Along the way....

Jewels in the Brazilian crown, those infinite sand dunes scattered with crystal clear water lagoons, at some 6 miles from São Luís, are located in the National Park of Lençóis-Marahenses ("sheet of the Maranhão" in Portuguese).
These sheets consist of a desert about 63 mile long and 32 mile wide, alongside the Atlantic to the North, and surrounded by tropical forests to the South. Seen from the sky, the scenery is of a rare beauty: the dunes are molded by the wind and the trapped tropical rains have created immense pools of fresh, green and blue waters.

An unusual desert, exceptional treks

Superb, and unique, this place will intensely move you. Just think about it… crossing a desert of sand, similar to the Sahara, and swimming in unlikely natural pools…and all this in Brazil!
A walk in the heart of this wilderness will move you in a way you have never felt before.
Under an unmerciful sun and in an environment that reminds you of the Sahara, taking a swim at every possible moment and discovering unlikely villages your perseverance will be wholeheartedly rewarded.

It is superb and completely unique and should be classified among the Top 10 places to explore in South American on the same level as Iguaçu Falls, the Salar de Uyuni, the Argentinean Perito Moreno or even Machu Picchu in Peru.

Daily program

Option day 0: RIO – Upon arrival, transfer to São Luis and night in a hotel, check with us.

Day 1: SÃO LUIS – LENÇÓIS MARANHENSES - BARREIRINHAS – SUCURIÚ

Departure from the hotel / the pousada at 8 a.m. for São Luis regional airport.
Flight over the Lençóis (Cessna type plane – max 5/6 per – 45-minute flight).
After the emotion of the take-off the pilot guides its plane on sight to an altitude of about 1300 meters above numerous water ways formed by the ocean entering the mangrove.
At the end of the flight we reach the Lençóis Maranhenses and the plane descends to 500 meters of altitude to allow us to better appreciate the relief and the colors of this geological phenomena unique in the world. As far as the eye can see, the desert offers us a unique vision of perfect dunes ornate with pools of clear water, sometimes green, sometimes blue. We land on the landing strip of the village of Barreirinhas, quiet town washed by the waters of rio Preguiças.
We take the time to visit the village, buy some fruits for our trek and to have lunch before leaving in our 4Wd for a 2 ½-hour drive.
The driver knows the way and takes us over rutted sandy tracks in the milieu of vegetation. Palmiers buriti, carnaúba, jatobá and Cajú trees abound in the area.
Right away, we smell the parfume of adventure… We arrive early afternoon in Sucurujú, where we are sheltered in buriti palm roof house of Dona Jardia and her family.
All included (either from the start in 4WD or from after lunch). Night in hammocks in the house of a local person (basic comfort).

Note 1: if the departure is a Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday, then the trip from São Luis to Barreirinhas will be done in regular minibus (departure at 5 a.m.), the flight over Lençóis will start from Barreirinhas.

Note 2: The lagunas are filled from May to November. Between the month of December and the month of April, depending on precipitations, they can be more or less dry. This period corresponds to the rainy season, characterized by short heavy showers.

Economical option: without the flight, considerably cheaper, check with us.

Day 2: SUCURIÚ – BAIXA GRANDE

Trek – 14 km – 4 to 5-hour of actual walking – moderate difficulty
Departure at 5 a.m. to hike while it is still cool and reach our destination before noon.
A few locals still travel throught he desert on foot. Twice a month, they go to the ocean, work there a few days, then return to the village with the product of fishing.
If we are lucky, we may encounter one of these caravans on the way or near a village.
We progress through scenery reminescing of the Sahara, with the only difference being, the presence of magnificent fresh water lagunas awaiting us for as many dives as we wish (some reach 1 kilometer in length and 2 meters in depth).
They offer the possibility of numerous cooling and fun rests.
We follow our hike during a few hours to reach Baixa Grande, an oasis in the milieu of the desert: a river, fruit trees, coconut trees, a few fishermen’s huts. We are welcome by Dona Dete and Sr Moici opening for us the doors of their modest home.
All included. Night in hammock in the home of a local person (basic comfort).

Day 3: BAIXA GRANDE – ATINS - CABURÉ

Trek – 24 km – 7 to 8-hour of actual walking – difficult
One more time we start at around 4 a.m. After a few hours, we progress under a scorching sun, in sand at times hard at times soft, eating the dunes offering us their moderate incline.
We head East still a little sleepy, the sun rises in front of our eyes, as if to indicate the way.
Now we understand better the name of “Lençóis Maranhenses” (litterally “the sheets of Maranhão”) given to the Natural Park: against the ocean, this endless succession of irregular dunes gives the impression of an immense wrinkled fabric.
We stop under the shelter of a dune on the shores of a laguna to recover, and eat. The clear water of the lagunas and the heat invite us to a colling bath. After we keep walking this time following the coastline (the ocean is never very far) until we reah the village of Canto do Atins marking the end of the Lençóis.
From there we board a 4WD (20-minutes) or horses (1h20) to reach the village of Atins.
Finally, in a “voadeira”–a small local motorboat- we enter minuscule and picturesque village of Caburé.
The river runs along one side of the village while, on the other side of the dune, the ocean spreads over kilometers of deserted beaches. Open program of a few hours allowing for bathing (sweet, brackish or salted water?), enjoying a nap in a hammock or taking a hike in the sand dunes.
Lunch included. Dinner open. Night in pousada.

Option: continue towards the East and the delta of Parnaíba, Jericoacoara, Fortaleza – check with us.

Day 4: CABURÉ – SÃO LUIS

In the morning, around 11 a.m., return by private motorboat to Barreirinhas.
The shores of the river appear in their entire splendor: mangrove, igarapés, buritis, açaizeiros, coconut trees, tucunzeiros and never very far, a colorful fauna: herons, kingfishers and if we are lucky, guarás (a striking red ibis typical of this area).
The contrast offered by the colors is striking ; fishermen welcome us on their river. Stops in Vassouras and in Mandacaru (the lighthouse offers a wonderful view over the surroundings). The mix dunes, mangroves, restinga, rivers and ocean creates a very varied ecosystem. Finally, by land, the bus takes us back (4 ½-hour trip) through babaçu and buriti plantations to São Luís.
Meals open. Night in hotel / in pousada.

Option: make the trek over 5 days,check with us.

Option day 5: transfer to the airport.

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