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Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

Otherworldly dunes with turquoise lagoons

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park in Brazil features vast white sand dunes that stretch toward the Atlantic Ocean. The landscape includes shallow lagoons filled with clear water, creating a striking contrast against the golden hills. This area supports unique plant and animal life adapted to its seasonal climate. Visitors can explore by foot or on small boats during dry months when paths form between lagoons. Weather patterns shape the terrain throughout the year, influencing access and activities available for travelers seeking natural diversity in Brazil’s coastal region.

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National Park in Brazil

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$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 5.2

General Safety:	7
Health & medical:	3
Accessibility:	2
Tap water:	3

Read details

2/5

English proficiency is limited in the Lençóis Maranhenses region. Tour guides at major attractions may speak basic English, but in smaller communities and among service providers, Portuguese dominates. Having a translation app or basic Portuguese phrases

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Lençóis Maranhenses National Park Summary

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World-class for unique desert lagoons. Walk white sand dunes, swim in seasonal freshwater pools and photograph surreal landscapes.

Place score

6.9

Best at:

Natural sites

Lakes

Hiking

Wildlife

Deserts

Personal score

Suited for

👶 4

Families

🧓 3

Seniors

❤️ 7

Couples

♻️ 7

Sustainability

Brazil – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	127 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type C , Type N Type C: Type N: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Brazilian Real (BRL) £1 ≈ R$7.11
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cashless payment is widely accepted in urban areas but less so in remote regions. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not customary in Brazil. Restaurants often include a 10% service charge. Additional tips are optional.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally allowed in Brazil, and it is common in social settings.
Public smoking:	Smoking is banned in enclosed public spaces, with designated outdoor areas.

Carnival (February/March)	Expect parades and heavy crowds.
Independence Day (September)	National celebrations occur.
Christmas (December)	Family gatherings and public celebrations are common.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 190 (Police), 192 (Ambulance), 193 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	99, Uber, Cabify
Other:	Brazil is known for its natural beauty, vibrant culture, and Carnival celebrations. Avoid travelling alone in remote areas for safety.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil

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Jan

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Feb

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Mar

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Apr

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May

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Jun

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Jul

🔥

Aug

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Sep

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Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	June - Sep.
Shoulder season:	May, Oct., Dec.
Crowdedness:	5 (Moderate tourist numbers)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Lagoons form after the rains: swimmable roughly June to September, mostly dry by November

Kitesurfing winds are strongest July to January on the coast near Atins and Barreirinhas

Don't miss

💧 Swim in the turquoise lagoons after a hot dune trek
🚙 Take a thrilling 4x4 ride across the vast dunes
🌅 Watch the sunrise reflect on the mesmerizing lagoons
🗺️ Join a guided tour exploring hidden lagoons and oases
🏄‍♂️ Sandboard down the rolling dunes at dawn or dusk

You've been here?

Why travel to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park?

Traveling to Lençóis Maranhenses offers an opportunity to witness one of nature's most extraordinary phenomena – a desert that isn't actually a desert, where seasonal rains transform endless white sand dunes into a mesmerizing patchwork of blue lagoons. The stark contrast between pristine white sand and vibrant blue water creates an otherworldly landscape that feels almost alien, providing photographers and nature enthusiasts with scenes that seem impossible yet are entirely natural. Swimming in these warm, fresh lagoons surrounded by nothing but sand dunes is an experience that can't be replicated anywhere else on Earth. What makes this place truly special is its ephemeral nature – the lagoons only exist for a few months each year after the rainy season (typically May through September), gradually shrinking and disappearing as the dry season progresses. This creates a constantly changing landscape where no two visits are ever the same. Beyond the famous dunes, the park encompasses diverse ecosystems including mangroves, restinga (coastal vegetation) and oases where traditional communities have adapted to this unique environment for generations, offering cultural encounters alongside natural wonders.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Lagoa Azul
2 Laguna Bonita
3 Rio Preguiças
4 Lagoa da esmeralda
5 Green Village Pousada Atins

🎡Places for activities

1 Barreirinhas
2 Queimada dos Britos
3 Santo Amaro do Maranhão
4 Baixa Grande
5 Caburé
6 Praia do Atins

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Lagoa do Peixe

🎈Events

Lagoon Formation Season (May-June)
Local Fishing Festivals
São João Celebrations (June)
Maranhão Cultural Festivals
Bumba Meu Boi (Folk Festival)
Holy Week Celebrations
New Year's Beach Celebrations
Carnaval
Independence Day Festivities
Local Harvest Celebrations

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Knowledge before you go

Book a 4x4 tour. Park routes unmarked, guides mandatory for access.
Visit June to August when seasonal lagoons fill with crystal-clear rainwater after rainy season.
Bring swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, hat; expect hot days and sandy walks between dunes.
Stay in gateway town Barreirinhas for easy tours; trek primitive zone only with overnight guide.

How to travel to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

The main gateway to Lençóis Maranhenses is through the town of Barreirinhas, accessible by bus or van from São Luís (the capital of Maranhão state) in about 4 hours. São Luís has an international airport with connections to major Brazilian cities. Alternative entry points include Santo Amaro do Maranhão and Atins. From Jericoacoara, it's possible to arrange 4x4 transport directly to Barreirinhas (7 hours). From Fortaleza, travelers can reach either Paulino Neves or Barreirinhas by bus and local transport.

Access summary

From São Luís Airport (SLZ): Bus or minivan to Barreirinhas, about 4 hours.
From Barreirinhas: 4x4 tours into dunes and lagoons, roughly 1 hour.
From Parnaíba or Jericoacoara: Long overland transfers via Barreirinhas, typically 5–7 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

Accommodation options vary depending on which gateway town you choose. Barreirinhas offers the widest selection, from basic guesthouses to comfortable hotels catering to tourists. Atins and Santo Amaro provide more rustic, authentic experiences with fewer amenities-Atins only recently received reliable electricity. Within the park itself, overnight stays are only possible in the oasis communities during multi-day treks. During peak season (June-August), accommodations fill quickly, so advance booking is recommended.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Porto Preguicas Resort

8.9

Pousada Vista do Rio

8.7

Hotel - Gran Lencois Flat OFICIAL

Hotel Pousada Paraiso das Aguas

Urra Village Pousada Atins

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

Getting around Lençóis Maranhenses requires planning as motor vehicles are prohibited inside the park itself. Most visitors explore the park on foot, often with local guides who know the terrain. For accessing different parts of the park's perimeter, 4x4 vehicles are essential due to the sandy terrain. Specially adapted trucks carry tourists from gateway towns like Barreirinhas to park entrances. For the Primitive Zone (including the oases), only hiking is permitted and a local guide is mandatory.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-62 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 62% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-6 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to BRL) is 6% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Sao Jose de Ribamar, Brazil - 104 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£28	£76	£201
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£11	£45	£113
🍝 Food per day	£14	£27	£77
🚕 Transportation per day	£3	£4	£12

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£11
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£4.50
🍟 Fast food combo	£5.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£4.70
☕ Cappuccino	£1.90
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£1.40

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.65
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£7
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.80

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£4.90
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£37
🤧 Cold medication	£3.20
💇 Basic haircut	£5.50

Safety information overview

General safety

Lençóis Maranhenses is generally safe regarding crime, but the natural environment presents risks. It's easy to get lost in the dune fields with no cell coverage in many areas. Hiring a local guide is mandatory for remote areas. Never attempt to cross the park alone as some areas may go days without seeing other people.

Health & Medical

Medical facilities are extremely limited within the park and basic in gateway towns. Serious conditions would require evacuation to São Luís. Dehydration and sun exposure are common health risks. Bring necessary medications and a basic first aid kit, especially for multi-day treks.

Accessibility

Lençóis Maranhenses presents significant challenges for those with mobility limitations. Most attractions require walking on soft sand and climbing dunes. Some areas like Lagoa da Preguiça can be accessed by traditional vehicles for visitors with mobility difficulties, but only with prior authorization from park administration.

Tap water

Tap water is not recommended for drinking. Bottled water is available in gateway towns but must be carried in sufficient quantities when exploring the park. During hikes, especially multi-day treks, water purification methods may be necessary as sources are limited.