Downwind with a support car?
School, support car and timing: we arrange it all with the local crew.
Talk to usTo the Lençóis
Trip prep
Lençóis MaranhensesRegional Hub
Main gateway to Lençóis. Tourism operations hub.
The village, up close
The places worth stopping for.
12 places
Beaches
The most famous lagoon in Lençóis. Blue-turquoise waters between white dunes.
First must-see stop. Crystal-clear waters that change color with the sun. Surreal scenery of endless white dunes.
Insider tip: Arrive early (before 9am) to avoid crowds. Best time: Jun-Sep, when the lagoons usually hold the most water.
Classic · Time to allow: 120 min
Nature
Natural viewpoint with 360-degree dune views. Sunrise here is a unique experience - colors change every minute.
Insider tip: Leave at 4:30am to arrive in time for sunrise. Bring water and sunscreen.
Sunrise · Time to allow: 90 min
Nature
River cruise with stops at Vassouras, Mandacaru, and Caburé.
Complete full-day tour. Farol de Mandacaru (Mandacaru Lighthouse), Caburé beach, and unique riverside landscapes. Lunch included in Caburé.
Insider tip: Bring swimwear, hat, and sunscreen. Sun on the boat is intense. Book ahead in high season.
Full Day · Time to allow: 360 min
Viewpoints
160-step climb rewarded with an incredible panoramic view.
View where the river meets the sea. From the top you see dunes, river, and ocean all at once. Included in the Rio Preguiças tour.
Insider tip: 160 steps - go slowly. Bring water. Mandacaru village has local crafts.
360 View · Time to allow: 45 min
Adventure
4x4 tour through the main lagoons of Lençóis. A must-do!
The best way to explore Lençóis. Toyota 4x4 crosses dunes to the lagoons. Includes Lagoa Azul (Blue Lagoon), Bonita, and others.
Insider tip: Leave early (7am) to make the most of the day. Bring snacks, water, and sunscreen.
Main Tour · Time to allow: 240 min
Adventure
Plane or helicopter flight over Lençóis. Unique experience.
The only way to see the vastness of Lençóis from above. Incredible photos. Duration 15-30 minutes.
Insider tip: Book in advance. Price: R$400-800 per person. Best time: morning (less wind).
Aerial View · Time to allow: 30 min
Dining
Barreirinhas classic. Wooden tables, casual vibe, genuinely good food.
Carne de sol with baião de dois is what everyone orders. Proper boteco energy.
Insider tip: Live music EVERY night. Deck on the edge of Rio Preguiças.
Live Music · Time to allow: 90 min
Dining
One of the best options in Barreirinhas. Natural elements in the decor.
Peaceful atmosphere surrounded by nature. Ideal for family dinners.
Insider tip: On the riverfront. Varied menu including sushi.
Sushi · Time to allow: 90 min
Dining
Must-stop by the river. Focus on Maranhão cuisine.
Pleasant atmosphere, shrimp dishes are the most requested.
Insider tip: Pizza also available. Deck over the river.
Shrimp · Time to allow: 90 min
Dining
Facing the Rio Preguiças, away from the bustle. Movie-set scenery: beautiful, cozy, rustic beach vibe.
Fine dining inspired by Brazilian cuisine. Wood-fired pizzas are famous. Fish in shrimp sauce is a highlight.
Insider tip: Call ahead - they usually pick up guests staying in Barreirinhas. Confirm when you book.
Fine Dining · Time to allow: 120 min
Adventure
Hiking trek Barreirinhas to Atins via Baixa Grande. 4 days of dunes, lagoons, and oases.
Unique experience: sleep in oases, watch sunrise on dunes, total disconnection.
Insider tip: Book with Lençóis Outdoor. Bring sunscreen, a hat and a light sleeping bag. Best window: Apr-Sep.
4 Days / 40km · Time to allow: 5760 min
Adventure
Bike expedition through Lençóis. 82km in 3 days crossing dunes and communities.
Adventure on wheels: biking through trails, dunes, and villages. Full support.
Insider tip: Book with Lençóis Outdoor. Intermediate cycling level. Bike included.
3 Days / 82km · Time to allow: 4320 min
No places found with this filter.
Want the beaches, the tours and where to stay too?
Read the full guide for BarreirinhasCompare circuits from Santo Amaro, Barreirinhas or Atins once you have chosen where to stay.
Explore the sightseeing stops and choose between returning to Barreirinhas or combining the outing with an onward journey to Atins.
Before you go
The transport guides break down every route.
255 km · ~4h total
Arrive early to secure a spot on the first speedboat departure to Atins (seats fill fast in high season). The best hotels are near the port — choose one with secure parking if driving your own car. Withdraw cash here before heading to Atins: Barreirinhas has banks and ATMs; Atins has none.
Barreirinhas is the gateway to the Lençóis Maranhenses — departure point for the speedboat down the Rio Preguiças to Atins, and for the 4x4 jeeps that penetrate the park toward blue lagoons atop white dunes. The 2024 UNESCO designation transformed what was already an essential logistics hub into a destination of global weight.
Check the month-by-month calendar, then read the when-to-go guide for the detail.
When to Visit Lençóis MaranhensesRegional calendar for the Lençóis Maranhenses. Barreirinhas doesn't have its own seasonal calendar yet.
Today: low tide of 0.8 m at 12:20 and high tide of 2.5 m at 06:35; another low at 00:15, before sunrise · Waxing Crescent, 6% illumination.
See tide and wind for the whole corridor
Tap a day · peak wind, gusts, low tide and moon
Wind forecasts get less reliable further ahead: check again closer to the day.
The day's range
2.2 m
Difference between high and low
Next high
06:352.5 m
Calibrated at Luís Correia, 136 km away. No comparable Navy tide table nearby. Low tide likely comes about 29 min later than the curve shows (1965 data from the shifting river mouth; maybe less on the open beach).
Tide tip · BARREIRINHAS
Speedboat trips on the Rio Preguiças leave at any tide; the boat ride to Atins is more comfortable at high tide.
Heights in meters above the model's reference level. “Mean level” is the average of this day's extreme heights; it does not indicate depth.
We calculate the tide with the FES2022 model, calibrated for each place to a reference station from the FEMAR catalog. Where we can, we compare the curve with the Brazilian Navy's tide tables. On rivers and inland, the curve shows the coastal tide, not the water level there.
Strong, moderate or weak: the word compares the day's range with this place's usual range, not with other places.
Wind through the day
Windiest around midday: up to 22 km/h, gusts up to 49 km/h.
Motion starts on its own when the visualization is in view.
SpeedThe flow speeds up with the wind speed at the selected hour. At zero wind it stops.
DirectionThe dot on the compass marks where the wind comes from. The lines move downwind.
GustsThe ring shows the difference between wind speed and gust speed. Without valid gust data it disappears.
An illustration only: it doesn't simulate how often gusts arrive.
The moon rises at 07:58 and sets at 20:35 · no moon in the sky from 20:35 to 04:15
Waxing Crescent
6%illuminated
Schematic phase · illustrative texture
Night sky
Night of Nov 12–13
Moon in the sky, from 18:55 on Nov 12 to 20:35 on Nov 12. →
No moon in the sky, from 20:35 on Nov 12 to 04:15 on Nov 13. →
Astronomical night is when the center of the sun is at least 18° below the horizon.
Times are approximate and don't account for clouds.
Night timeline for Nov 12 to Nov 13, Brasília time. Moon in the sky, from 18:55 on Nov 12 to 20:35 on Nov 12. No moon in the sky, from 20:35 on Nov 12 to 04:15 on Nov 13.
Help on the ground
The journey continues
More villages and guides from the same ecosystem.
All villages in the regionYou are viewing Barreirinhas, part of the Lençóis Maranhenses ecosystem. Navigate to nearby villages.
Insider tips, restaurants and accommodation
See this village on the route’s interactive map.
