The first time you set eyes on the Lencois Maranhanses you'll almost certainly be blown away. A dazzling white desert dotted with many brightly coloured turquoise lakes, filled with fish continues to baffle both scientists and tourists alike on their Brazil tours. The lakes only appear during December to July which begs the question of where the fish disappear to for the rest of the year.
Typical Brazil vacation packages to the Lencois Maranhanses start in the town of Sao Luis do Maranhao which is famous for the tiles that the city is decorated in, because of this fact it is also known as 'the tiles city'. Sao Luis became a UNESCO World heritage site in 1997 due to its colonial architecture and on your Brazil holiday you can spend a day here visiting all the sites, which are best seen during a historical city tour.
The Lencois Maranhanses is located just a short drive away from Sao Luis and it is easily possible to spend an entire day at the national park whilst on your Brazil holidays.
A jeep is the best way to get around the park and as vehicles splash in and out of the water your guide will attempt to catch some fresh prawns on your Brazil tour, which can be barbecued later and eaten al fresco for supper. Many visitors to the Lencois Maranhanses enjoy swimming in the turquoise inlets and as these lakes are situated in the desert they retain an ideal temperature on a year-round basis. As the lakes are also home to many species of fish it is possible to snorkel amongst them during your Brazil holidays. To see a slightly different side of the dunes, you may even want to take a trip above the Lencois Maranhanses in a single-engine plane. This is a definite must for adventure-junkies and provides stunning aerial views out over the National Park.As the parks contain so many lagoons, it may be hard deciding where to head to on your Brazil tour. However, the Lagoa de Gaivota, or the Seagull Lagoon, is the largest and most scenic of all the lagoons and can be found 60 miles north of the town Barreinhas. The Lagoa de Gaivota had a starring role in the 2005 film 'Casa de Areiha' and since then has managed to attract visitors from far and wide on their Brazil holidays.
The nearby Preguicas River is also worth visiting your Brazil tour and a short boat trip from the town of Barreirinhas takes you to a beautiful lighthouse which offers stunning panoramas out over the dunes. The lighthouse is also the perfect place in which to stop for a photo opportunity of both the dunes and the Preguicas River. The river is a way of life for many native people and a visit to a local fishing community will give you the opportunity to interact with the local people and discover their way of life whilst on your Brazil holidays.
Visiting Beautiful Lencois Maranhenses