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 Maranhenses
Inside the dune field. Access to Emendadas and Betânia lagoons.
The village, up close
The places worth stopping for.
9 places
Nature
Considered the most beautiful lagoon in Santo Amaro. Access via guided trekking.
The crown jewel of Santo Amaro. Preserved lagoon few tourists reach because it requires hiking. More intense colors than Barreirinhas lagoons.
Insider tip: Hire a guide through Coopdunas (R$80-150). Bring 4L of water, socks (they save your feet) and fruit. Best Jun-Sep.
Most Beautiful · Time to allow: 300 min
Nature
Considered the most beautiful circuit in Lençóis. 1h40 hike.
Only reachable by hiking - untouched lagoons. Dunes that seem to reach the sky.
Insider tip: Book group tour (R$160) or private (R$1,500). Bring water.
Most Beautiful · Time to allow: 180 min
Dining
Largest restaurant in Santo Amaro. Dining hall, kiosks, outdoor patio with stage for shows.
Solid alternative when Farol is full. Well-executed regional cuisine.
Insider tip: Price R$50-80/person. More casual atmosphere than Farol.
Largest Venue · Time to allow: 90 min
Dining
Famous for Malaysian prawns - large freshwater shrimp. Simple but unmissable.
The Malaysian prawns are giant and made this simple restaurant famous. Authentic experience where locals eat.
Insider tip: Order Malaysian prawns with cuxa rice - the classic combo. Simple setting, not Instagrammable but the food makes up for it.
Giant Prawns · Time to allow: 60 min
Dining
Artisanal burger with blend grilled on charcoal. Alternative to shrimp.
Tired of seafood? This is the place. Artisanal blend, caramelized onion, crispy bacon, gorgonzola.
Insider tip: Perfect option after days of only shrimp. Pleasant atmosphere. R$30-50/person.
Non-Seafood · Time to allow: 60 min
Dining
First good restaurant in the village. At the guesthouse of the same name.
Goat in coconut milk is a Lençóis specialty. Pioneer in the village.
Insider tip: Book ahead in high season - only a few tables go to non-guests.
Goat · Time to allow: 90 min
Dining
Strategic location. Simple but cozy atmosphere.
Dive into real Maranhão flavours. Malaysian river prawns with cuxa rice.
Insider tip: Genuinely local atmosphere. Fair prices.
Giant Prawns · Time to allow: 60 min
Dining
Deck with view of Rio Alegre. Fish, shrimp, and carne de sol.
One of the most recommended. Carne de sol is the highlight.
Insider tip: On the banks of Rio Alegre. Pleasant atmosphere.
River View · Time to allow: 90 min
Nature
Full-day tour. Lagoons, traditional community, Rio Alegre, sunset.
Cultural immersion. Lunch in the Betânia community. Spectacular sunset.
Insider tip: Bring swimwear. Lunch included (fish, shrimp, goat).
Full Day · Time to allow: 480 min
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Want the beaches, the tours and where to stay too?
Read the full guide for Santo Amaro do MaranhãoCompare circuits from Santo Amaro, Barreirinhas or Atins once you have chosen where to stay.
Before you go
The transport guides break down every route.
225 km · ~3h30min total
The road from São Luís was recently paved (MA-402), cutting access time from 5+ hours to ~3h45. Good new pousadas are opening fast (Villa Malie, Vila Capininga, Quintal de Areias) — book ahead as rooms are still scarce. The Coopdunas cooperative runs 4x4 and ATV tours in an organized way — prefer them over individual drivers.
Santo Amaro do Maranhão is Barreirinhas's secret alternative: its lagoons — Gaivota, América, Emendadas, Rancharia — are larger, deeper, and hold water into October, when the Barreirinhas lagoons are already drying up. You can walk to the lagoons in roughly one hour directly from the village center, with no river crossing or mandatory jeep.
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. Santo Amaro do Maranhão doesn't have its own seasonal calendar yet.
Updated at 12:12 · Brasília time
Today: low tide of -0.0 m at 00:11 and high tide of 3.1 m at 18:42 · Waning Gibbous, 93% illumination.
See tide and wind for the whole corridor
September 29
The day's range
3.2m
Difference between high and low
Next low
12:260.2 m
Height above chart datum
Tide advice · SANTO AMARO DO MARANHÃO
Lençóis lagoons are not affected by tides. River crossings depend on tide level.
Spring Tide — Expect more extreme tides. Great for filling lagoons, be cautious at beaches.
Heights in meters above chart datum. “Mean level” is the average of this day’s extreme heights; it does not indicate depth.
We calculate tides using FES2022 harmonics and calibration data from FEMAR reference stations. Heights use the model’s reference-station baseline, not measurements at each village. For rivers and inland locations, the curve is a coastal tide reference; it does not predict local water levels.
Wind through the day
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 travel the opposite way.
GustsThe ring shows the difference between wind speed and gust speed. Without valid gust data it disappears.
An illustration only — it does not simulate how often gusts arrive. The summary and the reading use the whole period shown in the chart.
Waning Gibbous
93%illuminated
Schematic phase · illustrative texture
Night sky
Night of Sep 29, 2026 to Sep 30, 2026
Moon below the horizon, from 18:55 on Sep 29, 2026 to 20:24 on Sep 29, 2026, Brasília time. →
Moon above the horizon, from 20:24 on Sep 29, 2026 to 04:30 on Sep 30, 2026, Brasília time. →
Astronomical night is when the center of the sun is at least 18° below the horizon.
Calculated times are approximate. Cloud cover is not included.
Night timeline for Sep 29, 2026 to Sep 30, 2026, Brasília time. Moon below the horizon, from 18:55 on Sep 29, 2026 to 20:24 on Sep 29, 2026, Brasília time. Moon above the horizon, from 20:24 on Sep 29, 2026 to 04:30 on Sep 30, 2026, Brasília time.
Local astronomy · Brasília time
Help on the ground
The journey continues
More villages and guides from the same ecosystem.
All villages in the regionYou are viewing Santo Amaro do Maranhão, part of the Lençóis Maranhenses ecosystem. Navigate to nearby villages.
Insider tips, restaurants and accommodation
See this village on the route’s interactive map.
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