SAND DUNES with LAGOONS
create WONDER!

Viva Brazil !!!
“What else I can see in this dynamic country apart from Christ the Redeemer, Copacabana Beach, the Amazon Rainforest, etc.?”, I asked myself while I was planning for the trip.

I was searching and searching, then the image of this place caught my eyes! I was completely drawn to it, I knew there’s no way I was going to miss it.

Lençóis Maranhenses is the place, it means the “Bedsheets of Maranhão”. Maranhão is a state in northeastern Brazil, comprises dense Amazon Rainforest and beaches along the Atlantic Ocean. It is far lesser known, and visited, than Brazil’s other big natural wonder, Iguaçú Falls, yet it is in many ways more dramatic and extraordinary.

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is a protected area, known for its vast desert landscape of tall, white sand dunes and seasonal rainwater lagoons, extending as far as the eye can see, is one of the most exhilarating masterpieces of nature. This scenic richness gives you the feeling of being in a film setting. Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Bonita are two of the largest lagoons.

The blazing sun hits the dunes which appear white during day and turn yellow when it sets. This national park stretches 70 km along the coast and up to 50 km inland. It’s a spectacular place, especially from May to September when rain filtered through the sand forms thousands of crystal-clear pools and lakes between the dunes. The park also includes beaches, mangroves and some interesting fauna, especially turtles and migratory birds.

How to Get There?

First of all, you have to fly to São Luís (SLZ), there are direct flights to São Luís from big cities in Brazil like São Paulo (GRU), Salvador (SSA), Brasilia (BSB) and Fortaleza (FOR).

Search for your flights in Skyscanner , or you can check the two main carriers website LATAM airlines & GOL Linhas Aéreas for comparing the price.

Once you land in São Luís (SLZ) airport, there are 3 ways to go to Barreirinhas, the gateway to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, with the distance of 248 km:

The most economical way is by bus, you can take a taxi to the Central Bus Station of São Luís and then catch a bus to Barreirinhas. The cost is around BRL 50 (USD 9) one-way, and the ride takes about 4-5 hours depending on stops. Daily departures available at 6:00 am, 8:45 am, 2:00 pm, 7:30 pm!

Bus ticket can be purchased through the website of the company Cisne Branco.

The most convenient way is by taxi, but this is also the most expensive way.
The best way giving you the total freedom is definitely renting a car, that’s always my favourite option, it takes about 3.5 to 4 hours. Approach the car rental at the airport and they will make arrangement for you. I paid about BRL 350 (USD 65) for 48 hours plus BRL 75 (USD 14) per day for full insurance coverage.

Driving on this route is very easy and straight forward, the road signs are very clear. Do be careful that there are many speed bumps and traffic cameras along the way. So please respect the speed limit at all times. I received a speed ticket charged to my credit card 3 months after my trip, paying around USD34. If I remember well, the overall speed limit is about 65km/h, and for such a long straight road, it’s a challenge to stay within the limit. I hope you don’t make my mistake! Ha!

I have to admit I love the experience of driving in different country, being able to stop anywhere and anytime I like when I see places worth exploring. It is by driving and it makes me a bigger & better explorer, seeing places normal tourist don’t.

Staying in Barreirinhas

The town has a decent selection of all standards of accommodation, and from here it is easy to organise almost every kind of tour into the park, plus it is on the Rio Preguiças, a river named after sloths, which is good for paddle-boarding, kayaking and exploring the mangrove swamps. There is a good selection of restaurants and a few bars.

I booked 2 nights at Gran Lençóis Flat Residence, paying USD 45 per night, the price includes a breakfast buffet. It is a very good deal, this “flat residence” is more like a hotel to me, with a front desk performing check-in & out, porter service, restaurant, gym, tour operator and a big swimming pool with a poolside bar. Going there without much expectations because of the title, we were so impressed by the facilities and the room cleanliness! On top of that, it is located right on the banks of the Preguiças River and surrounded by native vegetation in the region, it is very peaceful and relaxing spending your holiday there.

If you are planning of visiting Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, I’d highly recommend you staying at Gran Lençóis Flat Residence, click here to check out their website for more details.

Gran Lençóis Flat Residence, our accommodation in Barreirinhas.

In fact, there are many great accommodation choices in Barreirinhas, you can check it out. I always use booking.com.

The Tours

Since Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is a protected area and it’s closed to tourist vehicles, taking a tour is the only option to visit it. Spend at least 2 nights in Barreirinhas, because you’ll need one full day for the tour.

Most tours are half day tours and ranging from BRL 70-100 (USD 13-18) per person, including transportation and admission to the national park. These are the more cost-effective ways of visiting the dunes, and well worth doing. It’s perfect for experiencing the park and meeting travellers from all over Brazil and the world. The most popular ones are the tours to the Lagoa Azul (Blue Lagoon) and Lagoa Bonita (Pretty Lagoon). These are both great “intro” tours to the Lençóis, where you can see incredible dunes, lagoons, and get a taste of what the park has to offer.

The full day tour I took costs around BRL 150 (USD 27), the tour operator came to pick us up at our accommodation in the morning at around 0830 and brought us to the town centre, meeting the other travellers, we were reminded to buy our sunscreen, hat and water at the local store if we’d forgotten to bring.

We then hopped on the 4×4 jeep and headed to the national park.

The tour takes you on a 4×4 jeep with other travellers to go visit Lençóis Maranhenses National Park!

It’s an hour journey from the town centre to the park, not long after leaving the town we arrived at the Preguiças River where we had to get on the small ferry with the vehicle to cross over to the other side.

Along the way, we saw many small villages, kids playing happily at the yard, women washing the clothes in the basket, living a simple rustic life. They were giving us big welcoming smiles waving at us when they saw our jeep passing by their villages. They reminded me that happiness is very simple.

An hour later, we arrived at the big and tall sand dune, and there we are, at the incredible “Bedsheets of Maranhão”. The tour came with a guide, speaking in both Portuguese and English, he explained us about the place and the itinerary of the day, a wonderful guide.

Getting off the truck, with the support of the rope, we had to climb up the sand dune to start exploring the national park. Once I got up there, my jaw dropped! It is SPECTACULAR!!! I have never seen anything like this …

Drone shot of the magnificent Lençóis Maranhenses!

We were trekking on the sand dunes, from one, to another, and to another. The sand is so soft, I took off my shoe and walked barefoot enjoying the sensation, feeling so close to the nature. It feels exhilarating to be there, a place I would call paradise, seeing the endless sand dunes and blue lagoons. I was completely charged by the great energy of the nature.

The guide then led us to Lagoa Azul (Blue Lagoon) where we were given ample time to take a dip and relax. At 1300, we went back to our truck and being taken to a nearby village for a buffet lunch, which is included in our full day tour. The food was really good, there were char-grilled chicken, vegetables, fried rice, spaghetti, fruits, etc. I had good time over the lunch mingling with my tour mates.

Taking a dip in the lagoon with my new Brazilian friends!

The 2nd part of the tour after lunch is Lagoa Bonita (Pretty Lagoon), a big and beautiful lagoon as you can already tell by the name. It was there we had our complete freedom to explore around the lençóis and staying until sunset before returning to town centre.

It’s a long day, and we enjoyed every second of it.

Alternately, if you prefer an easy and more relaxing option, without having to travel by yourself to Barreirinhas after arriving at São Luís, you can stay at the city centre of São Luís, and then take a 3 days 2 nights tour package to visit Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. This is a very common & popular tour for most visitors in São Luís.

When is the Best Time to Go?

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is a year-round destination, but the lagoons are at their best in June, July and August after the raining season earlier in the year, making it perfect for visitors to enjoy the otherworldly beauty, and taking a swim. Apart from that, the sun is less intense, you will enjoy the dunes better.

What to Prepare?

Remember to pack your sunscreen and water, a hat and sunglasses. To trek on the sand dunes, you may wear trainers or Brazilian flip-flop, sometimes it is easier to walk barefoot. Do not forget your swimming costume. After trekking across the sand there is nothing quite like stripping off, careering down a dune and throwing yourself into the cool clear water. It really is an exceptional experience.

“ To walk into nature is to witness a thousand miracles. ”

– Mary Davis

Lençóis Maranhenses is no doubt a natural treasure of Brazil, its charm on such massive scale leaves you breathless. If you are planning a trip to Brazil, I do recommend you to include this gem to your itinerary. If you have been there before, do share with me what you think about the place and your travel tips.