9.3· 33 reviews
Bonita Lagoon Off-Roading Tour
Get lost among the dunes and oases of the Lençóis Maranhenses protected area on this off-roading vehicle tour to Lagoa Bonita. It's a stunning landscape!
6 h
from US$ 24
In brief
The Lençóis Maranhenses deserve 3 to 4 days: the Circuito das Lagoas, the Preguiças River trip and a side trip to Atins or Caburé. The lagoons are full from June to September, once the skies have cleared; in those months rainfall drops (174 mm in June, 3 mm in September) and highs are around 32 °C. From January to May it rains much more, with 453 mm over 22 days in March.
The destination
What to expect in Lençóis Maranhenses
The Lençóis Maranhenses are one of the most improbable landscapes in Brazil: a field of white dunes stretching across about 155,000 hectares of the Maranhão coast, protected as a national park since 1981. From a distance it looks like a desert, but it is not: the region gets a lot of rain, between 1,500 and 2,000 mm a year. Because the sand is very fine and the water table lies just below it, rainwater collects between the dunes and forms thousands of clear freshwater lagoons, in shades from turquoise blue to green. This meeting of desert and water is what gives the place its name and fame.
Barreirinhas is the main gateway to the park, on the banks of the Preguiças River. The town has the pousadas (small inns), the tour agencies and the 4x4 jeeps that head to the Circuito das Lagoas, home to the two most famous lagoons: Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Bonita. The lagoons follow the rhythm of the seasons: they start filling in January with the first rains, peak between May and August and dry out in the second half of the year. That is why the best time to swim in the lagoons is from June to September, when they are full and the skies have cleared.
Beyond the dunes, the region offers several days of excursions. The boat trip down the Preguiças River passes riverside villages, mangroves and the Pequenos Lençóis, ending at the Mandacaru Lighthouse, where you can see the river meet the sea. At the river mouth is Atins, a fishing village that has become a refuge for those seeking calm, with good winds for kitesurfing and access to another side of the dunes.
Updated on October 19, 2026
What to see
Must-sees in Lençóis Maranhenses
1 Lagoon
Lagoa Azul
The most visited lagoon on the Circuito das Lagoas, with clear water in a blue-green tone among white dunes. You get there by 4x4 jeep from Barreirinhas.
2 Lagoon
Lagoa Bonita
Surrounded by one of the largest dunes in the park, a climb up the sand is rewarded with one of the most impressive views in the Lençóis. Excellent at sunset.
3 4x4 tour
Circuito das Lagoas
A jeep tour that crosses the dunes near Barreirinhas and stops at several lagoons for swimming, including Lagoa Azul. It is the classic half-day itinerary in the park.
4 Boat trip
Preguiças River trip
A motorboat journey through mangroves and riverside villages, with stops at Vassouras, Mandacaru and the river mouth. One of the most complete trips in the region.
5 Dunes
Pequenos Lençóis
The stretch of dunes closest to the coast, between Caburé and Atins, where the sand field meets the sea and the coconut palms. A stunning scene at the end of the river trip.
6 Village
Atins Village
A former fishing village at the mouth of the Preguiças River, now a rustic retreat with beachfront pousadas, strong winds for kitesurfing and access to another side of the dunes.
7 Lookout
Mandacaru Lighthouse
A lighthouse in the village of Mandacaru, reached by climbing a flight of steps, with a panoramic view of the Preguiças River meeting the ocean and of the dunes in the distance.
Tours and tickets
Things to do in Lençóis Maranhenses, bookable in English
When to go
Best time to visit Lençóis Maranhenses
Brazil is in the Southern Hemisphere, so the seasons are reversed compared with Europe and North America: summer runs from December to March and winter from June to August. The reference climate is that of the São Luís station, in the state capital, about 250 km west of Barreirinhas, which has no weather station of its own. Here the year is shaped less by cold than by rain: the heat is constant, with highs of 30 to 33 °C and lows of 23 to 25 °C all year. October and November are the hottest months (33 °C highs), and July has the lowest minimum (23 °C).
Rain is concentrated in the first half of the year. September and October are the driest months, both with 3 mm (1 day in September and none in October), followed by November (10 mm over 1 day). March is the wettest, with 453 mm over 22 days, followed by April (431 mm over 22 days) and May (312 mm over 18 days).
What decides the trip is not the weather but the level of the lagoons, which follows the rains: they start filling in January, peak between May and August and dry out in the second half of the year. That is why the best time to swim is from June to September, with the lagoons full and the skies clear. Between October and December, although the weather is at its driest, many lagoons are dry or low.
Best window: August to December More rain / less comfortable Comfort index · INMET (updated 2026)
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Rainy days | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 °C | 24 °C | 235 mm | 13 | Not recommended |
| February | 31 °C | 24 °C | 308 mm | 17 | Not recommended |
| March | 30 °C | 24 °C | 453 mm | 22 | Not recommended |
| April | 31 °C | 24 °C | 431 mm | 22 | Not recommended |
| May | 31 °C | 24 °C | 312 mm | 18 | Not recommended |
| June | 32 °C | 24 °C | 174 mm | 13 | Not recommended |
| July | 32 °C | 23 °C | 111 mm | 10 | Fair |
| August | 32 °C | 24 °C | 23 mm | 3 | Good |
| September | 32 °C | 24 °C | 3 mm | 1 | Very good |
| October | 33 °C | 25 °C | 3 mm | 0 | Very good |
| November | 33 °C | 25 °C | 10 mm | 1 | Very good |
| December | 32 °C | 25 °C | 55 mm | 4 | Good |
Monthly averages for 1991-2020 from INMET (Brazil's National Institute of Meteorology). The rating combines rainfall, temperature and humidity.
The weather in Lençóis Maranhenses, season by season
Summer
In summer (December to February), Lençóis Maranhenses has highs of around 31 °C (88 °F) and lows of 24 °C (75 °F), and it is the wetter season, with about 199 mm of rain spread over about 11 days a month. The days are hot and call for beach time and shade.
Fall
In fall (March to May), Lençóis Maranhenses has highs of around 31 °C (88 °F) and lows of 24 °C (75 °F), and it is the wetter season, with about 399 mm of rain spread over about 21 days a month. The days are hot and call for beach time and shade.
Winter
In winter (June to August), Lençóis Maranhenses has highs of around 32 °C (90 °F) and lows of 24 °C (75 °F), and it is the wetter season, with about 103 mm of rain spread over about 9 days a month. The days are hot and call for beach time and shade.
Spring
In spring (September to November), Lençóis Maranhenses has highs of around 33 °C (91 °F) and lows of 25 °C (77 °F), and it is the driest time of year, with about 5 mm of rain a month. The days are hot and call for beach time and shade.
Month by month
Lençóis Maranhenses in every month of the year
Weather, crowds, prices and what is happening at the destination in each period. Tap a month to open its full page; the colored dot shows how good the time is for a visit.
Calendar
Recurring events in Lençóis Maranhenses
June/July
São João / Bumba Meu Boi
June festivities with bumba meu boi performances (a folk pageant built around a bull figure) and quadrilha square dancing, with an arraial (festival ground) organized by the Maranhão state government in Barreirinhas.
Recurring annual events: exact dates change every year, so confirm them before you plan your trip.
Getting there
Getting to Lençóis Maranhenses from abroad
The gateway from abroad is São Luís International Airport (Marechal Cunha Machado), code SLZ, in São Luís, about 250 km from Barreirinhas, the entrance most used for the park.
From São Luís you continue by land on the MA-402 (Translitorânea) to Barreirinhas, a trip of about 4 hours by car or van. Inside the park, the trip to the lagoons is made by 4x4 jeep with local agencies or guides. Routes and airlines change often; the safest approach is to check them when planning your trip.
SLZ · São Luís International Airport (Marechal Cunha Machado), about 250 km (155 mi) from Lençóis Maranhenses
Where to stay
Hotels in Lençóis Maranhenses
Barreirinhas, on the banks of the Preguiças River, has the pousadas and the tour agencies, and the 4x4 jeeps to the Circuito das Lagoas leave from there. Atins, at the river mouth, is the alternative for those who want calm: a fishing village with beachfront pousadas and good winds for kitesurfing, with access to another side of the dunes.
Rates change with the dates: confirm the price on Booking.com.
Before you go
Practical information for visitors from abroad
Entering the country
Passport and visa requirements depend on your nationality and can change. Confirm them on the website of Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs before buying your flight.
Currency and payments
The currency is the real (BRL). Check with your bank or card issuer about how payments work abroad, and carry cash for the villages in the park.
Language and time
Portuguese is spoken. The Lençóis Maranhenses use Brasília time, UTC−3, all year round.
Getting there
Fly to São Luís (SLZ) and continue about 250 km on the MA-402 (Translitorânea) to Barreirinhas, in about 4 hours by car or van.
Best time to visit
June to September, when the lagoons are full after the rains and the skies have cleared. The lagoons start to dry out in the second half of the year.
How long to stay
Three to four days to do the Circuito das Lagoas, the Preguiças River trip and visit Atins or Caburé.
Getting around and entering the park
Everything inside the park is done by 4x4 jeep with an agency or local guide; you do not drive on the dunes on your own. The national park has controlled access, and trips to the lagoons always go with authorized drivers.
What to bring
Sunscreen, a hat, water and swimwear that is easy to shake sand out of.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about Lençóis Maranhenses
What is the best time to see the lagoons full?
From June to September. The lagoons form with the rains of the first half of the year, peak between May and August and start drying out from September. Between October and December many are dry or low.
Why does a desert have so many lagoons?
Despite the dunes, the region gets a lot of rain, between 1,500 and 2,000 mm a year. The sand is very fine and the water table lies close to the surface, so rainwater collects between the dunes and forms thousands of freshwater lagoons.
Can you visit the Lençóis on your own?
You can drive to Barreirinhas, but inside the park trips to the lagoons can only be made by 4x4 jeep with agencies or authorized drivers. Driving on the dunes on your own is neither allowed nor safe.
How long should you stay in Barreirinhas?
With 3 to 4 days you can do the Circuito das Lagoas with Lagoa Azul, Lagoa Bonita at sunset, the Preguiças River trip to Mandacaru, and still fit in a side trip to Atins or Caburé.
How do you get to Barreirinhas from the airport?
Fly to São Luís (SLZ) and continue by land about 250 km on the MA-402 (Translitorânea), in about 4 hours by car or van. Routes and airlines change often; the safest approach is to check them when planning your trip.
What is the Preguiças River trip?
It is a motorboat trip down the river from Barreirinhas, with stops at villages such as Vassouras, at the Mandacaru Lighthouse and at the Pequenos Lençóis, ending near the river mouth, where the river meets the sea. It usually takes a full day.
Other destinations in Brazil
Alter do ChãoAngra dos ReisArraial d'AjudaArraial do CaboBalneário CamboriúBelo HorizonteBento GonçalvesBombinhasBonitoBrasíliaBrumadinhoBúziosCabo FrioCaldas NovasCampos do JordãoCanelaChapada DiamantinaChapada dos VeadeirosCuritibaDiamantinaFernando de NoronhaFlorianópolisFortalezaFoz do IguaçuGramadoIlha GrandeIlhabelaIlhéusJaparatingaJericoacoaraJoão PessoaMaceióManausMaragogiMarianaMonte VerdeMorro de São PauloNatalNiteróiOuro PretoParatyPetrópolisPipaPorto AlegrePorto de GalinhasPorto SeguroRecifeRio de JaneiroSalvadorSão João del-ReiSão Miguel dos MilagresSão PauloSão SebastiãoTamandaréTiradentesTrancosoUbatuba
Sources
The weather and population data in this guide come from official agencies and open databases. Entry requirements and health recommendations change: always check the official source linked.