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Zurich to north-east Brazil: São Luís and Lençóis Maranhenses

Zurich → São Luís → Barreirinhas → Atins

São Luís, Maranhão
"São_Luís_Aérea.jpg" by Lechenet.com, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

Tiled colonial city & dunes with lagoons Best season (general guide): Jun–Sep

In north-east Brazil, the state of Maranhão has an old colonial capital and one of the strangest landscapes in South America, a field of white dunes filled with rainwater lagoons. This route spends seven nights between São Luís, Barreirinhas and Atins. From Zurich you'll connect through Lisbon or a Brazilian hub.

How to pace it: Spend days one and two in São Luís: day one, the old centre; day two, tiled streets and museums. Then spend days three to five in Barreirinhas: day three, road to Barreirinhas; day four, Lagoa Azul by 4x4; day five, Preguiças River boat trip. Then spend days six and seven in Atins: day six, boat down to Atins; day seven, walk across the dunes.

São Luís sits on an island, and its historic centre, listed by UNESCO, has streets of houses covered in Portuguese tiles, or azulejos. Bumba meu boi, a festival of music and dance with a story about an ox, is strongly associated with the city.

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is a vast area of dunes. During the rainy season, water collects between them, forming blue and green lagoons. UNESCO listed the park as a natural site.

Barreirinhas is the main base, with 4x4 trips across the dunes to lagoons such as Lagoa Azul and boat trips along the Preguiças River.

Atins, at the mouth of the river, is a small village where the dunes reach the sea. Walks across the dunes reach lagoons with few visitors.

June to September is when the lagoons are usually fullest. They can be low or dry later in the year.

In São Luís, walk the historic centre in the cooler hours, and visit the museums of popular culture to learn about bumba meu boi. On the dunes, sunset is a popular time to visit the lagoons.

Pack light, quick-drying clothes.

Good to know: The road to Barreirinhas takes several hours. Dune trips need a licensed 4x4 and guide, and you'll walk barefoot on the sand. Bring sun protection, as there is little shade.

Suggested outline

  1. Zurich

    Start

  2. São Luís

    By air · 2 nights suggested

    A colonial centre of tiled facades, and the bumba-meu-boi tradition.

  3. Barreirinhas

    Overland · 3 nights suggested

    Gateway to the dunes of Lençóis Maranhenses.

    Lençóis Maranhenses National Park
    "Lençóis_Maranhenses_2018.jpg" by Julius Dadalti, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

  4. Atins

    By boat · 2 nights suggested

    A quiet village where the dunes meet the river and the sea.

    Atins Maranhão
    "Atins - Maranhão 2.jpg" by Mayra Pavanello Munerato, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · São Luís — Arrive; the old centre· Zurich → São Luís (by air) — long-haul; may arrive the next calendar day
  2. Day 2 · São Luís — Tiled streets and museums
  3. Day 3 · Barreirinhas — Road to Barreirinhas· São Luís → Barreirinhas (overland)
  4. Day 4 · Barreirinhas — Lagoa Azul by 4x4
  5. Day 5 · Barreirinhas — Preguiças River boat trip
  6. Day 6 · Atins — Boat down to Atins· Barreirinhas → Atins (by boat)
  7. Day 7 · Atins — Walk across the dunes
  8. Day 8 · Atins — Travel home from Atins· Atins → São Luís (by boat), then São Luís → Zurich (by air)

A suggested pace only; expedition days are set by the operator.

Flights, leg by leg

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São Luís

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Barreirinhas

Nearest airport: São Luis Search fares · São Luis ↗

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