10 days

São Luis – Alcântara – Lençois Maranhenses - Atins – Delta du Parnaiba –Jericoacoara - Fortaleza

From São Luis to Fortaleza, it is more than a thousand kilometres of adventure along the equator, exactly under the sun. In a four-wheel drive, by motorboat and in a buggy, set out to discover extraordinary places. São Luis, a city founded by the French in 1612, a world heritage site, and Alcântara the sleeping beauty; Lençois Maranhenses, Nature in all its glory; Atins, a fishing village lost in the back of beyond; Parnaiba Delta and it´s rich ecosystem and, finally, Jericoacoara, “one of the ten best beaches in the world”.

You will love: Just walking around in the streets of São Luís and Alcântara and feeling the depth of History; bathing in the lagoons in the middle of the Lençois dunes; going down the Preguiças river; the remote fishing villages; the great feeling of adventure and freedom; the sea temperature at 28ºC; sunset on the huge Jeri dune.

Day 1: São Luis

Welcome at São Luis airport and transfer to your pousada. In the afternoon, guided tour (English speaking guide) of this splendid old city centre which has been awarded world cultural heritage status by Unesco.

Day 2: Alcântara

Early in the morning, take the boat for Alcântara (an hour's crossing). Founded in 1648 on the site of a Tupinambá Indian village, Alcântara was the favourite residence of the wealthy aristocracy of Maranhão for two centuries. In spite of its huge production of sugarcane, salt, cotton and rice, the rise of its overpowering neighbour São Luís was to bring about its decline in the 19 th century, a decline accelerated by the abolition of slavery in 1888. Since then, this sleepy city has preserved its architectural heritage and pace of life. As soon as the traveller sets foot on Alcântara soil, the wealth of history becomes apparent. Full day and meals free. Night in a pousada at São Luis.

Day 3: São Luis – Barreirinhas - Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

Leave in the morning from São Luís in a minibus (4 hours) and reach Barreirinhas late morning. Settle down in your pousada then leave in a four-wheel drive to discover the Lençois Maranhenses National Park, one the most stunningly beautiful places in Brazil. It's a sea of dunes which stretches over 1550 square kilometres like an immense white sheet placed on the mangroves. During the rainy season, from end of January to end of June, hundreds of ponds of limpid waters are formed between the white sand dunes. A place of unique beauty. Picnic, swim, then back to Barreirinhas early afternoon for a well deserved siesta. Evening and dinner free. Night in a hotel or pousada.

Option: fly over the Lençois National Park in a single engine Cessna type plane.

Day 4 : Barreirinhas – Atins

Early in the morning, go down the Rio Preguiças (Lazy River) in a motorboat and reach the tiny village of Atins . You have a variety of animals moving around the backdrop of the mangrove: red ibis, egrets, kingfishers, monkeys. Atins is a fishing village stuck between the mouth of the river, the ocean and the white sand dunes of the Lençois Maranhenses National Park. Night in a pousada.

Option : Horse ride in the dunes.

Day 5: Atins – Caburé – Ilha das Canarias - Parnaíba

After breakfast, cross the Preguiças river in a motorboat and reach Caburé from where you will set out in a four-wheel drive along the beach anda cross the dunes up to the little town of Parnaiba where you reach late morning. Once you're there, go for an excursion by boat in the lovely Parnaiba Delta and a delicious lunch of fish (not included) on the Ilha das Canarias . Night in a hotel or pousada.

Day 6: Parnaíba – Camocim - Jericoacoara

Leave Parnaiba in the morning by minibus to reach Camocim where, after lunch (not included), you set out in a buggy for Jericoacoara . Start by crossing the Coreaú river on a country boat. The “jangadeiros” struggling against the wind and the waves is one of those images of Brazil that will remain in your memory for many years. After two hours of adventure across the dunes, you reach Jeri late afternoon to see the magnificent show of the sunset from the top of the sand dune. Night in a pousada.

Day 7: Jericoacoara

“One of the ten best beaches in the world” according to the article in the Washington Post dated 15 March 1987. No doubt about it but, don't forget , Jericoacoara is not a beach resort. Forget the parasols and the chaises longues, coconut palms and white sands... No, more than a beach, Jericoacoara is an experience, the experience of being exposed to the elements all the time : the sun, the sea, the wind and the sand. The whole day and the evening are free so that you can make the best of the beach, the swimming pool and the night entertainment in Jeri. Night in a pousada.

Option: buggy ride up to Lagoa Azul and/or Lagoa do Paraíso.

Day 8: Jericoacoara –Fortaleza airport

Leave in the morning for Fortaleza airport in a four-wheel drive along the beach then by road. The trip will take around 5 hours.

Prix du séjour : nous contacter

Option: Jericoacoara to Fortaleza along the beach only by four-wheel drive or in a buggy. It would take 9 hours of travel over 2 days to cover 300 km of sublime beaches like Icaraï de Amontada, Praia da Baleia, Mundaú, Flexeiras, Lagoinha, Cumbuco, etc.

NB: We would like to underline that the “Exactly under the Sun”programme is an “off the beaten track” tour excursion and there are no luxury hotels or restaurants in the places visited. Therefore arrangements are made for accommodation for certain nights and meals in simple places where the services are good.

On request: list of accommodation, custom-made quotation, etc.

Possible extensions of the tour : Belém and Marajó Island and/or Santarém and Alter do Chão.