There are many unique landscapes in South America, and you’ll find one of them on Brazil’s northern coastline—the beautiful dunes and lagoons of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. Still relatively undeveloped and full of hidden spots, visiting Lençóis Maranhenses captivates the imagination and adds both natural beauty and a lot of fun to any journey across this region of Brazil.

Situated in the state of Maranhão, northeastern Brazil, Lençóis Maranhenses National Park takes a little effort to get to but is well worth it. Once here you’ll be treated to a gentle pace of life, traditional Brazilian food, and a marvel of Mother Earth you won’t find anywhere else on the planet! 

We’ve put together our Insider’s Travel Guide to Lençóis Maranhenses, hoping to get your ideas going and include this extraordinary part of Brazil in your Brazilian journey.

• Where to go in Lençóis Maranhenses
• Things to see and do in Lençóis Maranhenses
• Where to stay in Lençóis Maranhenses
• How to get to Lençóis Maranhenses
• Best time to visit Lençóis Maranhenses
• Lençóis Maranhenses travel tips

Where to go in Lençóis Maranhenses

Swimming in the lagoons and watching sunset from the dunes are often the main draws for visiting Lençóis Maranhenses, though there is also plenty else to see and do while here. Some of the highlights around Lençóis Maranhenses include:

• Barreirinhas. Often an entry point when visiting Lençóis Maranhenses, especially if travelling up from São Luis Airport, the town has a mostly gentle riverside feel to it. Time here offers an interesting insight into daily life in Brazil away from the big tourist hubs and cities so we recommend more than simply passing through. 

• Atins. Full of traditional coastal charm, Atins makes for a lovely stop during your time around Lençóis Maranhenses for the local eateries and excellent beaches alike!

• Santo Amaro. Head to Santo Amaro for some of the best sand dunes and lagoons in Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. Situated within the park itself and larger than the nearby villages, Santo Amaro is a great base to see the region at its finest on unforgettable day trips. 
• Lagoa Esperança, Lagoa Bonita and Lagoa Azul. These are just some of the spectacular lagoons that are perfect for swimming and getting the true Lençóis Maranhenses experience. 
  

Things to see and do in Lençóis Maranhenses

Of course, the iconic desert lagoons are the main reason for visiting Lençóis Maranhenses. Beautiful to look at and better to swim in, these natural wonders are unique to this area of Brazil only.

You can enjoy the dunes on an ATV tour or 4×4 drive, doing pre-planned circuits between lagoons and taking in the scale of this vast national park as you go. Whether you want to swim in the lagoons or simply admire the views while sunbathing, time here is always time well spent. Some of the other things to do around Lençóis Maranhenses include:

• River tubing. The Formigas River is ideal for a leisurely afternoon of river tubing, a great activity to keep kids entertained if visiting Brazil as a family.

• Kitesurfing. There are several great places to kitesurf in Lençóis Maranhenses, with the beaches of Atins being among the best of them.     

• Lençóis Maranhenses overflight. Seeing the mesmeric dunes and lagoons of Lençóis Maranhenses from ground level is one thing, but taking a flight above the national park is quite another. Apart from their beauty and form, the size and sprawl of this spectacular region comes into life from the air.  

• Culture and cuisine. Though Brazil’s northeastern coastline has its share of busy cities and towns, it’s easy to find a traditional and more relaxed way of life here too. Whether a fishing village or row of waterfront beach shacks, enjoying local life—and cuisine—is a real highlight of Lençóis Maranhenses. 
• Rio Preguiça boat tour. Taking around 3 hours, cruising down the Rio Preguiça to Atins is a great—and relaxing—way to see the river ecosystem and wildlife. You’ll be amazed how verdant certain sections are, amidst an otherwise sandy backdrop of the Lençóis Maranhenses dunes.

Where to stay in Lençóis Maranhenses

Perfectly fitting with the rustic beach atmosphere found throughout the national park, places to stay in Lençóis Maranhenses are both charming and relatively low key. This is especially true if looking for seafront accommodation, where you’ll find a handful of laidback pousadas of thatched roofs, standalone casitas and personal service that suit the region well.  

Luxury hotels with enhanced facilities can be found in Atins. Good examples like Villa Pantai Boutique Hotel Atins, Villa Aty Lodge or Casa Canju (to name a few) call for lazy days spent by the pool or in a hammock on the beach, while savoring local cuisine.

There are also private villas and luxury lodges in Lençóis Maranhenses, so speak to an Atelier travel expert to find the place that that’s just right for you and your traveling group.

How to get to Lençóis Maranhenses

Lençóis Maranhenses’ relatively remote location is part of the appeal, it means pristine scenery and lower tourist numbers than you’d expect for such a unique natural attraction. Journeying to Brazil’s north, specifically the state of Maranhão, is a joy and your reward comes with yet another landscape that you’ll only find in Brazil.

The easiest way to get to Lençóis Maranhenses is by a domestic flight to Sao Luis, the capital of Maranhão State, followed by a scenic 4-5 hour drive to the city of Barreirinhas. From here, you can gain access to the park and some of the more upmarket accommodation in the area.

Off-the-beaten-path options include entering Lençóis Maranhenses via the small towns of Santa Amaro or Atins, and though you’ll see some of the park’s more remote areas—hotels and amenities are more limited here.

Best time to visit Lençóis Maranhenses

The best time to visit Lençóis Maranhenses is from May to September. During this time you’ll find the lagoons at their fullest and best for swimming, as well as clear skies and stunning panoramas as a result. Though this is high season and surrounding towns like Barreirinhas amd Atins are relatively busy, the national park itself is so vast it’s still possible to escape the crowds with an expert Atlier guide.

January to May/June is rainy season in this area of Brazil, so witnessing the landscape change from a formidable coastal desert (as you’ll find between October and December) to one of crystalline lagoons between the dunes can be fascinating, if timed just right.

Lençóis Maranhenses travel tips

As with any travel destination, there’s plenty to consider before packing your bags for Lençóis Maranhenses—from the climate to the landscape to getting around. We’ve put together our 7 top tips for travelling to Lençóis Maranhenses, helping make sure your visit is the best it can be:

• What to wear: First and foremost, pack for the beach. You’ll be on or near the coast during your time in Lençóis Maranhenses, whether day trips across the dunes or relaxing on a sandy bay. Essentials include sunscreen, a protective hat and sunglasses, quick-drying towels and light clothes like shorts and loose fitting t-shirts. We’d also recommend taking a small bag for day trips, and be sure to protect expensive camera equipment from the sand! 

• Internet: You’ll find good Wi-fi connections in the hotels around Lençóis Maranhenses, though less reliable in the beach bars and local food shacks. Phone signal can also be limited once deep in the park itself.

• Currency: The currency in Brazil is the Brazilian real. Be sure to have some cash with you too as remote sites and some beach bars, for example, do not have the facilities for card payments.

• Getting around: We would always recommend a private guide and car to get around Lençóis Maranhenses easily. Domestic flights land at Barreirinhas Airport, which is around one hour by road to the heart of the national park.

• Cuisine: Local cuisine rules supreme in Lençóis Maranhenses, with traditional flavors and dishes offering great insight into the coastal culture here. Of course, seafood is big on the menu and is often fresh from the sea. What’s more, private dining and seafront settings make dining in Lençóis Maranhenses even more special.

• Length of stay: Due to the time taken to access this area of Brazil, we recommend at least 3-5 days in Lençóis Maranhenses to explore the best of the national park and surrounding towns.  

Suggested itinerary for Lençóis Maranhenses

Every journey through South America with Atelier is handcrafted to suit you and your interests, using our personal connections and deep understanding of each destination along the way. To get your ideas going, one recommended itinerary for Lençóis Maranhenses includes:

Day 1:

Land in Sao Luis and transfer to Barreirinhas with an Atelier private guide. Once there, either check into your hotel and enjoy an evening at leisure or explore the city’s Old Town, rounded off with a sunset boat tour along the Preguiças River.

Day 2:

On your first full day, visit the spectacular Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Bonita for some of the best dunes and lagoons in Lençóis Maranhenses, taking time to enjoy the waters and BBQ lunch amongst the dunes. 

Day 3:

With so much coastline to explore, a boat tour down the Preguiças River is highly recommended, stopping at Vassouras, the Mandacaru Lighthouse, and on to Atins. Along the way, enjoy wildlife spotting and even stops for kitesurfing or simply unwinding on the beach.

Day 4:

After overnighting in Atina, the remote area of Santo Amaro is a great option for day 4 in Lençóis Maranhenses. You can visit Lagoas das Andorinhas and Betania away from the crowds, and enjoy local hospitality in this area too.

Day 5: 

Five days in Lençóis Maranhenses is an ideal timeframe, giving you a relaxed pace of travel and chance to see the different sides of this wonderous national park. On your final day, we recommend unwinding around laidback Santo Amaro, before a private transfer back to Sao Luis.

No matter what your interests or group size, speak to the South America travel specialists at Atelier and they will craft your dream tailormade tour to Brazil and beyond.