How to get to Lençóis Maranhenses from Rio, São Paulo or Sao Luís: a complete guide with prices
Getting to Lençóis Maranhenses from Rio or São Paulo requires 3 steps: flying to São Luís, driving from São Luís to Barreirinhas or Santo Amaro, and getting a boat to Atins if you want to explore the most hyped side of the park.
I know that this sounds like a lot, but each single of these steps is quite short! If you time it right, you can do it all in one day!
Before estimating how to get to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, you first need to decide which one of the three base cities you are heading to! At the end of the post, we have a mini-guide that will help you choose which Lençóis Maranhenses base is best for you.
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The 3-step journey to Lençóis Maranhenses
Step 1: Fly from Rio to São Luís
The closest airport to the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is in the Aeroporto Internacional de São Luís (SLZ), located in the city of São Luís, Maranhão. If flying from Rio, will likely have to do a quick stopover in São Paulo, Brasilia, or Recife. From São Paulo, you can get to São Luís in 3.5 hours. From Rio, the total trip duration including a stopover lasts 5 to 6 hours.
Several great Brazilian airlines offer flights to São Luís: Azul Airlines, Gol Airlines, and LATAM Airlines. If booked early, a one-way flight from Rio or São Paulo to São Luís in the high season costs about R$500 (100 USD).
If you think it is best to spend a night in São Luís before getting on the road to get to Lençóis Maranhenses, I recommend you check out this guide featuring the amazing restaurants available in town.
Step 2: Get from São Luís to Barreirinhas or Santo Amaro
To get from São Luís to the Lençóis Maranhenses base in Atins, you must first head to Barreirinhas. To get to the Lençóis Maranhenses base in either Santo Amaro or Barreirinhas you have two options:
A. Taking a transfer
Various companies offer group transfers from São Luís to Barreirinhas or Santo Amaro multiple times a day. The one-way transfer takes ~4 hours and costs ~R$110 per person for a van seat or R$350+ for a private car (up to 4 people). To book a ticket, you should message the tour operator via WhatsApp.
– Here are a few transfer operators for you to consider: Frank Tur Barreirinhas, Encanto dos Lençóis, Transfer Barreirinhas
– Here is a private driver for you to consider: Nelson (WhatsApp number: +55 98 98175-2008) transported my friend from São Luís to Barreirinhas (one-way) for R$350 in August 2024. My friend enjoyed the experience and recommended Nelson!
B. Driving a rental car
Driving to Barreirinhas is a great option if you plan to stay there. If Santo Amaro is your final destination, you might want to think twice about driving due to the lack of pavement in town.
If Atins is your final destination, I recommend taking the transfer to avoid paying the rental daily rate for a car you won’t be able to drive. However, if you are planning to only spend one or two nights in Atins, and then a few days in Barreirinhas, driving can be a great option! The São Luís <> Barreirinhas drive takes ~4 hours and goes through roads that are completely paved.
Step 3: (only if you are heading to Atins) Getting a boat from Barreirinhas to Atins
The easiest way to get from Barreirinhas to Atins is on a small motorboat. The boat transfer costs R$80 and moves through Rio Preguiças, offering stunning views of the local fauna and flora.
The times for the boat transfers are limited to about two times a day (even in the high season). Plan your trip and activities with those times in mind. We have a detailed blog post with all the details on the boat transfer including pictures from the experience!
Where to stay at Lençóis Maranhenses National Park?
There are three possible cities you can stay in: Atins, Barreirinhas, and Santo Amaro. Each city comes with its pros and cons, and here are my main takeaways from each:
A. Atins
Atins is the most hyped base, offering several unique activities beyond just visiting the dunes at Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. There, you can also go bird watching, kite surfing, and hang out by the beach. Atins has three major downsides:
- Remote location: Atins is hard to access by car, and the best way to get there is by a boat that only leaves 2-3 times a day. Also, the town has a very rustic vibe, without paved roads, taxis, or even some specialty shops. I love the rustic vibes in Atins, but I see how it can be a turnoff for people with mobility concerns.
- Short season for full lagoons: I learned the hard way that the dunes in Atins dry out faster than those in Barreirinhas and Santo Amaro, so the season to visit and still see lots of lagoons is quite short, typically ranging from May to early July. I visited Atins in August and could still swim in 2 to 4 lagoons, but all the others were already dry.
- High costs: Due to the remote location (and all the hype), accommodations and food in Atins are more expensive than in the other Lençois Maranhenses bases. If prices are no headache to you, Atins might be your best base as it is the city with the most luxurious accommodation offerings. You can check all the costs I had in my 4 night Atins stay in this dedicated blog post.
B. Barreirinhas
Barreirinhas is the most common and most developed Lençóis Maranhenses base. The town is paved, has cars, and offers a variety of restaurants for all kinds of budgets, a supermarket, pharmacies, and souvenir shops. I can only think of two downsides to Barreirinhas. One is that the town is not by the beach, although you can go on day tours that will allow you to enjoy the ocean for the day. The other downside is the popularity of this base, so I found the dunes there to be more crowded than the ones in Atins.
C. Santo Amaro
Santo Amaro is famous for giving access to the most beautiful dunes and pools at Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. Although I do not think that the dunes are any different from those at the other bases, it is true that the pools last longer in Santo Amaro. Therefore, if you are visiting towards the end of the season (late July or August), Santo Amaro might be the base with the most stunning views. The downside of Santo Amaro is its rustic state. Just like Atins, you might be paying a premium due to the lack of infrastructure available in town.
The wrap-up: How to get to Lençóis Maranhenses
Now that you know how to get to Lençóis Maranhenses and where you want to stay, make sure to read the other articles in our Lençóis Maranhenses section to continue planning your trip!
