Perfect 5-day Lençóis Maranhenses Itinerary (With Prices!)
I truly believe Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is the most beautiful landscape in the world, and having the opportunity to visit it is a true blessing.
After traveling to the park 5+ times over the past 15 years, I came up with this perfect 5-day Lençóis Maranhenses itinerary based out of the city of Atins.
Of the 3 base cities available to visit the Lençóis Maranhenses, Atins is the most exclusive and expensive. Although the town is quite rustic (there is no pavement whatsoever), it can offer a luxurious experience and a unique opportunity to connect with nature.
The 5-day Lençóis Maranhenses itinerary that will introduce you to paradise!
Day 0: Fly into São Luís
Aeroporto Internacional de São Luís (SLZ) is the closest commercial airport to the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. The airport is well-connected and multiple flights land daily from major Brazilian cities such as São Paulo, Rio, and Brasilia.
How much time to spend in São Luís, Maranhão?
If your trip overlaps with São João do Maranhão, a yearly cultural festivity that happens in June and July, make sure to carve out 1 night in town to see it!
If visiting any other time, I recommend staying only one night in São Luís to rest or skip the town altogether. São Luís has a rich history, but its historical buildings are not in the best condition.
No matter how long you stay, in São Luís, make sure to try out some of the local cuisine in the town’s best restaurants!
Pro Tip: Be aware that São Luís is not a very safe city, so make sure to follow general safety recommendations for traveling in Brazil when exploring the city
Day 1: Go from São Luís to Atins and enjoy a sunset bird-watching tour
7 AM: Head from São Luís to Barreirinhas. You can rent a car, catch a van transfer (costs R$110 per person), or a private (R$350+).
11 AM: Arrive in Barreirinhas and have a quick meal before boarding the boat to Atins. There are several restaurants right across from the pier where you catch the boat, so you won’t have trouble finding a good place to eat. I highly recommend Restaurante O Bambu, where they serve a wide variety of Brazilian and international dishes. There, one person can eat for less than R$100.
12:15 PM: Board the boat from Barreirinhas to Atins, which goes for R$80 per person for the 90-minute ride.
2:00 PM: Arrive in Atins and wait for the transfer to your hotel, which is typically included in the boat transfer. There are no taxis in Atins, and I could not see any of the ATV drivers (who kind of act like moto taxis) on the coast where the boat arrives.
Make sure to have the transportation to your accommodation booked in advance! Some boat transfer operators (such as Satur Turismo) offer free hotel pickup/dropoff in Atins.
3:00 PM: Check-in and get settled in your hotel. I stayed at Pousada Maresia and paid R$3.232 for a 4-night stay for 2 people.
4:00 PM: If you have the energy, go on the R$120 Revoada dos Guarás Tour to see dozens of some of South America’s most beautiful birds. This is a quick yet gorgeous tour, as you spend sunset on a boat while watching the birds fly home.
Day 2: Explore Lençóis Maranhenses National Park
8:00 AM: Wake up and have breakfast! Many stays in town offer free breakfast, which was the case at Pousada Maresia. Although the breakfast was quite simple, I was still able to eat some of my favorite Brazilian foods.
9:00 AM: Get on the pickup truck to go to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. The half-day tour (that takes you to either Ponta do Mangue or Canto de Atins) goes for R$130, and tour operators (I booked through Aloha Atins) offer free pick up and drop off at your Atins stay! Full-day tours are also available at a fair cost (~R$230).
Pro tip: If you are visiting the park over multiple days, I recommend doing 2 half-day tours to avoid exhaustion and sun exposure. Lençóis Maranhenses National Park has no artificial shade, so be prepared for full sun exposure throughout your tour.
12:30 PM: Have lunch at the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. During the morning tour, the tour operator drops you off for lunch at one of the many restaurants near the park. I visited Restaurante da Carminha and absolutely loved the vibe! Also, the food there was the most affordable (and delicious) I came across in the Atins region. I only paid R$74 for a half-portion of carne de sol (sun-dried meat).
2:00+ PM: Hotel dropoff! There are tons of good options of activities to spend the afternoon, such as: kite surfing at Kite Point in Atins (~10 min walk from Pousada Maresias), hanging out at Charme Beach Bar to enjoy a beautiful sunset and a view of kite sufers, or just sitting by the beach or your hotel to enjoy the vibes…
Day 3: Beach and Lençóis Maranhenses stargazing tour
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM: Enjoy the beach and beach clubs in Atins. If your budget (and physical form) allows, sign up for a kite surfing class. The full kite surfing course at Aloha Atins goes for R$350/hour and lasts 12 hours (R$ 4.2K for the full course), but you can choose to just do a few classes to get a feel for kite surfing.
7:00 PM: Grab dinner at one of the many restaurants in Atins! Also, in preparation for the night tour, consider buying drinks and snacks at a convenience store.
8:00 PM: Hotel pickup from tour operator to head to the Lençóis Maranhenses Night Tour, where you can stargaze in this unique landscape. This tour varies a lot in price, and most places I found were charging about R$700 per person. However, I was able to find an amazing deal (R$350 for two people) on this tour by booking directly with a local driver.
Day 4: Beach and Lençóis Maranhenses sunset tour
8:00 AM – 11:00 AM: More relaxing beach vibes and maybe a kite surfing course! Use this time to relax!
11:30 AM: Grab lunch at a beach club or local restaurant
1:30 PM: Hotel pickup for the Lençóis Maranhenses afternoon tour (which I booked with Aloha Atins), where you can enjoy the dunes and enjoy a beautiful sunset. This is a half-day tour that goes for R$130 and takes you to the dunes at either Ponta do Mangue or Canto de Atins.
5:00+ PM: Hotel dropoff and dinner
Day 5: Return to barreirinhas and visit Lagoa Azul
6:00 AM: Wake up and get ready to check out
6:30 AM: Hotel pickup to head to the boat to Barreirinhas (R$80 per person)
8:30 AM: Arrival in Barreirinhas by boat. Drop off your luggage at your selected tour operator and briefly grab something to eat.
For breakfast, I recommend going to Café no Ponto Barreirinhas, which is less than a 5-minute walk from the boat dropoff point. There, you can have an authentic (and delicious) Brazilian breakfast for less than R$15!
9:00 AM – 1:30 PM: Join the Lagoa Azul tour. Lagoa Azul is the most famous lagoon in Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. While you can visit from Atins via a private tour (~R$1,500 for up to 6 people), it’s more affordable to go from Barreirinhas, where group tours cost just R$120 per person.”
This is a must-do tour for those visiting the park, especially if visiting in August or September when the lagoons in the Atins region are rather dry.
2:00 PM: Grab lunch in Barreirinhas! The food options there are more affordable and more diverse than what you could find in Atins. Across from the boat deck, there are a ton of restaurants. As mentioned before, I had a great experience dining at Restaurante O Bambu.
3:00 PM: Head back to São Luís by driving or taking a transfer.
The Wrapup: 5-day Lençoís Maranhenses Itinerary
I’ve visited the Lençóis Maranhenses multiple times, and this 5-day itinerary was by far my favorite way to explore the best activities and vibes of the region.
Though this itinerary is packed with tours, it still has lots of downtime to allow you to take in the small-town vibe of Atins and relax during your vacation.
Planning a trip to Lençóis Maranhenses? Check out these helpful travel guides!
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