# Lençóis Maranhenses: map, what to do and when to go

A town on the Preguiças River, in Maranhão, and the base for the dunes and rainwater lagoons of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park.

Canonical: https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/lencois-maranhenses/
Language: en. Extended author commentary and itinerary notes may remain in Portuguese. Dates below belong to individual sources; this is not live availability.

## Direct answer
- **Lençóis Maranhenses: How do you get from São Luís to Barreirinhas?** It is about 260 km of paved road, 3.5 to 4 hours by car; the Cisne Branco bus leaves the São Luís bus station at 6 a.m.
- **Lençóis Maranhenses: In which months are the lagoons full?** June to August, when the lagoons are usually fullest and rain is light; in September many lagoons are already dropping, and most of the rain falls from January to May.
- **Lençóis Maranhenses: How many days should you stay?** I'd stay three days in Barreirinhas, with three nights, and go back to São Luís on the morning of the fourth day.

## Arrival from São Luís and the Lagoa Azul circuit in the afternoon
Leave São Luís early: agency transfers usually pick up at the hotel or the airport in the morning, and the bus leaves the bus station at 6 a.m. The trip takes about 4 hours.
- Lagoa Azul

## The Preguiças River to Caburé, by boat
Leave early in the morning on the speedboat tour of the Preguiças, which lasts about 8 hours.
- Vassouras
- Preguiças Lighthouse
- Caburé

## Free morning and the Lagoa Bonita circuit in late afternoon
In the morning, walk along the waterfront and through the center of Barreirinhas, or book a flight of about 30 minutes over the dunes, the river and the river mouth.
- Lagoa Bonita
- Atins

## Lagoa Azul
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/lencois-maranhenses/#g-lugar-lagoa-azul
Cruz · One to two hours
This is the destination of one of the two half-day circuits that leave from Barreirinhas. The truck covers about 12 km of narrow, soft-sand trail, climbs the first big dune and leaves visitors near the lagoon; the tour lasts about 4 hours, with morning and afternoon departures, and the afternoon shift ends with the sunset over the dunes. In September Lagoa Azul usually dries out; the circuit then continues on foot to the Esmeralda and Peixes lagoons, which hold water longer.
Check access

## Lagoa Bonita
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/lencois-maranhenses/#g-lugar-lagoa-bonita
One to two hours
The second half-day circuit from Barreirinhas goes by 4x4 to the Lagoa Bonita area. The tour includes a walk over the dunes and swimming in the Bonita, Maçarico and Clone lagoons, and the view from the top of the dunes is the high point, especially in late afternoon.
Check access

## Vassouras
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/lencois-maranhenses/#g-lugar-vassouras
Up to half an hour
First stop of the boat tour on the Preguiças. On the right bank of the river, the Pequenos Lençóis dunes come close to the water, and monkeys that live in the mangrove approach the stalls where the boats stop.
Check access

## Preguiças Lighthouse
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/lencois-maranhenses/#g-lugar-farol-de-preguicas
Maranhão · Up to half an hour
The Navy lighthouse in the village of Mandacaru, also called Mandacaru Lighthouse, went into operation in 1940. It is 160 steps to the top, from where you can see the river, the dunes and the sea. Visiting is free; the published hours are 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., and it is worth confirming whether the tour's stop falls within them.
Check access

## Caburé
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/lencois-maranhenses/#g-lugar-cabure
Barreirinhas · One to two hours
The strip of sand between the river and the sea where the boat tour stops for more than two hours for lunch, usually fish with side dishes. You can swim in the river on one side and in the sea on the other; the river only meets the Atlantic about 5 km farther on.
Check access

## Atins
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/lencois-maranhenses/#g-lugar-atins
Barreirinhas · Half a day or more
The village at the mouth of the Preguiças combines beach, river mouth and the start of the park's dunes. From Barreirinhas, the Atins Beach circuit goes by 4x4 and takes the whole day, with swimming in lagoons, a stop at the beach where the river meets the sea and lunch in the village. Anyone who wants to be closer to the dunes and the sea, away from the bustle of Barreirinhas, can sleep in Atins.
Check access

**Lençóis Maranhenses: How do you get from São Luís to Barreirinhas?**
It is about 260 km of paved road, 3.5 to 4 hours by car; the Cisne Branco bus leaves the São Luís bus station at 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. and takes about 4.5 hours, and agency transfers pick up at the hotel or the airport and take about 4 hours.

**Lençóis Maranhenses: In which months are the lagoons full?**
June to August, when the lagoons are usually fullest and rain is light; in September many lagoons are already dropping, and most of the rain falls from January to May.

**Lençóis Maranhenses: How many days should you stay?**
I'd stay three days in Barreirinhas, with three nights, and go back to São Luís on the morning of the fourth day. With two days, there is room for the Lagoa Azul circuit on arrival and just one more tour, and the round-trip road eats up much of the time.

**Lençóis Maranhenses: Does the park charge an entrance fee?**
No: ICMBio does not charge an entrance fee for the park, and what you pay for are the services of the agencies and accredited guides. Agency price lists don't always say whether the amount is per person or per vehicle, so ask before paying. This is separate from a municipal fee: Santo Amaro announced a R$ 10 charge in July 2024; confirm with the town hall whether it applies before going.

**Lençóis Maranhenses: What is the trip to Atins like?**
The Atins Beach circuit leaves Barreirinhas by 4x4 and takes the whole day, with swimming in lagoons, a stop at the beach where the river meets the sea and lunch in the village; those who want more time there can sleep in the village and make Atins their second base.

## From São Luís to Barreirinhas


| Route | Time | Price |
| --- | --- | --- |
| São Luís → Barreirinhas · car, BR-135 and BR-402 | 3.5 to 4 hours | fuel at your own cost |
| São Luís → Barreirinhas · Cisne Branco bus | about 4.5 hours | R$70 to R$95 (2026) |
| São Luís → Barreirinhas · shared van transfer | about 4 hours | R$150 to R$250 per person (January 2026) |

## In the Nilo app
- Plan these 3 days on the map: https://nilopelomundo.com/en/app/guide/lencois-maranhenses/?utm_source=llm&utm_medium=markdown&utm_content=door-itinerary
- Mark your hotel on the map: https://nilopelomundo.com/en/app/map/lencois-maranhenses/?utm_source=llm&utm_medium=markdown&utm_content=door-stay

## Full editorial guide (Portuguese)
https://nilopelomundo.com/llm/lencois-maranhenses.md