Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is a unique and unforgettable experience. The National Park was created in 1981 to preserve a rare geological phenomenon: a desert full of white sand dunes, some of them reaching over 40 metres in height, along the banks of the Atlantic Ocean.

The park covers around 50 kilometres of the mainland and more than 70 kilometres of deserted beaches. Many natural lagoons are formed in the middle of the sand mountains, thanks to the January to July rainfall, and characterised by crystalline waters in tones of blue and green. Climbing any dune reveals stunning and unique scenery from every angle, right in the middle of the desert.

Spread across 155 thousand hectares, the park is accessed via Barreirinhas to the East, and Santo Amaro does Maranhão to the West. The best time to visit is between March and September when the lagoons are replenished by rainfall. As there are no access roads, it is essential to always make the trip accompanied by a local guide.

Barreirinhas

Barreirinhas is the main base for visiting the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park and is where the most important and famous tours begin: tours to the Lagoa Azul and to the Lagoa Bonita. Located on the edges of the Preguiças River, the city is accessible from São Luís and offers good tourist infrastructure and diverse accommodation options such as hotels, inns and eco-resorts.

Arriving: by land, from São Luís, take the BR 135 to Bacabeira. Just after that, take the BR 401 until Rosário and then the MA 110. Take the MA 226 and, straight away, the MA 225, until arriving in the city. The journey takes 3 hours by car. Buses leave daily from São Luís station.

Useful information:

Access to the park is restricted to 4x4 vehicles only. Access can be arranged through agencies in the city, which transport visitors to the entrance. From there you can take the tour, which generally takes place in the afternoon when the sun is low. The tour can only be done on foot, which requires a reasonable level of physical fitness, and it is essential to use sunscreen, wear light clothing, and maintain your hydration to stay safe and healthy.

Lagoa Azul: The most visited lagoon in the National Park is also the easiest to access, due to its proximity to the stopping point for transport vehicles. Besides bathing in the refreshing, sweet and crystal-clear water, visitors can see the unusual vegetation that forms at the bottom of the lagoon. There is also a unique opportunity to witness the breathtaking sunset from the top of the dunes.

Lagoa Bonita: Another frequently visited lagoon, despite it being further from Barreirinhas and less accessible, requires a long journey. To see Lagoa Bonita, it is necessary to cross the Preguiças River by ferry, ride a jeep along a sand trail for two hours and, finally, climb a 40 metres high sand dune. The beautiful landscape formed by the dunes gives a sense of tranquillity and fulfilment, which complements the sense of achievement from having made it to the lagoon.

Lagoa do Buriti Amarelo: Showing something a little bit different, the colour of this lagoon’s waters is influenced by its proximity to vegetation formed by buriti.  The water here is of a reddish tone, making it a real contrast to other lagoons’ blue and green waters in the area.

Rio Preguiças: Meandering clean waters accompany the Lençóis Maranhenses river along its path until it meets the sea. An unmissable trip, made by speedboat, reveals dunes, riparian vegetation, mangroves with aerial roots, and streams on the river’s edges. It’s possible to stop in the villages of Vassouras and Caburé, both on the edge of the Pequenos Lençóis. The tour also includes a trip to the river mouth, near Atins, and a stop in the village of Mandacaru, where you can see the famous Preguiças lighthouse, which provides a 360° view of the local. Be sure to take lots of photos along the river, capturing the beautiful and varied landscape as you pass.

Praia de Ponta do Mangue: One of the prettiest beaches of the Lençóis Maranhenses, this is also a typical community for the region, inhabited by fishermen. Access is by boat from Barreirinhas.

Praia de Vassouras: Vassouras is located on the banks of Rio Preguiças, where there is an area of environmental protection (APA) in Pequenos Lençóis. During flood season it is possible to visit the lagoons that form next to the village. There is a small opportunity to purchase handicrafts, food and drink here too.

Praia de Caburé: A peninsula between the river and the sea, this retreat is where visitors can bathe in the ocean and, apparently, turn their body’s salts sweet. Practically deserted, it has hostels on the shores of the Preguiças River, and visitors can appreciate a marvellous starry sky, thanks to the fact that the beach has no electric energy - the generator is turned off at 10 pm.

Praia de Atins: Where the Preguiças River ends, right next to the village, are the beautiful waterfalls of Praia de Atins, which originate in the seaside rocks during the rainy season.