Imagine endless white sand dunes melting into crystal-clear lagoons, a dark river winding through lush greenery, and a landscape that shifts with the seasons.
That’s Lençóis Maranhenses National Park for you.
This place is like something out of a sci-fi movie, with its otherworldly scenery changing as rain fills the lagoons and flowers pop up in the shallow pools.
Lençóis is one of Brazil’s best-kept secrets. Nestled in the northeast, it’s off the beaten path, which means it’s stayed beautifully untouched.
The nearest airport is São Luís, though many travelers get here from Jericoacoara. Check out this 9-day itinerary for these two incredible spots.
Nearby towns like Barreirinhas and Santo Amaro are your gateways to the park. There’s also a tiny village inside the park called Atins. For where to stay and hotel info, click here.
Tours and Activities in Lençóis Maranhenses National Park
Lençóis Maranhenses offers a range of day trips, half-day tours, treks, and ATV rides.
The park is split into Grande Lençóis (Big Lençóis) and Pequenos Lençóis (Small Lençóis). The Grande part is vast, and tours here are usually done in a safari vehicle. The Pequenos section is where you’ll find self-driven ATV tours. The views are similar: dunes and lagoons.
Self-Driven ATV Tour in Pequenos Lençóis:
This tour is one of the highlights, offering the chance to drive an ATV through Pequenos Lençóis.
Each ATV can accommodate 2 people, making it ideal to have a buddy so you can switch places and enjoy the view from the back seat.
The dunes here are more golden and easier to drive on, with lagoons that are more transparent rather than turquoise. The area is less vast compared to Grande Lençóis, making it somewhat easier to navigate.
Dune Tours Around Grande Lençóis:
Grande Lençóis is the larger part of the park, known for its extensive, whiter dunes and bigger lagoons. Tours here are usually done in safari vehicles, where you’ll ride in the backbenchers.
Beware of agencies offering ATV tours with a driver in Grande Lençóis—this can be exhausting and monotonous. The park covers hundreds of thousands of acres, and the distances between points of interest are significant. Spending hours on an ATV can become tiring and unenjoyable.
We recommend sticking with the safari vehicle tours for this section.
Lagoa Azul Half-Day Tour:
This tour takes you to three beautiful lagoons, with Lagoa Azul being the highlight. The car will transport you to the first lagoon, and from there, it’s a short 5-10 minute walk to each lagoon. The walk is easy, and you can dip your feet in the nearest lagoon if it’s too hot.
Details: Departure from Barreirinhas. The morning tour leaves around 9-10 am, and the afternoon tour departs around 2-3 pm from your hotel.
Price: R$85-100
Difficulty: Easy, suitable for all ages. For those with knee problems, take it easy.
Lagoa Bonita Half-Day Tour:
Lagoa Bonita, located at the base of a 50-meter-high sand dune, is ideal for sunset views. We missed this tour due to cloudy weather, but it’s highly recommended if conditions are good.
Details: Departure from Barreirinhas. The morning tour leaves around 9-10 am, and the afternoon tour departs around 2-3 pm, returning after sunset.
Price: R$85-100
Difficulty: Easy, suitable for all ages. Climbing up the dune may be challenging for those with knee issues.
Flight Over Lençóis Maranhenses (Sobrevoo):
A 30-minute flight over Lençóis Maranhenses is a breathtaking experience, offering a bird’s-eye view of the park’s stunning landscapes. The flight is in a small plane that fits up to 4 people, including the pilot. There are several flight routes:
- First Route: Focuses on dunes and lagoons.
- Second Route: Includes dunes, lagoons, the meeting point of the river, and forest.
We opted for the second route, which covered everything and was fantastic. The flight was smooth despite my motion sickness, and the view was well worth the cost. If you’re sensitive to motion, be prepared.
Agencies:
- Voar Fotografia Area: R$380 +55 98 8264-2945 / +55 98 9101-4672
- AvaTurismo: R$400 +55 98 8287-1854
Details: Pick-up at your hotel. Flights are weather-dependent. Duration: 30 minutes.
Price: R$350-400 per person (minimum of 2 people). The plane accommodates 3 people.
Day Tour on the Preguiças River:
This tour takes you by boat along the Preguiças River with stops at various points of interest. You’ll visit Vassouras to see monkeys, Mandacaru for the Preguiças Lighthouse, and the beach at Caburé.
Lunch is included, and you can rent an ATV to explore the area.
Details: Pick-up at your hotel. Departs around 8:00 am and returns before sunset.
Price: R$80 for the tour. ATV rental: R$50 (fits 2 people).
Trekking Through Lençóis Maranhenses National Park:
For an immersive experience, consider a 3-4 day trek through the park. This adventure allows you to explore lagoons, wildlife, and local villages on foot.
Weather in Lençóis – When to Go?
Weather is key here since it changes the whole vibe of the park. During the rainy season, lagoons fill up, and in the dry season, shallow ponds become home to blooming flowers.
Rainy Season: January/February to May
Dry Season: May to December
Best Time to Visit Lençóis Maranhenses
April to September is the sweet spot. July and August are peak season, but September kicks off the kitesurfing season. These months offer full lagoons and less rain, so you can make the most of your visit.
January brings heavy rains, which can make access tricky, even though the lagoons are full.
We visited in March. The lagoons were stunning, but the rain made some roads a bit muddy. We got stuck once and had a few cloudy days, but it didn’t ruin the trip.
How to Get to Lençóis Maranhenses
Getting to Lençóis is a bit of a mission and can be pricey, thanks to the domestic flight you’ll need. But its remote location helps keep it pristine and not overrun with tourists.
The closest airport is São Luís, about a 4-hour drive from the park. The ride costs around R$70 in a comfy van with a food stop.
Many visitors combine a trip to Lençóis with Jericoacoara, about 7-8 hours away. The ride from Jeri costs R$200-250 per person in a shared jeep. For the best way to pair up Lençóis and Jericoacoara, check out this perfect 9-day itinerary.
Jericoacoara
Recommended Route: Fly to Fortaleza → Transfer to Jericoacoara (5 hours) → Stay in Jericoacoara → Transfer to Lençóis (8 hours to Barreirinhas) → Stay in Barreirinhas → Transfer to São Luís (4 hours) → Fly from São Luís. Or vice versa.
Important Tip: Avoid night transfers. While it might save on accommodation costs and let you sleep during the ride, it’s not the safest option. Roads can be dark, rainy, and hazardous. Drivers often go long stretches without proper rest, which can be risky.
Prices and Agencies:
Jeri to Lençóis: R$200-250
Unitur Vigens +55 88 9746-4536
Lençóis to São Luís: R$70
Faiker +55 98 8884-6587
Where to Stay in Lençóis Maranhenses
Barreirinhas and Santo Amaro are the two main towns near the park. Barreirinhas is larger with better tourist infrastructure, while Santo Amaro is quieter and less developed.
You could also stay in Atins, a small village inside the park that’s popular with kite surfers. It’s a bit of a throwback with limited internet and cell reception. Water and power can be scarce, but if you’re looking to truly unplug, Atins is a little slice of paradise.
We stayed at Porto Preguiças Resort in Barreirinhas, which turned out to be the perfect choice. Check out more about this hotel here.
Hotels around Lençóis:
Porto Preguiças Resort, Barreirinhas:
This place was a great pick since the town itself doesn’t have much going on, and the weather can be hit or miss. The resort is right by the Rio Preguiças, and the setting is absolutely charming. Rooms are spacious wooden cabanas with hammocks at the entrance.
Expect some insects in the showers and maybe some frogs, lizards, or butterflies in the area. The rooms are spread out, so there’s no wifi in them—only at the reception.
The highlight here is definitely the pool area. There’s a lagoon pool with sand at the bottom, a regular pool (a bit boring, honestly), and a black pool with river water (not really our thing). We spent most of our time at the lagoon pool and loved it. If it rains, there’s also a games area and a basic gym. And yes, there are free ceramic classes!
Don’t miss the fantastic breakfast—think endless fruit, natural juices, bread, pastries, and cakes. While vegan options are a bit limited, I brought along an artichoke dip that came in handy. After breakfast, the hotel’s restaurant is open until evening.
I visited Lençóis with my sister, who was backpacking through South America. We spent 4 nights and 3 days at the Porto Preguiças Resort. Here’s how our trip and costs broke down:
Day 1: Leaving Jericoacoara and Arriving at Barreirinhas
Our transfer from Jericoacoara left at noon, and we arrived at the hotel around 8 pm. During the ride, we stopped for lunch and to get cash since there’s no ATM in Jericoacoara. The transfer cost was R$210 each for six people, and we had to cover our luggage to avoid any mishaps.
We got to the resort and spent the evening relaxing in the lobby before calling it a night.
Day 2: Relaxation Time by the Pool
We woke up early to enjoy the hotel’s amazing breakfast at Porto Preguiças Resort. The weather was rainy, so we took the day to relax after our buggy trip and van ride. We participated in a free ceramic “class” offered by the hotel and enjoyed the pools when the rain stopped.
In the evening, we took a taxi to town and had an Italian dinner at La Terrazza Pizzaria. While the vegan options were limited, we enjoyed a Pizza Marinara and some excellent pesto pasta.
Day 3: Blue Lagoon
We took a half-day tour to Lagoa Azul and visited three beautiful lagoons. The only hiccup was on the way back when our safari car got stuck in a muddy “lake.” We ended up with dirty water inside the car, which was quite unpleasant. Despite this, the tour was amazing, and we loved the lagoons.
We spent the rest of the day at the pool and had a great açaí bowl at Eco Açaí in town that evening.
Day 4: Day Tour Going Bad
Feeling better, we decided to go on an ATV ride in Pequenos Lençóis. Unfortunately, we ended up on a customized tour in Grande Lençóis, where we didn’t get to drive the ATV ourselves and were packed with other passengers. It turned into a nightmare.
We paid R$400 for two people and endured hours of uncomfortable riding on the ATV. We swam in one lagoon and had lunch in the village of Atins, but the guide failed to check the timing for the river-sea encounter, and the waterfall visit was also missed.
The ride back was dreadful. We encountered dangerous conditions, including black puddles and a stench. We were exhausted by the time we got back to the hotel around 7 pm, and my back and neck were sore.
Day 5: Flight Over the Park and Check-Out
We got up early and decided to take a 30-minute flight over the park after consulting with the flight agency. It was the best way to end our trip, offering an unforgettable view of the stunning landscape.
We checked out and took a transfer van to São Luís, about a 4-hour drive away, which cost R$70 per person. We spent the night in São Luís as our flight the next day was at 6 am.
How Much Does It Cost to Visit Lençóis Maranhenses
The main expense is the domestic flight, but other than that, pousadas and food are much more affordable in this area.
Cost Breakdown (per person):
- Transfer Jericoacoara-Barreirinhas: R$210
- Accommodation (4 nights): R$600
- Food: R$400
- Transfer São Luís airport: R$70
- Flight São Luís-Manaus: R$500
Total Costs for 3 Days, 4 Nights: R$1800 per person
Final Thoughts
Visiting Lençóis Maranhenses is a bit of a splurge, mainly due to the flight costs. However, the stunning scenery, unique experiences, and the tranquil escape make it worth every penny. Plan ahead, and you’ll be rewarded with one of Brazil’s most breathtaking landscapes.
