Lencois Maranhenses National Park

If you feel like getting away from it all, to visit what is considered to be one of the most beautiful places on the Brazilian Coast, then look no further that a trip to Lencois Maranhenses National Park.

Lencois are bed sheets or linen in Portuguese. This is a wonderful way to describe the rolling sand dunes, it's as though they are bed sheets hung out to dry, changing their shape as the sands shift with the winds.

Spend a few days here. This unique natural phenomenon where desert-like dunes are interspersed with beautiful natural freshwater lagoons and lakes is a surreal sight. It's something quite different. You'll enjoy a guided 4 x 4 tour, where you can feel the sand between your toes and enjoy a swim in crystal clear lagoons. Also on this trip, spend the day gently sailing up the Rio Preguicas which translates as 'Lazy River' and top it off with a delightful lunch of the freshest seafood from one of the restaurants at Cabure.

Spend your first and last night in Sao Luis, this is the gateway to Lencois Maranhenses. Rich in French and Portuguese colonial history this city is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and worth a visit in its own right.

This trip is best done between June and October when the lagoons are at their best. The heavy rains from January to June fill the lagoons. Once the rains stop, as time goes on, the water evaporates, and come late October most of the water has gone, so it's important to time your trip well.