at:

Day 2: Take a tour of Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Bonita

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up out of your lodge in a 4×4 on your tour round two of the most important lagoons within the Nationwide Park: Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Bonita. This tour, although essentially the most touristy, remains to be one of many finest issues to do in Lençóis Maranheses. No Lençóis Maranhenses journey information could be full with out this tour!

Each of those are proper on the fringe of the park, so they’re straightforward to get to on foot when you get to the doorway into the dunes. However attending to the doorway of the lagoons is a complete totally different story! Be ready for a day of river crossings, dune bashing and off-roading in a jeep, as that is the one solution to get round right here (it’s a part of the enjoyable!).

The primary cease in your tour will likely be at Lagoa Azul, which is known for its gorgeous blue waters. You’ll have a while to loosen up right here and dip into the refreshing waters. You’ll additionally get swarmed by little fish who will nibble at your toes (it’s ticklish, however don’t fear, they gained’t chunk).

The remainder of the morning will likely be spent exploring the close by dunes and taking refreshing till the jeeps come again to select you up at round 11:30 am to whisp you off to lunch. Lunch is at a neighborhood restaurant the place you’ll have the possibility to strive among the conventional dishes of Maranhão and take a well-needed break from the warmth.

After lunch (and fairly a little bit of time for digesting!), you’ll get again in your jeep and head to Lagoa Bonita. Lagoa Bonita is likely one of the largest and extra touristy lagoons within the park (there could possibly be properly over 100 jeeps there at sundown directly) BUT that is the perfect a part of the park to be at for sundown, which is why most excursions end right here within the afternoon. It’s a must-do on any Lençois Maranhenses itinerary. The dunes are countless, and most of the people are lazy to make it previous the primary two lagoons, so all you could do is stroll somewhat additional and get a dune all to your self.

Phrase of warning: don’t be too removed from the doorway to look at the sundown as you don’t need to be caught on the again “race to your jeep” rush as quickly because the solar goes down. The very best viewpoint is kind of actually on the high of the steps of the doorway anyway, so it’s the place to be to absorb the sundown. There aren’t many phrases that may describe the sundown from Lagoa Bonita (however the picture beneath can). The explanation this tour is unmissable is due to this! Watching the solar go down over Lagoa Bonita is likely one of the finest issues to do in Lençóis Maranheses and, in all probability, the most effective issues to do in Brazil.

Day 3: Boat Tour down Rio Preguiça & arrive in Atins

Time to kill two birds with one stone: attending to your subsequent vacation spot on this Lençois Maranhenses itinerary, the city of Atins, the place you’ll be staying the following couple of nights, and taking the boat tour down Rio Preguiça. You may take your baggage with you, the boat can maintain the suitcases!

There’s additionally an choice of packing a smaller backpack or suitcase to take with you for the following couple of nights and leaving your bigger suitcase in your lodge in case you plan to return to Barreirinhas (ask them if they provide this).

The boat tour takes round three hours in complete and can drop you off proper at your lodge in Atins. On tour, you’ll see among the mangroves and get to know somewhat bit extra concerning the river ecosystem, in addition to see among the animals that reside there. You’ll additionally cease within the two native fishing villages of Caburé and Mandacaru, the place you possibly can discover a bit, climb as much as the highest of the lighthouse, purchase some souvenirs or strive some açai!

The final cease on the boat tour will likely be Atins. Your lodge can have organised a 4×4 or quad to select you and your baggage up. There are not any roads in Atins, all the pieces is simply sand, so the one solution to get round is by quad or jeep.

Atins is kind of a small village, however there’s sufficient to maintain you busy for the following couple of days. There are just a few eating places, a few bars and some memento outlets. There’s additionally a fantastic seaside which is nice for swimming, sunbathing or enjoyable with a e-book. It’s additionally proper on the sting of the nationwide park so you possibly can discover {that a} bit too!

For the remainder of the afternoon, I might advocate both having a calming one and heading all the way down to the seaside to take a seat again on a chair and watch the kitesurfers till sundown or occurring a sundown horse using tour! Sempre Atins is the one firm that runs these excursions, and the value for the sundown tour is R$540 per particular person. I’ve included this journey in my finest issues to do in Lençóis Maranheses weblog (which you’ll be able to learn right here), because it’s actually EPIC.

The place to remain in Atins:

Day 4: Exploring Canto de Atins

If you happen to’re feeling energetic, e-book your self onto a mid-morning quad bike tour to discover the dunes on this facet of the park, or in case you really feel like hitting the water, you possibly can e-book your self onto a kite-surfing lesson. Vila Guara affords classes for newbies and likewise lends out gear for extra skilled kitesurfers.

Alternatively, if the previous couple of days of your Lençois Maranhenses itinerary have caught up with you, you might at all times take the morning to your self to have a late breakfast by the seaside and end up a sunlounger in one of many seaside cabanas to lie on for the remainder of the morning. Atins seaside actually looks like somewhat piece of paradise, and enjoyable on the seaside with an açai bowl in hand is likely one of the finest issues to do in Lençóis Maranheses in case you ask me.

After your chosen morning exercise, take a second to have some lunch; there are various seaside huts dotted alongside the bay and choose one which takes your fancy. Charme Seashore Bar is the fashionable place to be in case you’re searching for a little bit of a buzz, however all of the eating places down the seaside serve up recent seafood if that’s what you’re craving.

After lunch, it’s time to move again into the dunes to discover the lagoons additional into the Park, known as Canto de Atins. Be sure you e-book onto the tour that takes you to Lagoa do Gaveāo in addition to Lagoa das Sete Mulheres, these are the 2 finest lagoons to go to in Atins, and no Lençóis Maranheses journey information could be full with out it. This tour will take about 4hrs, and choose time will likely be between 2-2:30 pm.

You’ll spend the remainder of the afternoon swimming within the lagoons, enjoyable on the dune or simply taking within the views. You’ll discover this a part of the park is MUCH quieter than the primary tour in Barreirinhas to Lagoa Bonita and Lagoa Azul.

The tour information will drop you again in Atins simply after sundown, the place you possibly can take pleasure in a quiet dinner at one of many eating places on the town. If you happen to fancy it, there’s additionally a bar with reside music some nights. Test together with your lodge reception to see what’s taking place throughout your keep (that is often at Jungle restaurant bar, although!)

Eating places I’d advocate:

Day 5 & 6: In a single day keep in Santo Amaro

After seeing the dunes on each these sides of the park, you should be considering, “it may’t get higher than this?!” However, let me let you know, it may! Santo Amaro is the furthest village into the park, and it’s the place you’ll discover essentially the most stunning dunes, lagoons and seashores. This Lençóis Maranheses itinerary needed to embrace not less than at some point in Santo Amaro! (If you happen to’re staying for longer than seven days, I’d advocate a second evening right here!)

The one solution to Santo Amaro is by 4×4 from Atins. There are various tour corporations in Atins that provide a switch service to Santo Amaro. Ask your lodge to contact them and e-book this for you. The switch will take about an hour, and the value is often round R$120 per particular person.

When you arrive in Santo Amaro, examine into your lodge (I like to recommend Vila do Junco) and take a second to settle in and stroll by the village (it’s small and gained’t take lengthy).

Seize a chunk at one of many native restraunts for lunch, like Pousada Agua Doce or Pousada Cajueiro, earlier than setting off into the dunes to go to Lagoa da Gaivota and Lagoas das Andorrinhas. This can be a 3hr tour and, as at all times, takes you to wash in some stunning lagoons earlier than taking you to the highest of the tallest dune to absorb the sundown views. (I hope you’re not sick of this Lençóis Maranheses journey information but!)

For dinner, I like to recommend heading to Rancho das Dunas as they do a unbelievable seafood moqueca (a standard Brazilian dish).

Get an early evening, as the following day will likely be a protracted day.

On the second half of your in a single day keep in Santo Amaro, you’ll be doing fairly a little bit of trekking as you head to a particular (and remaining) lagoon: Lagoa Emendadas. This can be a half-day tour and requires a sure stage of health as you’ll be trekking 2 hours to get to the lagoon and two hours again.

The Lagoa Emendadas is a singular lagoon as a result of it’s one of many solely lagoons within the park that doesn’t dry up through the dry season, and because it’s one of many few excursions that require fairly a little bit of climbing, it’s additionally one of many much less touristy lagoons.

Be sure you take loads of water, sunscreen and bug repellent with you as there are not any amenities on the lagoon itself.

After your time on the Lagoa Emendadas, it’ll be time to begin making your approach again to the place you began: Barreirinhas!

Day 7: Sobrevoo over the Nationwide Park and again to São Luis

It wouldn’t be a whole Lençóis Maranheses itinerary with out the enduring sobrevoo (flight) over the Nationwide Park. That is one of the simplest ways to see the size of the dunes and lagoons, get some superb aerial pictures and actually end the journey on a excessive (fairly actually, on this case).

Two corporations function flights over Lençois Maranhenses: AVA Sobrevoos and Voar Fotografia Space. Nonetheless, the best solution to e-book is thru a tour firm, like G.I Join and Dawn Tour.

There are totally different routes you possibly can take for this flight, and I’ve written extra about them in this weblog put up that highlights the perfect issues to do in Lençóis Maranheses. Costs for the sobrevoo over the Nationwide Park begin at R$450 for a 30min flight and might take as much as 4 or 6 individuals relying on the aircraft’s measurement.

After your early morning sobrevoo, it’ll be time to take a look at of your lodge and make your approach again to São Luis on your subsequent flight (this can be a flight again residence or wherever your subsequent vacation spot in Brazil could also be!).

I hope you loved this Lençóis Maranhenses itinerary and that it impressed you to go to this actually distinctive and magical place! It’s an absolute must-visit and the most effective locations to go to in Brazil.

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Wanting past a 7-day Lençois Maranhenses itinerary? This weblog on the perfect issues to do in Lençóis Maranhenses offers you extra inspiration on what to do.