Lençóis Maranhenses: The 15 Best Dune and Lagoon Trips

1.Full-day excursion Lencois Marnahenses, Lagoa Azul & Lagoa Bonita combined

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 171 reviews Our pick

Spend a full day in Lençóis Maranhenses with pickup, off-road rides, swims at Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Bonita, a regional lunch stop, and sunset from a high dune. Portuguese-speaking guides such as Diego lead the outing, while Sebastian provides trip support. Private and small-group options are available.

“tour privé en dehors des circuits classiques super! même si on n était pas à la meilleure saison. Sebas et son chauffeur Diego sont au top et à l'écoute pour aménager le programme.... a refaire sans aucun doutes !!! je recommande fortement .. Merci pour ce temps passé déconnecté dans ce site des Lençois....”

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2.Full Day Tour -2 Lagoons (Azul and Bonita)

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 137 reviews · 8 hours · from $73

Spend about eight hours with a Portuguese-speaking guide in Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. From Barreirinhas, ride a 4x4 to the Bonita and Azul circuits, walk between lagoons, stop for lunch at an oasis, and watch sunset on the dunes. Guides may include Dybala, with driver Jhonatan praised for confident 4x4 driving.

“the excursion is lovely - a bit adventurous, but it is totally worth it. the price a bit less - the third party agencies take their share, booking directly with them or on the spot lowers the price overall a lot.”

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3.Sunset Experience in Bonita Lagoon

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 86 reviews · 4 hours · from $44

Leave Barreirinhas around 2 pm for Bonita Lagoon, where a Portuguese-speaking guide leads you to two or three clear lagoons, with about 40 minutes to swim at each. Finish atop the region’s highest dune for sunset. Transport and a guide are included, with private groups available.

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4.Morning tour at Lençóis Maranhenses (Lagoa Azul)

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 45 reviews · 5 hours · from $44

Leave your Barreirinhas hotel around 8:30am for a five-hour morning visit to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. Ride about one hour to the dunes, walk to a high viewpoint, then visit two lagoons in the Lagoa Azul or Lagoa da Prata circuit. Your Portuguese-speaking guide provides transport and about 30 minutes to swim at each lagoon.

“Wspaniała wycieczka. Odbiór prosto z hotelu. Środowisko międzynarodowe, bardzo miłe. Laguny i wydmy są przecudowne. Polecam”

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5.Lagoa Bonita Circuit in Lençóis Maranhenses

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 45 reviews · from $29Best value

From Barreirinhas, ride a 4x4 across the Rio Preguiças by ferry and into Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. A steep 140-step climb, helped by a rope, leads to views over white dunes and several lagoons, including Maçarico, Clone, and Lagoa Bonita. The 2 pm departure is well suited to a sunset finish.

“This is an amazing tour, but the transport can be tricky. The visit to the lagoon is breathtaking and a very unique experience. We were there in November when the water was low but we could still bathe in the fresh water that surfaces Read more”

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6.Lagoa Bonita Trail

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 42 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $49

From Barreirinhas, cross the Preguiças River by ferry, ride a 4x4 through sandy roads, and walk up an 85-meter dune into Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. You’ll visit Lagoa Bonita and Lagoa Azul with a guide, choosing an 8:30 am departure or an afternoon outing timed for sunset. The group is limited to 11 people.

“We booked a tour with an English tour guide and supposed to be picked up at designated time and hotel. We waited and waited. When no one came to pick up, we tried to call and we were told it's on the way and sorry for the delay. Ended up after waiting for almost an hour came a non English speaking driver/guide. He was kind and tried to communicate with us by a translate app. So it worked out well especially realizing that we were the only people he's touring. Wish an early communication if there will be a delay or for any changes.”

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7.Full Day Tour: Santo Amaro Lagoons

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 17 reviews · 10 hours

Spend about 10 hours exploring Santo Amaro and the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park by transfer, 4x4, and on foot. You’ll visit seasonal lagoons such as Peixe, Andorinha, and Gaivota, pause for lunch, and may watch sunset from the dunes. English and Portuguese guides are available, though English service should be confirmed.

“The experience is a once in a lifetime! If you are the Lençóis area, this is a must. You can’t beat the views and it’s super clean.”

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8.Preguicas River Speedboat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 14 reviews · 5 hours · from $35

You’ll leave your Barreirinhas hotel by 4x4, board a fast boat on the Preguiças River, and stop at Pequenos Lençóis, Vassouras, Mandacaru Lighthouse, and Caburé. A Portuguese-speaking guide accompanies the five-hour outing. Expect river views, dunes, monkeys, and a long lunch stop where the river meets the Atlantic.

“We enjoy the tour, we met funny monkeys, swam, relaxed, enjoyed beautiful views.”

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9.Half-day excursion to Lagoa Bonita in the Lencois Maranhenses

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews

Set out from your accommodation with a Portuguese-speaking guide for an afternoon 4x4 ride across 18 kilometers of sandy tracks. Cross the Rio Preguiças, climb a 30-meter dune by wooden stairs, swim in clear lagoons, and stay for sunset. The local team, including Sebastian, Celiane, and guide Diego, is known for careful timing and friendly help.

“Excelente tour a Lagoa Bonita. Sebastian y su esposa fueron a entregarnos información y un snack antes de iniciar la actividad. El guía que luego nos acompañó realizó esfuerzos por explicarnos y así nosotros poder entender las indicaciones que daba en portugués, para más tarde esperarnos hasta que el atardecer se completara en los Lençóis.”

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10.Lagoa Azul and Maranhao Half-Day Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 12 reviews · 3 hours · from $56

Leave Barreirinhas by included transport for a three-hour guided visit to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. Walk over white dunes to Lagoa Azul, swim in its clear turquoise water, and learn about local birds, plants, and wildlife from an English-speaking guide. The route may change when seasonal lagoons dry up.

“Au début je me suis dit que j'ai fait un mauvais choix car les informations pour le ramassage étaient tardifs et le ramassage en lui-même a traîné. Mais au final, nous avons passé un super moment à la lagune bleue, sur un temps respecté, en compagnie d'une équipe sympathique et bienveillante. Merci, c'était splendide.”

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11.Caburé – Boat tour on the Rio Preguiças

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 12 reviews · 7 hours · from $60

Leave Barreirinhas at 8:00 for a Portuguese-guided speedboat ride along the Rio Preguiças. Visit the Small Lençóis at Vassouras, see the coast from the Mandacaru lighthouse, then spend several hours at Caburé between river and ocean. Lunch and drinks cost extra, while water, a snack, transport, and the boat ride are included.

“Het was een rampzalige tocht met 5 boten die steeds kapot gingen en gesleept moesten worden. Een gids was er überhaupt niet meer sinds hij de eerste boot verlaten had. Het was eindeloos wachten op een nieuwe boot waardoor de plaatsen die bezocht zouden worden niet bereikt zijn. In gesprek met de touragency hebben wij geprobeerd ons geld terug te krijgen. Dat was akkoord .”

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12.Private full day: Lencois Maranhenses National Park Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 8 hours

Meet your guide at your Barreirinhas hotel for a private eight-hour trip into Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. Walk between lagoons, swim if conditions allow, eat at a family-run restaurant in an oasis, and watch sunset from the dunes. Guides may include Diego, Pedro, or Juliana, with English, Spanish, and Portuguese support listed.

“The day spend in Lagunas was AMAZING! Heaven in earth - Lencois Maranhenses. Diego was so wonderful guide, a lot of attractions, many places and lagoons visited - walk and swim👌 Gugo - the best driver in area. Excellent team 👍 A lot of attention for a details and explanations.”

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13.Day trip to Atins through the Lencois Maranhenses

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 6 reviews · 7 hours · from $88

This seven-hour small-group or private trip takes you across the Rio Preguiças, then 33 kilometers by 4x4 through dunes and small settlements to Atins. You can explore the village, watch kite surfers, swim in a lagoon or the sea, eat local food, and finish with sunset over the dunes. A Portuguese-speaking guide leads the day.

“Loved the jeep ride in the dunes, the beautiful lagoons (maybe the best ones we have seen in lençóis) and the lunch with ocean view in Atins. Can really recommend this tour.”

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14.Day trekking in Lençóis Maranhenses

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 12 hours · from $261

Leave Barreirinhas at 9 am by 4x4 and walk 12 km through Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, moving from the Lagoa Azul circuit to Lagoa Bonita. A Portuguese-speaking local guide leads the route, with time for lunch and sunset before the ride back. Food and drinks are not included.

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15.Half-day excursion to Lagoa Azul in the Lencois Maranhenses

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews

You’ll be picked up at your accommodation in Barreirinhas, cross the Rio Preguiças by ferry, then ride 14 kilometers by off-road vehicle to Lagoa Azul. A Portuguese-speaking guide leads the private five-hour outing, with time to swim, walk the dunes, and watch the sunset on afternoon departures.

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