Where to stay in Lençóis Maranhenses? Best cities & hotels
Lençóis Maranhenses is one of the most beautiful landscapes on earth, and you can access it from three distinct base cities: Atins, Barreirinhas, and Santo Amaro.
To decide where to stay in Lençóis Maranhenses, you need to consider the month of the year you plan to visit, your budget, and what activities you plan on doing.
I’ve stayed in each of these towns throughout 5+ trips to Lençois Maranhenses over the past 10 years, and am excited to share with you the insider details along with recommendations of the best best hotels & accommodations in each of them
TL;DR? Here are the main characteristics of the Lençóis Maranhenses base towns
📍Atins: best for luxury travelers, kite surfers, and beach lovers. Avoid visiting after July
📍Barreirinhas: best for budget travelers, families, and those traveling by rental car
📍Santo Amaro: best for adventure travelers and those visiting the park in August
A. Atins
Atins is the newest and trendiest base city, offering several unique activities beyond just visiting the dunes at Lençóis Maranhenses National Park.
Best places to stay in Atins
🏛️ Luxury: Anacardier, Vila Aty
🏠 Mid-range: Pousada Maresia, Vila Vento
⛺️ Budget: Kite Point Atins
Pros of staying in Atins
✅ Infrastructure for Luxury Tourism
Atins is the most hyped base for visiting Lençóis Maranhenses, and a favorite among Brazilian celebrities! There, you’ll find world-class accommodations that have a unique vibe because Atins is very rustic and completely unpaved.
Though there is no Uber or rideshare app available, you can rent an ATV for the period of your stay.
Though prices in Atins are higher, budget travelers can still find hostels and simple accommodations.
✅ More tours and activity options
Atins has a unique offering of activities not available elsewhere, like:
- Kite surfing between the months of June and December (though the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park only has its freshwater pools filled between May and July)
- Easy beach access, with many of the local hotels being beach-front properties
- Revoada dos Guaras tour, where you can see dozens of bright pink guará birds flying home together
✅ Safety
Because of its remote location, Atins is incredibly safe! There, I feel as safe as in beaches in Europe.
Cons of staying in Atins
❌ 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 and shopping options. 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
The freshwater pools between dunes, which characterizes Lençóis Maranhenses, dry out faster in Atins than in the other base towns.
The season to see lots of blue lagoons in Atins is quite short, typically ranging from May to early July.
I visited Atins in August and could still swim in 2 to 4 lagoons, which were dark green instead of light blue – all the other hundreds of pools 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, but still very affordable for foreign visitors.
If cost isn’t a concern for you, Atins might be your best base as it is the city with the most luxurious accommodation offerings.
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.
Best places to stay in Barreirinhas
🏛️ Luxury: Resort Porto Preguiças
🏠 Mid-range: Hotel Pousada do Buriti, Pousada Casa Dunas
⛺️ Budget: Hostel Flor de Ipê
Pros of staying in Barreirinhas
✅ Easy access
The road to Barreirinhas is fully paved, making it easy to reach by rental car at any time of day. The town is also paved, so you can easily drive wherever you need to go!
✅ Lots of restaurants, shops, and markets
In Barreirinhas you’ll find a range of good restaurants and supermarkets, which are a great for those who are traveling with kids.
✅ Budget-friendly
Barreirinhas offers plenty of budget-friendly accommodations and dining options!
Food prices here can be up to 50% lower than in the other base towns, though tour prices are consistent across all of them.
Cons of staying in Barreirinhas
❌ No immediate beach access
Barreirinhas is not by the beach, although you can go on day tours that will allow you to enjoy the ocean for the day!
❌ Popularity & Crowds
Barreirinhas is by far the most accessible and common base to visiting Lençóis Maranhenses, so tours are typically quite full.
Though the crowds can be a bit annoying, I usually just walk a little farther during tours from Barreirinhas and find a paradise-like landscape all to myself.
❌ “Ugly” town
Barreirinhas is an average small town in Brazil, so it is not beautiful as a city. Though there are lots of restaurants and infrastructure, Barreirinhas lacks the charm of the other two bases, which are unpaved and very touristy.
❌ No Uber
Uber does not work in Barreirinhas, so getting around is a bit challenging unless you’re driving a rental car.
Typically, hotels can connect you with local taxis and drivers who can take you from place to place, but pricing of such services are not as straightforward as in apps like Uber.
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 found 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 will be the best place to stay near Lençóis Maranhenses.
Best places to stay in Santo Amaro
🏛️ Luxury: Pousada Rancho das Dunas
🏠 Mid-range: Vila Capininga Ecopousada, Villaz Lençóis Maranhenses
⛺️ Budget: Pousada Alles
Pros of staying in Santo Amaro
✅ Long-lasting pools
The freshwater pools between dunes at Lençóis Maranhenses last longer in Santo Amaro than in the other base cities.
If you’re visiting in August, Santo Amaro is definitely the way to go!
✅ Easy access
As of 2018, getting to Santo Amaro is easy as the road is completely paved!
Storytime: Getting to Santo Amaro used to be very hard because of the lack of paved roads. When I was growing up, my parents and I got stuck many times getting in and out of Santo Amaro in our 4X4 truck.
Cons of staying in Santo Amaro
❌ No immediate beach access
Santo Amaro doesn’t have direct beach access, but you can visit a nearby beach during a day tour!
❌ “Ugly” town
Though Santo Amaro do Maranhão used to be charming like Atins, that is no longer the case. The town is now a lot like Barreirinhas, but with much less infrastructure.
❌ No Uber or rideshare apps
There are locals who work as drivers, but the transportation options are not as reliable and available as rideshare apps.
The wrap-up: Best Places to Stay at Lençóis Maranhenses
When deciding between Barreirinhas, Atins or Santo Amaro, keep in mind the fact that you can include more than one town in your Lençóis Maranhenses itinerary
Each base town has its own charm and trade-offs, but no matter where you stay, you’ll be surrounded by one of the most unique and stunning landscapes in the world!
Check out our helpful guides to plan your dream trip to Lençóis Maranhenses
