Skip to content
Compare destinations

Which is better: Alter do Chão or Lençóis Maranhenses?

Short answer

Alter do Chão is in the Amazon (PA), while Lençóis Maranhenses is in the state of Maranhão (MA): different regions of Brazil. Alter do Chão: the Amazon's Caribbean; Lençóis Maranhenses: a desert that fills with water. For this month's weather, Lençóis Maranhenses has the edge.

Sources: INMET (updated 2026) · ANP · OpenStreetMap
Most reviewed activity in Alter do ChãoTapajós National Forest Tour★ 8.7 · 3 reviews · from US$ 77 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Most reviewed activity in Lençóis MaranhensesBonita Lagoon Off-Roading Tour★ 9.3 · 33 reviews · from US$ 24 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Alter do Chão Lençóis Maranhenses
Best time to visit Aug → Nov Aug → Dec
Weather this month 33° · 5 days of rain 33° · 0 days of rain
By car R$ 21 · from Santarém R$ 144 · from São Luís
Ideal stay 3–4 days 3–4 days
Best for Relax, Adventure, Family Adventure, Relax
Choose Alter do Chão if

you want a trip for relaxation and adventure seekers: white-sand beaches and crystal-clear water that appear when the Tapajós River drops.

See guide
Choose Lençóis Maranhenses if

you want a trip for adventure seekers and relaxation: white dunes as far as the eye can see, dotted with blue and green lagoons that exist only after the rains.

See guide
Comparison tool
Compare Alter do Chão and Lençóis Maranhenses with any other destination
Build your own side-by-side table with up to 3 destinations.
Open the comparison tool
Where to stay

Where to stay: Alter do Chão or Lençóis Maranhenses

What usually tips the balance for your wallet is the rate on your travel dates. Check current prices for each city before deciding.

Compare hotels and places to stay in Alter do Chão on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

See all hotels in Alter do Chão

Compare hotels and places to stay in Lençóis Maranhenses on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

Porto Preguicas Resort in Lençóis Maranhenses 8.9 ★★★★★ · 19 reviews Porto Preguicas Resort See on Booking → VILA ATY LODGE in Lençóis Maranhenses 4.8 ★★★★★ · 1 review VILA ATY LODGE See on Booking →
See all hotels in Lençóis Maranhenses

Rates change with the dates: confirm the price on Booking.com.

Frequently asked questions

Alter do Chão or Lençóis Maranhenses: which is better?
Alter do Chão is in the Amazon (PA), while Lençóis Maranhenses is in the state of Maranhão (MA): different regions of Brazil. Alter do Chão: the Amazon's Caribbean; Lençóis Maranhenses: a desert that fills with water. For this month's weather, Lençóis Maranhenses has the edge.
What is the best time to visit Alter do Chão and Lençóis Maranhenses?
The best time to visit Alter do Chão is from August to November; for Lençóis Maranhenses, it is from August to December, based on INMET's climate normals (temperature and rainfall for each month). If your trip already has a date, check each destination's page for your month.
Which of the two is cheaper to get to?
By car, leaving from Santarém, Alter do Chão is 37 km (23 mi) and costs about R$ 21 each way (fuel plus tolls); leaving from São Luís, Lençóis Maranhenses is 255 km (158 mi) and costs about R$ 144 each way (fuel plus tolls). The calculation assumes a car that gets 11 km/L. Lodging and activities vary with each place's season.
Where does it rain less, Alter do Chão or Lençóis Maranhenses?
Averaged over the year, Alter do Chão has 14 rainy days a month and Lençóis Maranhenses has 10. Lençóis Maranhenses is the drier of the two over the year as a whole, but what decides the trip is the month: the rainiest month in Alter do Chão is March and in Lençóis Maranhenses, March. For temperature, Lençóis Maranhenses is the warmer one (average high of 32° versus 31°).
How many days should you spend in Alter do Chão and in Lençóis Maranhenses?
To see the main sights without rushing, Alter do Chão calls for 3–4 days and Lençóis Maranhenses, 3–4 days. These are distant regions: with a week or less, it is usually better to pick one of the two and make the most of it.
Alter do Chão or Lençóis Maranhenses with kids?
Alter do Chão (Amazon's Caribbean, river beaches, and Borari culture) is the better pick of the two for families. Lençóis Maranhenses (dunes and lagoons; desert with water; 4x4 jeep) is geared more toward adults or couples. With small children, weather matters: Lençóis Maranhenses has fewer rainy days over the year.
What should you not miss in each?
In Alter do Chão: Ilha do Amor, Lago Verde, Floresta Nacional do Tapajós. In Lençóis Maranhenses: Lagoa Azul, Lagoa Bonita, Circuito das Lagoas. These are the sights that show up most in first-trip itineraries for each destination; the full guide to each has the whole list.