Lençóis Maranhenses & Jericoacoara

Remote, extraordinary, and unlike anywhere else in South America, northeastern Brazil's dune coast is one of the continent's great undiscovered journeys.

Beginning in the UNESCO-designated Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, where seasonal lagoons of gem-colored freshwater pool between powder-white sand dunes, the adventure continues east along the coast to the barefoot fishing village of Jericoacoara, where the streets are paved with sand and the evenings end with capoeira on the beach.

Rocky red boulders and small trees sit at the edge of a calm turquoise sea on Brazil's northeast coast.

Tall green cacti grow on a clifftop overlooking a wide blue ocean on Brazil's northeast coast.

Aerial view of the Lençóis Maranhenses shows endless white dunes interspersed with blue lagoons.

Why visit Lençóis Maranhenses and Jericoacoara?

From June through September, winter rains fill the vast depressions between Lençóis Maranhenses' white dunes with crystal-clear freshwater lagoons that stretch to every horizon. Swim in the lagoons, explore by guided quad tour or on foot, and add a scenic flight to fully grasp the sheer scale of this extraordinary place. Point your camera in any direction and you won't take a bad shot.

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From June through September, winter rains fill the vast depressions between Lençóis Maranhenses' white dunes with crystal-clear freshwater lagoons that stretch to every horizon. Swim in the lagoons, explore by guided quad tour or on foot, and add a scenic flight to fully grasp the sheer scale of this extraordinary place. Point your camera in any direction and you won't take a bad shot.
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The route from Lençóis Maranhenses east to Jericoacoara is as rewarding as the destinations themselves. A speedboat ride up the snaking Preguiças River, visits to remote fishing communities, a swim in the Parnaíba Delta, and an introduction to local seahorse conservation efforts make for an extraordinary few days of travel.
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The flawless beaches of "Jeri" draw kitesurfers and windsurfers from around the world, while the town itself, with sand-paved streets, no street lighting, and a castaway atmosphere, has somehow resisted the pull toward overdevelopment. Explore by buggy, visit the iconic Pedra Furada stone arch and the Blue and Paradise Lagoons, and dedicate one evening to Sunset Dune, where the sky turns a broad, burning orange before the beach comes alive with capoeira.

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Other areas to explore

A visit to Lençóis Maranhenses and Jericoacoara puts you within easy reach of many other beautiful and fascinating parts of South America.

Red macaw flies with wings spread wide, showing bright scarlet feathers and long tail against a blurred green forest.

Amazon Rainforest

A vast natural wonder visible from space, the Amazon Delta needs no introduction. Shared by eight countries, Brazil claims the lion’s share and contains pockets so remote they’ve never been explored.

Sunlight filters through mist at Iguazu Falls, where palm trees frame roaring curtains of water plunging below.

Iguazú Falls

A braid of 250 waterfalls plummeting over towering basalt cliffs, Iguazú Falls is one of South America’s most breathtaking natural landmarks.

Pantanal

The Pantanal is the world's largest tropical wetland and an area of incredible biodiversity that shelters some of the most extraordinary wildlife on Earth.