Hotels in Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

Lençóis Maranhenses: White Dunes and Seasonal Lagoons

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, established in 1981, covers 1,550 km² of rolling white sand dunes in Maranhão, northeastern Brazil. Between January and June, seasonal rains fill the valleys between dunes with thousands of freshwater lagoons — the clearest, Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Bonita, reach depths of around 3 metres. By October most lagoons have evaporated entirely. The park sits roughly 260 km east of São Luís, the state capital, and draws approximately 60,000 visitors annually, concentrated in the July–September window.

Where to Stay Near the Park

Most accommodation clusters in Barreirinhas, a small river town on the Rio Preguiças, about 70 km from the park's eastern entrance. Pousadas and family-run lodges dominate the market; no large chain hotels operate here. The village of Atins, reachable by 4WD or boat along the Preguiças, offers simpler guesthouses positioned closer to the dunes. Santo Amaro serves travellers entering from the western sector of the park.

Practical Tips

• Best time to visit: July to September — lagoons are full and daily rainfall has eased considerably.
• Access: Chartered 4WD tours departing Barreirinhas are the standard entry method; the park has no paved internal roads.
• Getting there: Daily buses and flights link São Luís to Barreirinhas; the road journey takes roughly 4 hours.
• Pack light layers for evenings — temperatures drop noticeably after sunset despite the equatorial latitude.