National Parks Atlas
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01 · Brazil · Maranhão

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

The largest dune field in South America, with a rainwater lake in every hollow that reappears somewhere else after the dry season.

Photo: Julius Dadalti ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗

Lençóis Maranhenses at a glance · PDF, 2 pages

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park: landscape and origins

Lençóis means bedsheets: that is what the white dunes look like from the air, with water in every fold.

The sand comes from the sea: the tides drop it on the beach, and the wind, which blows almost always from the same direction, carries it inland. This builds chains of crescent dunes up to 75 km (47 mi) long, according to UNESCO.

In the rainy season the water table rises, and lagoons with no inflow or outflow form between the dunes. Because the dunes move on every year, the lagoons appear in a different place the following year, with a different shape and colour.

People live in the park. The park agency counts 58 communities inside the park; in the oases of Baixa Grande and Queimada dos Britos only residents may use motor vehicles.

UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (2024, 156,562 ha, dunes and rainwater lagoons) ↗

The park in numbers

Area
156,608 ha (ICMBio)
Founded
2 June 1981
UNESCO World Heritage
2024
Dune field
around 90,000 ha
Coast
80 km (50 mi)
Dunes
up to 30 m (98 ft) high
Dune movement
4–25 m a year
Tickets & fees
none

Visiting Lençóis Maranhenses: dunes, lagoons and three gateways

Field book 03 · TicketsThe park agency charges nothing; you pay for the vehicle, driver and guide.Field book 01 · WhenAfter the rainy season the lagoons are at their fullest.Field book 02 · Getting thereSão Luís airport, then around four hours overland.

02 · Places

Map: Lagoa Azul, Lagoa Bonita, Atins and Santo Amaro

Lagoons, oases and gateways, each point referenced in OpenStreetMap.

Photo: Biaman Prado/MTur ↗ · Public domain ↗

Map

11 places on the map

Lagoons, oases and gateways, each point referenced in OpenStreetMap.

Open map3D terrain · details and photos for every place
  • Viewpoints1
  • Water5
  • Surroundings5

03 · Out and about

Lençóis Maranhenses tours: Lagoa Azul, Lagoa Bonita and the Travessia

Circuits by 4x4, boat or on foot.

Photo: Rocsilva ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗

“The same dunes every year, never the same lakes: what the rainy season fills is a few metres further on the following year.”

Lagoa Bonita · sunset

Lençóis Maranhenses tours: Lagoa Azul, Lagoa Bonita and the Travessia

Offer photo: From Barreirinhas: Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Bonita in one day

LencoisPrime EcoTour · Day tour from Barreirinhas · Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Bonita

From Barreirinhas: Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Bonita in one day

By 4x4 to Lagoa Azul in the morning, lunch at a restaurant with hammocks, then up the wooden staircase to Lagoa Bonita in the afternoon and sunset on the dunes.

4.8 out of 5 stars337 reviews on GetYourGuidefrom €81.29as of 9 Oct

  • 1 day
  • Pick-up in Barreirinhas
  • Portuguese-speaking guide
  • Sunset at Lagoa Bonita

Departure Pick-up at your accommodation in Barreirinhas.

According to the inclusions list, pick-up and return, a Portuguese-speaking guide, one litre of water and the drives to and between the lagoons are included. Not included: lunch, a German- or English-speaking guide and tips. The route may change depending on water levels. Not suitable for people with reduced mobility. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

View tour ↗Ad · partner link · checked 9 Oct 2026

Provider's product photo · GetYourGuide

Offer photo: From Barreirinhas: Lagoa Bonita and sunset on the dunes

RJ TURISMO · Evening · sunset at Lagoa Bonita

From Barreirinhas: Lagoa Bonita and sunset on the dunes

Departure at 14:00 in a Toyota 4x4, around 50 minutes to the big dune, up the wooden staircase. Swim in Lagoa Bonita, Lagoa do Clone and Lagoa do Descanso, then sunset over the dunes; back around 19:00.

4.7 out of 5 stars62 reviews on GetYourGuidefrom €67.50as of 9 Oct

  • 5 hours
  • Starts 14:00 in Barreirinhas
  • Guide in English, Portuguese, Spanish
  • Sunset

Departure Barreirinhas; the page header says pick-up is included, the inclusions list excludes hotel pick-up. Ask the operator for the meeting point.

According to the inclusions list, the drive in a Toyota 4x4 with a guide is included; hotel pick-up is excluded there, although the page header shows "pick-up included". Food and drinks are extra. Bring photo ID. Shared tour; if no bilingual guide is free, the guide translates digitally. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, no refund on the day of the tour.

View tour ↗Ad · partner link · checked 9 Oct 2026

Provider's product photo · GetYourGuide

Ad · we may earn a commission if you book through this partner link – at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the atlas. Offer details checked 9 Oct 2026. See official ticket information.

Nature: dune chains, lagoons and three biomes

Field book 04 · Where to stayHotels are in the towns on the edge; inside the dune field there is only simple community lodging.Field book 05 · RulesWhat the park agency ICMBio requires.

04 · Before you go

Places nearby

Photo: Julius Dadalti ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗

Around the park

Field book 07 · Sources15 sources, checked 9 Oct 2026

Field book · Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

checked 9 Oct 2026

Lençóis Maranhenses at a glance · PDF, 2 pages ↓

00My visit

Nothing saved yet. Every place card has a pin, and so does every place on the Map. What you save collects here, with days, notes and a preview you can share.

01Best time to visit Lençóis Maranhenses: May to September

After the rainy season the lagoons are at their fullest.

Highest water from May to September

According to the tourism ministry it rains from February to May; afterwards, especially between May and September, the lagoons reach their highest water levels.

Brazilian Ministry of Tourism (MTur), 25 Sep 2026: Lençóis Maranhenses, getting there and when to go ↗

Rainwater only

The lagoons have no inflow or outflow and are fed only by rain and the rising water table, according to UNESCO. Many vanish in the dry season and form again in a different place the following year.

UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (2024, 156,562 ha, dunes and rainwater lagoons) ↗

A rule of thumb, not a calendar

The park agency gives no fixed months: lagoons form and disappear with rain, wind and the moving dunes. How long they stay full depends on the rain in any given year.

ICMBio: Barreirinhas (Lagoa Azul, Lagoa Bonita, Lagoa da Esperança, Atins, Canto dos Lençóis) ↗

Lagoons come and go

In July 2026 Lagoa do Bicudo Gordo on the Rancharia circuit drained away; the park agency opened Lagoa da Jacundá as a replacement.

ICMBio: Ofício Circular 14/2026 of 9 Jul 2026 (Lagoa da Jacundá in place of the drained Lagoa do Bicudo Gordo) ↗

02Getting there: from São Luís to Barreirinhas or Santo Amaro

São Luís airport, then around four hours overland.

São Luís airport

The nearest airports are São Luís (SLZ) and Parnaíba (PHB). According to the park agency, the most practical option is to fly to São Luís and continue by car or transfer on the BR-135 to Bacabeira and then the MA-402.

ICMBio: visitor information (no entrance fee, licensed vehicles and guides, getting there, rules) ↗

To Barreirinhas: around 260 km (162 mi)

According to the tourism ministry, Barreirinhas is around 260 km (162 mi) from São Luís; buses and private minibuses take four hours on average.

Brazilian Ministry of Tourism (MTur), 25 Sep 2026: Lençóis Maranhenses, getting there and when to go ↗

Show on the map

To Santo Amaro

Santo Amaro do Maranhão is reached from São Luís via the BR-135 and further country roads; the town is less than 2 km (1.2 mi) from the park. On its pages the park agency gives the middle section once as the MA-402 and once as the BR-402.

ICMBio: Santo Amaro do Maranhão (Betânia, Ponta Verde, América, Andorinha, Emendadas, Junco and Rancharia circuits) ↗

Show on the map

To Atins only by the outside road

Since July 2026 the only permitted overland route between Barreirinhas and the village of Atins is the road outside the park boundary. Private vehicles, UTVs and quad bikes may not cross the dune field; offenders face fines and seizure of the vehicle.

ICMBio: Ofício Circular 16/2026 of 11 Jul 2026 (no private vehicles in the dune field, overland access to Atins only via the outside road) ↗

Show on the map

From the east along the coast road

The park lies on the Rota das Emoções along the coast of Ceará, Piauí and Maranhão. From the east, the MA-315 runs from Paulino Neves to Barreirinhas.

ICMBio: visitor information (no entrance fee, licensed vehicles and guides, getting there, rules) ↗

03Lençóis Maranhenses entrance fee: none, but licensed vehicles only

The park agency charges nothing; you pay for the vehicle, driver and guide.

Check official fees ↗

No entrance fee

The park agency ICMBio charges no visitor fee for Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. The local agencies and operators it has licensed charge for their trips and guided tours.

ICMBio: visitor information (no entrance fee, licensed vehicles and guides, getting there, rules) ↗

Licensed vehicles only

Visitors may only enter the park with vehicles, drivers and guides licensed by the park agency after a public call; they carry an ID badge and a valid permit. Trips in private cars are not allowed.

ICMBio: visitor information (no entrance fee, licensed vehicles and guides, getting there, rules) ↗

Ask to see the operator's badge

The park agency advises asking for the operator's badge and permit when buying a tour. This applies to the circuits from Barreirinhas as well as to Santo Amaro.

ICMBio: Barreirinhas (Lagoa Azul, Lagoa Bonita, Lagoa da Esperança, Atins, Canto dos Lençóis) ↗

Anyone may walk

Access on foot is allowed to all open sites. Anyone starting a long-distance walk or a night route registers at the access point with the park agency's QR code.

ICMBio: Annex II to the 2026 call, visitor management (access points, times of day, vehicles per lagoon) ↗

Visiting Lençóis Maranhenses: dunes, lagoons and three gateways

A desert scene with water, on 80 km (50 mi) of coast in north-east Brazil.

A national park since 1981

The park was created by Decree 86,060 of 2 June 1981. The park agency ICMBio gives 156,608.16 hectares; UNESCO lists 156,562 hectares. It has been a World Heritage Site since 2024.

ICMBio: Parque Nacional dos Lençóis Maranhenses (Decree 86,060 of 1981, 156,608.16 ha, World Heritage 2024) ↗

The largest dune field in South America

Around 90,000 hectares are dune field with permanent and temporary lagoons. The dunes run inland in chains up to 75 km (47 mi) long, grow up to 30 m (98 ft) high and move 4 to 25 metres a year, according to UNESCO.

UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (2024, 156,562 ha, dunes and rainwater lagoons) ↗

Three municipalities, many circuits

The park lies in Barreirinhas, Santo Amaro do Maranhão and Primeira Cruz. Most visitors come via Barreirinhas, for Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Bonita, or via Santo Amaro in the west.

ICMBio: Barreirinhas (Lagoa Azul, Lagoa Bonita, Lagoa da Esperança, Atins, Canto dos Lençóis) ↗

Show on the map

People live in the park

The park includes 58 communities; according to UNESCO, more than 4,000 people lived within its boundaries when it was inscribed. Around 30 families live in the oases of Baixa Grande and Queimada dos Britos.

ICMBio: field bases (Atins, Mata Fome, Santo Amaro, Barra da Baleia; 58 communities in the park) ↗

Open all year

The park agency gives no opening hours and no closed season: the park is open all year. How much water stands in the lagoons depends on the year's rain.

ICMBio: visitor information (no entrance fee, licensed vehicles and guides, getting there, rules) ↗

Lençóis Maranhenses tours: Lagoa Azul, Lagoa Bonita and the Travessia

Circuits by 4x4, boat or on foot.

Lagoa Azul circuit

From Barreirinhas in a licensed 4x4, usually as a half-day tour in the morning with a swimming stop. Around Lagoa Azul lie lagoons that come and go with the rain and wind.

ICMBio: Barreirinhas (Lagoa Azul, Lagoa Bonita, Lagoa da Esperança, Atins, Canto dos Lençóis) ↗

Show on the map

Lagoa Bonita circuit

After a drive on sand tracks, a wooden staircase leads up the dune; at the top lie Lagoa Bonita, Lagoa do Clone and Lagoa do Descanso.

ICMBio: Barreirinhas (Lagoa Azul, Lagoa Bonita, Lagoa da Esperança, Atins, Canto dos Lençóis) ↗

Show on the map

Circuits from Santo Amaro

Betânia with the Rio Alegre, Ponta Verde with Lagoa do Reflexo, Andorinha and Emendadas in the afternoon; Lagoa da América can only be reached by boat across the Rio Alegre and Santo Amaro lake.

ICMBio: Santo Amaro do Maranhão (Betânia, Ponta Verde, América, Andorinha, Emendadas, Junco and Rancharia circuits) ↗

Show on the map

Travessia dos Lençóis

The long-distance trek runs from Atins through the Zona Primitiva to Santo Amaro and takes up to five days. Nights are spent in the communities of Baixa Grande and Queimada dos Britos; book your accommodation in advance, and registering at the start is compulsory.

ICMBio: Travessia dos Lençóis, rules for the 2026 season (Ofício Circular 5/2026) ↗

Show on the map

Stars and sunrise

Activities are allowed in the park at any time of day. Stargazing in the evening or at sunrise is possible at the open sites as long as nothing is set up; a breakfast or dinner in the dunes counts as an event and needs a permit.

ICMBio: Annex II to the 2026 call, visitor management (access points, times of day, vehicles per lagoon) ↗

Atins and the river mouth

The village of Atins lies outside the park at the mouth of the Rio Preguiças. From here there is kitesurfing, kayaking and beach walks to the mouth of the Rio Negro and Lagoa Verde.

ICMBio: Barreirinhas (Lagoa Azul, Lagoa Bonita, Lagoa da Esperança, Atins, Canto dos Lençóis) ↗

Show on the map

Nature: dune chains, lagoons and three biomes

How wind, sand and rain create a new landscape every year.

Barchans in long chains

On the beach the wind shapes small crescent dunes half a metre to one metre high; inland they grow into chains up to 30 m (98 ft) high that reach more than 20 km (12 mi) inland.

UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (2024, 156,562 ha, dunes and rainwater lagoons) ↗

Algae colour the water

The beds of the lagoons are covered with brown and green algae and cyanobacteria; hence the changing colours that UNESCO describes as part of the World Heritage value.

UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (2024, 156,562 ha, dunes and rainwater lagoons) ↗

Cerrado, Caatinga and Amazon

The park lies in the transition between three of Brazil's great biomes. More than 40,000 hectares are covered with restinga, along with mangroves, rivers and marine areas.

UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (2024, 156,562 ha, dunes and rainwater lagoons) ↗

04Where to stay: Barreirinhas, Santo Amaro, Atins or the oases

Hotels are in the towns on the edge; inside the dune field there is only simple community lodging.

In the gateway towns

Barreirinhas is the largest town by the park. Santo Amaro do Maranhão has pousadas and restaurants and is less than 2 km (1.2 mi) from the park boundary.

ICMBio: Santo Amaro do Maranhão (Betânia, Ponta Verde, América, Andorinha, Emendadas, Junco and Rancharia circuits) ↗

Show on the map

In the oasis

If you walk the Travessia, you sleep in Baixa Grande or Queimada dos Britos. Booking the community lodging is compulsory, and you must be able to show the reservation on the way.

ICMBio: Travessia dos Lençóis, rules for the 2026 season (Ofício Circular 5/2026) ↗

Show on the map

No new businesses in the park

In 2025 the park agency banned new tourism businesses and services inside the park.

ICMBio: circulars from the park management, 2025 and 2026 ↗

05Rules in Lençóis Maranhenses National Park: no private cars, no alcohol, no fires

What the park agency ICMBio requires.

No vehicles on the open dunes

Motor vehicles may not drive over the open dune field. All unlicensed vehicles are banned: private cars, motorbikes, buggies, quad bikes, UTVs, enduro and rally driving.

ICMBio: visitor information (no entrance fee, licensed vehicles and guides, getting there, rules) ↗

No alcohol, no fires, no pets

Selling, carrying and drinking alcohol is banned in the park, as are campfires, barbecues and stoves. Pets are not allowed.

ICMBio: visitor information (no entrance fee, licensed vehicles and guides, getting there, rules) ↗

Long-distance treks in 2026

No more than ten people per guide, no glass, no fires; on tours with an overnight stay each group must carry a container for human waste.

ICMBio: Travessia dos Lençóis, rules for the 2026 season (Ofício Circular 5/2026) ↗

Carry enough water

For the Travessia the park agency recommends at least three litres of water per person per day; supplies are only available in Baixa Grande and Queimada dos Britos. Bring sun protection and insect repellent.

ICMBio: visitor information (no entrance fee, licensed vehicles and guides, getting there, rules) ↗

With a guide into the Zona Primitiva

The park agency advises taking a guide for the Travessia: it is easy to get lost in the dune field, there is often no mobile signal, and some stretches see nobody for days.

ICMBio: Polo Oásis (Baixa Grande, Queimada dos Britos, Zona Primitiva) ↗

What comes next

East along the coast route.

East via Paulino Neves

The MA-315 links Barreirinhas with Paulino Neves and on to the coast of Piauí and Ceará, the Rota das Emoções.

ICMBio: visitor information (no entrance fee, licensed vehicles and guides, getting there, rules) ↗

06Frequently asked questions: Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

Is there an entrance fee for Lençóis Maranhenses National Park?

No. The park agency ICMBio charges no visitor fee. You pay the licensed operators for the vehicle, driver and guide.

ICMBio: visitor information (no entrance fee, licensed vehicles and guides, getting there, rules) ↗

When do the lagoons have water?

According to the tourism ministry, the lagoons are fullest after the rainy season (February to May), especially between May and September. How long they stay full depends on the rain in any given year.

Brazilian Ministry of Tourism (MTur), 25 Sep 2026: Lençóis Maranhenses, getting there and when to go ↗

Can I drive my own car to Lagoa Azul?

No. Only vehicles licensed by the park agency, with licensed drivers, may enter the dune field; private cars, buggies, quad bikes and UTVs are banned. Access on foot is allowed.

ICMBio: visitor information (no entrance fee, licensed vehicles and guides, getting there, rules) ↗

How do I get from São Luís to Barreirinhas?

Around 260 km (162 mi) overland, four hours on average by bus or private minibus.

Brazilian Ministry of Tourism (MTur), 25 Sep 2026: Lençóis Maranhenses, getting there and when to go ↗

Lagoa Azul or Lagoa Bonita?

Both circuits start in Barreirinhas. Lagoa Azul is usually a half-day trip in the morning; at Lagoa Bonita you climb a wooden staircase up a high dune.

ICMBio: Barreirinhas (Lagoa Azul, Lagoa Bonita, Lagoa da Esperança, Atins, Canto dos Lençóis) ↗

Is Atins inside the national park?

No. The village of Atins lies just outside, at the mouth of the Rio Preguiças. The hamlet of Canto dos Lençóis at the edge of the dunes belongs to the park.

ICMBio: Barreirinhas (Lagoa Azul, Lagoa Bonita, Lagoa da Esperança, Atins, Canto dos Lençóis) ↗

Do I need a guide for the Travessia dos Lençóis?

The park agency recommends one: it is easy to get lost in the dune field, and there is often no mobile signal. Registering at the start and booking accommodation in the oases are compulsory.

ICMBio: Polo Oásis (Baixa Grande, Queimada dos Britos, Zona Primitiva) ↗

07Where the information comes from

The park agency ICMBio (pages and circulars in Portuguese, summarised), UNESCO and the Ministry of Tourism; offers checked with the operators.

  1. ICMBio: Parque Nacional dos Lençóis Maranhenses (Decree 86,060 of 1981, 156,608.16 ha, World Heritage 2024) ↗
  2. ICMBio: visitor information (no entrance fee, licensed vehicles and guides, getting there, rules) ↗
  3. ICMBio: Barreirinhas (Lagoa Azul, Lagoa Bonita, Lagoa da Esperança, Atins, Canto dos Lençóis) ↗
  4. ICMBio: Santo Amaro do Maranhão (Betânia, Ponta Verde, América, Andorinha, Emendadas, Junco and Rancharia circuits) ↗
  5. ICMBio: Primeira Cruz (Lagoa da Areia, boat trips, Mairi) ↗
  6. ICMBio: Polo Oásis (Baixa Grande, Queimada dos Britos, Zona Primitiva) ↗
  7. ICMBio: Travessia dos Lençóis, rules for the 2026 season (Ofício Circular 5/2026) ↗
  8. ICMBio: field bases (Atins, Mata Fome, Santo Amaro, Barra da Baleia; 58 communities in the park) ↗
  9. ICMBio: circulars from the park management, 2025 and 2026 ↗
  10. ICMBio: Ofício Circular 16/2026 of 11 Jul 2026 (no private vehicles in the dune field, overland access to Atins only via the outside road) ↗
  11. ICMBio: Ofício Circular 14/2026 of 9 Jul 2026 (Lagoa da Jacundá in place of the drained Lagoa do Bicudo Gordo) ↗
  12. ICMBio: Annex II to the 2026 call, visitor management (access points, times of day, vehicles per lagoon) ↗
  13. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (2024, 156,562 ha, dunes and rainwater lagoons) ↗
  14. Brazilian Ministry of Tourism (MTur), 25 Sep 2026: Lençóis Maranhenses, getting there and when to go ↗
  15. OpenStreetMap: boundary of Parque Nacional dos Lençóis Maranhenses (relation 7458131) ↗

How current is this information?

Researched 9 Oct 2026. Not a live status. Dates apply only to the year stated. A successful automatic fetch is not an editorial confirmation; outdated automatic values are hidden and replaced by the source link.

Current information from the park ↗

Image and map credits

Location sources: All points come from OpenStreetMap, each referenced by its object number. Checked against the park boundary in OpenStreetMap (relation 7458131): Lagoa Azul, Lagoa Bonita, Lagoa do Junco, Canto do Atins, Baixa Grande, Queimada dos Britos, Betânia and Ponta Verde lie inside. The village of Atins and the towns of Barreirinhas and Santo Amaro do Maranhão lie outside and are shown as gateways. The lagoons change with rain and wind; the points mark the position in OpenStreetMap, not the water level of any given year. Markers do not imply that access is permitted. Base map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Coastlines of the chapter map: Natural Earth.

End of the field book · Park authority ↗