Ecosystem
Lençóis Maranhenses
Dunes and crystal-clear lagoons
5 villages41 places
Lençóis MaranhensesRegional HubBarreirinhas
Main gateway to Lençóis. Tourism operations hub.
Regional HubPure Nature
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.
ATM ✓ModeratePaved
Jul-DecFull and clear lagoons — best season for jeep tours inside the parkJan-JunRainy season — smaller lagoons, fewer tourists, lower prices
12 places7 Viewpoints, 6 Nature
Lençóis MaranhensesDiningAtins
Bohemian village at the mouth of the Preguiças River. Kitesurfing, gastronomy, and rustic charm.
Remote & WildGastronomy
Atins offers something unique on the planet: kitesurfing inside the freshwater dune lagoons of the Lençóis Maranhenses — rated the 4th best flatwater spot in the world. The terminus of the most epic kite safari on Earth (Jeri → Atins, ~500 km), with understated luxury emerging among sandy streets accessible only by boat.
ATM ✗WeakBoat access
Oct-DecPeak wind (18–28 knots) and full lagoons — perfect kite conditionsJun-SepFreshwater Lençóis lagoons at their fullest — best for kiting and swimming
14 places12 Dining, 3 Bars
Lençóis MaranhensesDiningSanto Amaro do Maranhão
Inside the dune field. Access to Emendadas and Betânia lagoons. Rising star 2024-2026.
Pure NatureGastronomy
Santo Amaro do Maranhão is Barreirinhas's secret alternative: its lagoons — Gaivota, América, Emendadas, Rancharia — are larger, deeper, and hold water into October while Barreirinhas lagoons dry up in August. You can walk to the lagoons in roughly one hour directly from the village center, with no river crossing or mandatory jeep.
ATM ✗WeakMixed
Jul-OctFull lagoons accessible on foot — best effort-to-reward ratio in the parkYear-roundLuau das Estrelas — stargazing excursion on the dunes at dusk
9 places6 Dining, 3 Nature
Lençóis MaranhensesNaturePaulino Neves
Connection point between Lençóis and Delta. Pequenos Lençóis and Rio Novo.
Pure Nature
Paulino Neves is the logistical oasis where the paved road meets the sand tracks — the handover point between regular cars and 4x4 for those heading to Caburé or Atins. But beyond being a transfer link, the town holds the near-deserted lagoons of the Pequenos Lençóis Maranhenses and the otherworldly visual of the Delta Maranhão wind farm across the dunes.
ATM ✗WeakMixed
Jan-JulLagoa Barreiro Azul at full capacity and nearly empty of tourists
4 places4 Nature, 3 Beaches
Lençóis MaranhensesDiningCaburé
Sand spit between river and sea. Crossing point to Atins.
Remote & Wild
Caburé is a narrow sandbar between the Rio Preguiças and the Atlantic — on the river side, calm shallow water for kitesurfing; on the ocean side, open waves. The shrimp restaurants here are a ritual stop on any Rota das Emoções journey, and the dual water (river freshwater × ocean saltwater) on a single sandbar is geographically unique.
ATM ✗NoneBoat access
Jul-JanKite on the river side (flat water) and shrimp lunch at the riverside restaurants
2 places2 Dining, 1 Beaches