Lençóis Maranhenses
All of Brazil, within reach.
The flag of Maranhão has nine alternating horizontal stripes (four white, three red, two black) representing the state's Indigenous, Afro-Brazilian and white populations, with a blue canton in the upper left bearing a single white star that stands for Beta Scorpii, the star that represents Maranhão on the Brazilian national flag.
Lençóis Maranhenses in pictures
About Lençóis Maranhenses
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is one of Brazil's most visually distinctive landscapes for trade partners to sell: roughly 155,000 hectares of rolling white dunes in coastal Maranhão, dotted with hundreds of rainwater lagoons that turn brilliant turquoise and emerald during the wet-to-early-dry-season window. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2024, the park has moved rapidly from a niche adventure add-on to a headline draw, with visitation climbing sharply and infrastructure in the gateway town of Barreirinhas expanding to match. For DMCs and tour operators, it pairs naturally with São Luís city touring and the wider Rota das Emoções circuit (Maranhão–Piauí–Ceará), but access is logistically specific — 4x4 excursions with licensed local guides, river transport along the Rio Preguiças, and a lagoon season that is tightly tied to rainfall — so itineraries need to be built around the calendar and booked with local ground partners who know the terrain.
Marechal Cunha Machado International Airport (São Luís)
Nearest major airport to Lençóis Maranhenses, the main gateway to São Luís and the wider Maranhão coast.
Parnaíba–Prefeito Dr. João Silva Filho International Airport (Parnaíba, Piauí)
A shorter overland approach from neighboring Piauí, useful for multi-stop Rota das Emoções itineraries.
How Lençóis Maranhenses came to be
Sourced milestones your team can use for guest briefings and storytelling — not filler copy.
Curiosities & practical notes
What's on the table
Arroz de cuxá
Considered the signature dish of Maranhão, rice served with a stew of vinagreira leaves, dried shrimp, manioc flour and sesame.
Peixada maranhense
A regional fish stew showcasing the coast's abundant seafood.
Caranguejada
A crab dish, reflecting the strong shellfish tradition of Maranhão's coastal towns.
Camarão ao alho e óleo
Shrimp sautéed in garlic and oil, a common coastal preparation.
Vatapá
A creamy, African-influenced dish found across Maranhão's Afro-Brazilian culinary tradition.
Caruru
Another dish of African heritage, prepared with okra and typically paired with seafood.
Torta de camarão
A baked shrimp casserole/pie common on Barreirinhas-area menus.
Carne-de-sol com arroz maria-izabel
Sun-dried beef served with a seasoned rice dish typical of the state's interior.
What there is to see
Marked where a site carries UNESCO World Heritage status directly, versus a locally or nationally protected landmark.
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (dune and lagoon field)
The park's core landscape of white sand dunes and seasonal turquoise lagoons; inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2024.
Lagoa Azul
The most iconic and photographed lagoon in the park, prized for its deep turquoise color at peak water season (June–September).
Lagoa Bonita
A deep-blue lagoon typically visited together with Lagoa Azul on the classic "Duas Lagoas" circuit from Barreirinhas.
Vale das Lagoas (Valley of the Lagoons)
A more remote multi-lagoon area reached via longer 4x4 or trekking routes, offering a less crowded alternative to the main circuits.
Rio Preguiças
The river connecting Barreirinhas to the coast, used for boat excursions to Caburé, Mandacaru and Vassouras.
Mandacaru Lighthouse
A historic lighthouse near the mouth of the Rio Preguiças offering panoramic views over the dune field and river delta.
Atins
A former fishing village at the edge of the dune field, now a growing hub for kitesurfing and windsurfing.
Pequenos Lençóis ("Little Sheets")
A closer, easier-access dune area near Barreirinhas, well suited to shorter visits or clients with limited time.
What else we brief agencies on
This is what we prepare for every RFP, whether or not it's published on this page yet:
On request for every proposal
- Best season / weather windows and blackout dates for groups & MICE
- Permit and quota logistics for regulated attractions — lead time and group-size caps
- Accessibility notes and physical-difficulty ratings per activity
- Vetted ground partners, guides and transport already used on past programs
- Sustainability / certification credentials relevant to client RFPs, where they genuinely exist
- Real, checked room and vehicle availability for your travel dates — not a generic quote