Lencois Maranhenses National Park in Brazil is one of the country’s highlights for those looking for a great hiking experience, surrounded by the majestic dunes near the seaside. This guide explains what you need to know about the Lencois Maranhenses Tour, how to get there, and what to expect on an itinerary of 3 or 4 days.
Table of Contents
Why should you do this tour?
This natural phenomenon on the coast of Brazil is unique, and the experience of hiking through the dunes is fantastic. The Lencois Maranhenses Tour is the perfect opportunity to explore a different trek, where hiking shoes are less important than flip-flops.
Even though the sun exposure is high, the trek happens when the sun is weaker. Dark sand heats up fast when exposed to the sun, and that’s not the case in Lencois Maranhenses. Most of the sand in the park is clear white, so even with high sun exposure, you can hike barefoot without issues. Some people opt to wear socks to protect their feet.
Another reason to embark on this adventure is to escape to the usual tourist routes of Rio de Janeiro, Foz do Iguacu, and Sao Paulo. There is nothing wrong with these cities (and the state), but Brazil is huge, and there’s much more to offer to adventurers. The north and northeast also provide a variety of exciting places, and Lencois Maranhenses is one of them.
How to get there
There are many ways to reach the park by land or by combining flights with bus rides or private transportation from agencies. I wrote an entire article exploring the main options for getting to the national park. There are three main places to spend the night before starting the adventure: Santo Amaro, Barreirinhas, or Atins.
Choosing the correct starting point for your case will vary depending on the route of your trip. For those looking to explore Maranhao’s capital, Sao Luis, starting the trek from Atins is better. If you are looking forward to exploring the beauty of Jericoacara, it’s a better idea to start from Santo Amaro.
Thinking about flying to Lencois Maranhenses? Check flight options on Kiwi, it's my favorite way to book plane tickets:
Routes
There are multiple ways to hike in the park, and trekking tours can vary from 2 to 5 days. Three days is the perfect time for those experiencing this type of hike for the first time.
After many years of hiking in the mountains, forests, and even through rivers in Canyons, I wanted to play safe and go on the traditional three days tour because I never did this type of hike before; if you have hiking experience like me, I recommend you to do the same.
In this guide, you will find my route of three days and a suggestion to extend it to another day if you have the time. There are 14 families of natives living in the national park. They offer accommodation in their houses; sleeping in hammocks and trying their delicious homemade food is a very authentic experience.
Three day itinerary
The three-day itinerary starts from Atins with a boat ride to Vassouras, a village known as the small Lençóis. There, you can see some monkeys and appreciate the views of the local lakes from the top of the dunes.
The second stop is in Mandacaru, a local village famous for its ice cream made with local fruits. The town is also renowned for its lighthouse, which offers a great landscape view of the surrounding area.
The last stop is in Bonzinho, a spot with several restaurants surrounded by dunes. From there, you will start to feel the vibes of the Lencois Maranhenses Tour, and it is also the starting point of the trek. After lunch, take a bit of time to rest in one of the hammocks and prepare your gear to immerse yourself in Lencois.
Bonzinho - Baixa Grande (13km)
The first day of the trek has a view full of small natural lakes between the dunes. After leaving Bonzinhos, the hike will last 3-4 hours until reaching Baixa Grande right before sunset. There are some spots to watch out for on the way due to the quicksand present. Most of the quicksand spots were at the beginning of the hike on this day.
Watching the sunset from the top of the dunes is a great experience. At the end of the first day, make sure to hike just a bit more to one of the highest dunes in Baixa Grande. After reaching the top, sit, relax, and appreciate the view of this natural wonder.
Baixa Grande - Queimada dos Britos (10km)
If you are doing this tour with an agency, before going to sleep, the guide will ask you about the time to wake up the next day. They are very flexible, and after hiking with your group for a day, they will know the group’s pace and adjust the time accordingly.
After a delicious homemade breakfast, the hike starts towards Queimada dos Britos. The goal is to arrive there before lunchtime. From there, it’s possible to visit a high dune with a great view of the lakes and appreciate the sunset. Queimada dos Britos has an exceptional view due to the small forest formed in the area. There is natural water in the area, which makes it possible for several trees to grow and add a special touch to the landscape.
Queimada dos Britos - Betânia (19km)
This day is the longest one of the Lencois Maranhenses Tour, even if you opt to extend the adventure to a fourth day. The day starts around 3 am because you must hike 19km until Betania. On the way, the landscapes will change a couple of times, passing by a small village outside of Queimada dos Britos and some green areas where the natural water under the dunes grew trees. At some spots, you will feel like you are in a forest.
It’s a long hike to Lagoa Bonita, one of the most famous lakes in the park. You will have time to rest in the lake after the hike and swim a bit, and it’s an excellent way to relax your legs. The transportation will pick you up, drive you to Santo Amaro, and end the adventure.
4 day Itinerary
You want to experience even more of Lencois Maranhenses, adding a fourth day to your itinerary. The extra day is a hike from Betânia to Santo Amaro (10km). It means you would have lunch in Betânia, rest, and appreciate the sunset in the area. In the morning, on the next day, you will hike to Santo Amaro and end the adventure.
Should I go there independently?
It is possible to do this trek independently, and I met some people who did it without issues.
The biggest challenge of doing this trek independently is arranging transportation from and to the park. Accommodation is easy to solve if you can contact them directly and make a reservation. In the recommendations section I left the contact of my accommodations when I did this tour.
I’m leaving the contact for the Oasis Baixa Grande and Queimada dos Brutos if you want to book.
As for the transportation, the best option is to contact one of the agencies and negotiate the price of the rides only.
Tips for the experience
These are a few tips to help you improve your experience in the Lencois Maranhenses Tour:
- Bring a good hat to protect your head from the sun
- Bring socks for the hike, it might be necessary for you. I did the entire trek barefoot and it was great but I met some people that enjoyed hiking with socks more.
- Long sleeves are also great to protect your arms and shoulders against the sun. I bought a long sleeve used by kite surfers that was great
- Drink tons of water
- Bring flip flops, it’s very warm in the park
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner are very good in the house of the natives. Bring enough snacks for the hike
Recommendations
I decided to go on this trek with an agency because it was my first time doing this type of trek. I chose the Lençóis Maranhenses Trekking, and it was a great choice. Good service and price, they offered me the best price compared with other agencies I spoke to.
For accommodation, I enjoyed my stay in Baixa Grande (Paraiso dos Lencois) and Queimada dos Britos with Sr Raimundo. Both had great hammocks and vibes, and the food was also excellent.
If you already started planning your visit to the National Park, click here to book accommodation. I also wrote a more detailed guide on how to get to Lencois Maranhenses.
Conclusion
Lençóis Maranhenses Tour is a must for adventurers looking to explore a different side of Brazil. The views and the landscapes are amazing, and this trek experience is unique due to the terrain and the chance to connect with the natives living in the national park.
I hope you understand the tour better and what to expect in this adventure. It would be great to know about your plans or experience in this trek, so let me know in the comments. Do you like multiple-day hikes? Read about one of the most challenging treks in Brazil.
See you all on the next adventure!!!
