Lençóis Maranhenses and Parnaiba River Delta

Lençóis Maranhenses

The Lençóis Maranhenses National Park established in 1981 covers 155,000 ha, of which 90,000 ha cover an open dune landscape and dune landscape permeated by crystal-clear lagoons. The National Park belongs to the coastal landscape biome and consists of sea coastal, rivers and mangrove forests. Low vegetation, palms and dunes cover the headlands.

A landscape that is unique in its way. The most known village is Barreirinhas. The villages of Atins and especially Santo Amaro, on the other hand, are insider tips that are off the beaten path but closer to the dune and lagoon landscape. Means of transport are Toyata off-road, 4x4 open safari jeeps or land rovers and, by all means, on foot. Riding trips are also available.

The scenic highlights around Santo Amaro are: the lagoons Lagoa da Sonda, Lagoa das Americas, Lagoa da Gaivota, the river landscape Rio Alegre and Espigão as well as the picturesque settlements Comunidade de Travosa and Betânia.

Visitors also enjoy the local delicacies, both liquid and solid, such as the tiquira, a schnapps made from cassava root according to a recipe from the local Indians. Said to be the drink for the macho man. If you can't “handle” it, you may want to grab “Jesus”, the traditional and very popular pink soft drink from the Maranhão. “Jesus” accidentally discovered by a pharmacist in 1920 has as sweet cinnamon taste. Exotic dishes like rice with king prawns, mussels, oysters and lobsters highlight the local cuisine. Folklore includes a performance of Bumba-meu-Boi, where people dressed as cows and oxen dance and hop through the crowd to tropical rhythms. Also very popular is the Reggea of the Maranhão and rhythms from the Caribbean, such as Merengue or Carimbó and Brega from the Amazon Delta.

Be part for a while and enjoy the authentic tropical life far off the beaten tracks surrounded by unique natural beauty. Don’t miss out on a life time experience!

Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions suggest strongly: connecting with a trip to the nearby Delta do Rio Parnaíba is the perfect match.

Parnaíba River Delta

The delta of the Parnaíba River includes an archipelago of over 70 islands and an area of 2,700km². The landscapes characterized by mangrove forests rich in species, water levels, extensive dune landscapes permeated by picturesque lagoons, rivers that flow lazily into the Atlantic Ocean and paradisiacal beaches. Seen from above, the meeting point of the Parnaíba River and the Atlantic Ocean looks like a gigantic jigsaw puzzle, with each piece representing one of over 70 islands. Navigating the many rivers and their tributaries in the Delta requires a great deal of experience, as it is easy to get lost in the igarapés or get stuck on sandbanks. Just like Nicolau de Resende, the Portuguese explorer of the region, who had to be rescued by local Tabajara Indios in 1571.

The largest island is Ilha das Canarias, which is home to a fishing colony and is a conservation area. The fishermen use traditional, artisanal methods, with nets and canoes, from the beach or shore. Just watching or lend a hand you may earn your lunch and is great fun. The region is home to an interesting avifauna. Various species of waterfowl, including the exotic scarlet ibis, which occur here in large flocks, characterize the landscape

The largely unknown Delta has only developed a very basic touristy structure in recent years to be able to receive visitors who will enjoy this real insider tip.

Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions suggest strongly: Connecting with a trip to the nearby Lençois Maranhenses National Park is the perfect match!