For those who’re in search of an incredible Brazilian journey vacation spot that’s off the crushed path, look no additional than Lençóis Maranhenses. This unimaginable space is positioned within the northeast of Brazil and is made up of white sand dunes and crystal-clear blue lagoons. It’s undoubtedly value including to your journey bucket checklist as this is likely one of the finest locations to go to in Brazil! On this weblog put up, we are going to present an in depth 7-day Lençóis Maranhenses itinerary. From the place to remain to one of the best issues to do in, this Lençóis Maranhenses journey information will enable you plan a unbelievable journey to this Brazilian gem!

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Lençóis Maranheses is a nationwide park positioned 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 really distinctive place you received’t discover wherever else on the planet!

This place will not be the simplest to get to, however I’ve highlighted easy methods 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 filled with water. Nonetheless, remember that that is additionally the busiest time of 12 months, so it’s finest to guide your lodging and excursions prematurely. It’s excessive on Brazilians’ and worldwide travellers’ bucket lists because it’s among the finest locations to go to in Brazil.

Earlier than studying on, listed here are some companies 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 may profit from this primary day of travelling; you’ll wish to profit from your time to discover among the finest 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, verify into your resort and chill out for the remainder of the day.

There are lots of inns and pousadas (guesthouses) to select from in Barreirinhas, however I like to recommend selecting a resort barely exterior of city and by the river as it is a a lot quieter space and lots of the pousadas have decks and pontoons you may chill out on whereas having fun with the river views.

For those who haven’t booked a tour on-line or with a tour company already, converse to reception and ask them to guide 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{e383127fb4c7e6ce7db096d9bca126c55b7305d1c68b845f34804d00e1411374} 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 employees 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 resort in a 4×4 in your tour round two of the largest lagoons within the Nationwide Park: Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Bonita. This tour, though essentially the most touristy, continues to be among the finest issues to do in Lençóis Maranheses. No Lençóis Maranhenses journey information can 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 completely 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 might be at Lagoa Azul, which is legendary for its beautiful blue waters. You’ll have a while to chill out 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 received’t chew).

The remainder of the morning might be spent exploring the close by dunes and taking refreshing till the jeeps come again to choose you up at round 11:30 am to whisp you off to lunch. Lunch is at an area restaurant the place you’ll have the prospect to attempt a few of 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 may very well be nicely over 100 jeeps there at sundown without delay) BUT that is one of the best 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 limitless, and most of the people are lazy to make it previous the primary two lagoons, so all that you must do is stroll just a little additional and get a dune all to your self.

Phrase of warning: don’t be too removed from the doorway to observe the sundown as you don’t wish to be caught on the again “race to your jeep” rush as quickly because the solar goes down. The best viewpoint is sort of actually on the prime of the steps of the doorway anyway, so it’s the place to be to soak up the sundown. There aren’t many phrases that may describe the sundown from Lagoa Bonita (however the picture under can). The rationale 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, among the finest 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 subsequent couple of nights, and taking the boat tour down Rio Preguiça. You’ll be able to take your baggage with you, the boat can maintain the suitcases!

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

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

The final cease on the boat tour might be Atins. Your resort can have organised a 4×4 or quad to choose you and your baggage up. There aren’t any roads in Atins, every part is simply sand, so the one solution to get round is by quad or jeep.

Atins is sort of a small village, however there’s sufficient to maintain you busy for the subsequent couple of days. There are a number of eating places, a few bars and some memento retailers. There’s additionally a wonderful seaside which is nice for swimming, sunbathing or enjoyable with a guide. It’s additionally proper on the sting of the nationwide park so you may discover {that a} bit too!

For the remainder of the afternoon, I might advocate both having a relaxing one and heading right down to the seaside to sit down again on a chair and watch the kitesurfers till sundown or happening a sundown horse driving 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 trip 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

For those who’re feeling energetic, guide your self onto a mid-morning quad bike tour to discover the dunes on this facet of the park, or in the event you really feel like hitting the water, you may guide your self onto a kite-surfing lesson. Vila Guara gives classes for inexperienced persons and in addition lends out tools for extra skilled kitesurfers.

Alternatively, if the previous couple of days of your Lençois Maranhenses itinerary have caught up with you, you might all the time 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 seems like just a little 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 the event 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 Beach Bar is the stylish place to be in the event you’re in search of 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 go again into the dunes to discover the lagoons additional into the Park, known as Canto de Atins. Be sure you guide 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 can be full with out it. This tour will take about 4hrs, and choose time might 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 may take pleasure in a quiet dinner at one of many eating places on the town. For those who fancy it, there’s additionally a bar with reside music some nights. Examine along with your resort reception to see what’s occurring 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 have to be pondering, “it could’t get higher than this?!” However, let me inform you, it could! Santo Amaro is the furthest village into the park, and it’s the place you’ll discover essentially the most lovely dunes, lagoons and seashores. This Lençóis Maranheses itinerary needed to embrace at the least at some point in Santo Amaro! (For those who’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 lots of tour firms in Atins that provide a switch service to Santo Amaro. Ask your resort to contact them and guide 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, verify into your resort (I like to recommend Vila do Junco) and take a second to settle in and stroll by means of the village (it’s small and received’t take lengthy).

Seize a chew 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 all the time, takes you to wash in some lovely lagoons earlier than taking you to the highest of the tallest dune to soak up 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 conventional Brazilian dish).

Get an early evening, as the subsequent day might be a protracted day.

On the second half of your in a single day keep in Santo Amaro, you can 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 throughout the dry season, and because it’s one of many few excursions that require fairly a little bit of mountain 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 aren’t any services on the lagoon itself.

After your time on the Lagoa Emendadas, it’ll be time to start out 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 dimensions of the dunes and lagoons, get some wonderful aerial pictures and actually end the journey on a excessive (fairly actually, on this case).

Two firms function flights over Lençois Maranhenses: AVA Sobrevoos and Voar Fotografia Space. Nonetheless, the simplest solution to guide is thru a tour firm, like G.I Connect and Sunrise Tour.

There are completely different routes you may take for this flight, and I’ve written extra about them on this weblog put up that highlights one of the best issues to do in Lençóis Maranheses. Costs for the sobrevoo over the Nationwide Park begin at R$450 for a 30min flight and may 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 resort and make your approach again to São Luis in your subsequent flight (this can be a flight again house 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 among the finest locations to go to in Brazil.

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Trying past a 7-day Lençois Maranhenses itinerary? This weblog on one of the best issues to do in Lençóis Maranhenses gives you extra inspiration on what to do.