In the next instalment of Our Routes series dedicated to sharing travel experiences from our experts all over Latin America, we take a look at a road less travelled with product executive Hannah Finch, who had a blast over the sandscapes of the Route of Emotion’s Lençóis Maranhenses National Park in the northeast of Brazil.
Route of Emotions – Sao Luis, Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Parnaíba, Jericoacoara.
Via Lisbon and Recife with TAP, then overland travel by 4X4, dune buggy, boat, and ferry-raft.
First time to Brazil… definitely not my last though!
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park – I’d seen pictures but they don’t do it justice. The park is so vast, pristine, stunningly beautiful and feels out of this world.
Driving around the dunes in Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, taking in the scenery, we ended at a completely deserted lagoon. Covered in sand, I jumped straight into the water! It was crystal clear, really refreshing and we had it completely to ourselves, no other people for as far as the eye could see. Paradise!
There were loads of great experiences, romantic sunset picnics in the dunes, experiencing a carnival in Sao Luis and a boat ride along the Parnaíba Delta to see flocks of scarlet ibis coming in to roost. At exactly 5.45 pm, while the sun was setting the birds flew in from every direction, their bright red feathers catching the light, it was magical. But my personal favourite excursion had to be buggy driving in the dunes, it was really great fun driving up and down the dunes, and through streams.
Pack light – in the day all you’ll need is shorts and t-shirts, swimwear and flip flops, then something nice for the evening. Top tip: make sure you have enough cash or be prepared to pay on a card, there are very few ATMs and hardly anywhere changes money along the way.
The food was amazing, fresh fish, shrimp, crab, lobster, octopus – every day. However, my favourite was a feijoada (pork and black bean stew) buffet where we tried all different cuts of pork and sausages, served with salads, rice, cassava chips and lots more.
Being Brazil it would be rude not to say a caipirinha was my favourite drink, I sampled many along the way… all in the name of research of course!
This one of sunset in lovely Atins.
Stunning, peaceful, unforgettable.
Ready to book your trip to northern Brazil? Get in touch with one of our Brazil specialists today on 020 3820 0885, or complete the enquiry form to get in touch.
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