Route of Emotions

Today your flight will arrive in São Luiz. You will be met at the airport and escorted to the hotel. After refreshing, take a guided walking city tour along the cobblestone streets of the old town, a UNESCO Heritage Site, to admire the beautiful colonial buildings ornamented by colourful tiles. São Luiz is the capital city of the state of Maranhão. It has known the rule of the French, the Dutch and the Portuguese and in general has a look similar to Lisbon. It is also known for its reggae music and an amazing folklore festival which takes place in June. There are many family-run restaurants where you can try local northeastern Brazilian food. Overnight at Luzeiros Hotel.

After breakfast, your driver will take you to discover the beautiful national park of Lençois Maranhenses, starting in Santo Amaro, a rustic village located right in the middle of white sand dunes and big cobalt-blue lagoons. A part of the journey is done by paved road and then you will continue in a 4×4 since the park area is sandy and unpaved. Visit Lagoa da Gaivota, one of the biggest lagoons in the park, and enjoy an incredible sunset. In the evening have dinner at one of the local restaurants – these are simple but serve very nice fresh fish or meat. Overnight at Ciamat Camp.

After breakfast you will take a trip to Bethânia, a village located on the edge of the Alegre river. The trip will take the full day (9.00 to 18.30). Immerse yourself in the mesmerising nature of Lençóis Maranhenses. This is a more remote and off the beaten track area of the Route of Emotions so you will have it all for yourself. At lunch break in the village you can taste the typical dishes of the region as galinha caipira or goat with coconut milk. In the afternoon discover new lagoons of different colors and shapes. A magnificent sunset is always present in this park. Overnight at Ciamat Camp.

Today continue your journey to Barreirinhas (1,5h). During this full day trip you will visit Lagoa Bonita, Lagoa Azul and Lagoa do Peixe, the popular highlights of this region. Don’t forget the swimsuit – the crystal clear lagoons are perfect for a bath. The lagoons are filled with rainwater and are of different colours: from green, blue and black. Closer to the evening your driver will take you to the hotel. Barreirinhas is a bigger town with more infrastructure, located on the banks of river Preguiças. Have a look at the local crafts market. There are a lot of interesting hand-made souvenirs. Overnight at Porto Preguiças Resort.

After breakfast embark on a speedboat adventure on the river Preguiças. Explore the mangrove forest and visit the golden dunes of the Small Lençois in Vassouras. Sometimes there are playful monkeys in the mangroves. You will have lunch in a rustic fishing village, after which you will visit Mandacaru lighthouse for a fantastic panoramic view. Later on continue to Atins, a small charming village located on the beach. Spend the afternoon at leisure. The beach in Atins is bioluminescent, try to take a walk on the beach at night – it’s magical. Overnight at Pousada Maresia.

Spend this day at leisure. Practice some sports, relax and enjoy the beauty of this castaway village. You can visit more lagoons or simply enjoy a relaxing day. There are a lot of things to do such as horse riding, kite-surfing, fishing, dune and lagoons adventure. For lunch we recommend a rustic family-run place serving giant shrimps in Canto de Atins owned by Luzia, reachable on a short 4×4 ride. It is famous all over Brazil and really good for any seafood lover. Atins has its magic, you will instantly fall in love with this beautiful village, it is one of the most beautiful ones on the Route of Emotions. Overnight at Pousada Maresia.

Early after breakfast, you will be taken back to the river to take a 25-min boat transfer to Caburé then in a 4×4 onwards to Parnaiba, the 3rd largest river delta in the world. Pass by Oásis de Rio Novo, Paulino Neves, Tutóia, Lagoinha, Barro Duro, Cana Brava. You will arrive in Porto dos Tatus and board a speedboat to Ilha das Canárias where you will stop to have lunch at Casa de Caboclo. At 3pm continue to Baia do Caju. Stop at Morro do Meio for dune walking and swimming, then head to Revoada dos Guarás to spot the spectacular red ibis which return to the mangroves for the night – this is truly an unforgettable experience at sunset. Overnight at Casa Santo Antonio.

After breakfast, continue to a colorful fishing port of Camocim. Take a detour and cross over to visit the romantic Ilha do Amor by ferry-boat. After a delicious lunch on the other side of Camocim, take a walk amongst the sand dunes before continuing the drive to Jericoacoara. On the way to Jeri you will also stop in Tatajuba to see the mangrove trees. Once checked-in at your pousada, head out to watch the sunset from Duna Grande, a popular spot which is so beloved by everybody who visits Jeri. At night you can relax in the local bars with live music. Overnight at Pousada Jeriba.

Today your driver will take you through the sandy roads of the national park to discover two beautiful blue lagoons where you can recline in a hammock right by the water (Lagoa de Paraíso and Lagoa Azul). In the afternoon visit Pedra Furada – a naturally shaped rock nearby Jeri. Spend the rest of the day enjoying the relaxing rustic atmosphere of this little village tucked away from the rest of the world. There might be capoeira shows on the beach – Jeri is really lively, international and charming. Forget about shoes – enjoy a barefoot relaxation. Kitesurf lessons are also available in Jeri. Overnight at Pousada Jeriba.

After breakfast, we will organise your transfer to the airport. Departure time is flexible and adjustable to fit your flight schedule. The transfer to Fortaleza is done in a 4×4 and normally takes 5 hours. This itinerary can be done in a reversed order should your international flight arrive in Fortaleza. Flights out of Jeri are also available on several days of the week, so then you can avoid the long transfer to Fortaleza. We will help you find the right sequence and tailor the trip up to your needs, timings and preferences.