Adventure and adrenaline are also found here!

Maranhão is a unique and fascinating destination, with cinematic beauty, rich biodiversity, and villages who enjoy the region’s beautiful landscape right in their backyard. Entailing eco-tourism in the purest form, its plateaus, rivers, waterfalls, deserts and extensive coastline make the State an incomparable destination for those seeking nature, beauty and adventure.

From trekking over the dunes of Lençóis Maranhenses Park to canyoning and abseiling in the Chapada das Mesas, through to surfing the tide of the Mearim River, Maranhão’s natural beauty has plenty to appeal to those who like a little adrenaline in their travels.

Santo Amaro do Maranhão

In Santo Amaro do Maranhão, the superlative nature of Lençóis Maranhenses becomes even more intense, with bigger lagoons and even taller dunes. Access to the city requires an adventurous spirit, taking 2.5 hours of travel by 4x4.

Despite the long trip, from the city, an added bonus is being able to get to the National Park’s lagoons by foot. Due to its restricted road access, and the fact that it is currently outside the remit of big travel agencies, this location is perfect for travellers who want the privilege of visiting a destination that only a few people know about.

Arriving: by land, from São Luís, take the BR 135 to Bacabeira. Straight after, take the BR 402, until the village of Sangue, where tourist cars can remain parked. From that point, the adventure begins - the next 40 kilometres of the journey is made by traction car.

Useful information:

Trips should always be made with local guides and agencies, as there is no mobile phone reception inside the park, and it is easy to get lost among the dunes. Good physical preparation is necessary and extremely important, including sunscreen, light clothing and constant hydration.

Lagoa da Gaivota: Nearer to Santo Amaro, the park’s biggest lagoon never dries up, even outside the rainy season. "Surfing" on the dunes is the perfect way to have fun whilst awaiting the majestic sunset.

Lagoa das Emendadas: When there is a particularly high volume of rain, the junction of two lagoons becomes the Lagoa das Emendadas, which can sometimes end up even more extensive than the Lagoa da Gaivota, depending on how much rain has fallen. Further away from civilisation and, as a result, completely deserted, it is one of the most paradisiacal locations in the Park.