| Lençóis Maranhenses - Presentation |
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Lençóis Maranhenses |
Dunes of clear, whitish sand, almost
40 meters high intermingled by fresh water of the lagoons. From time to time,
the sand mountains change due to the wind action. In short, the landscape of
Parque Nacional dos Lençóis Maranhenses, an area of 155000 hectares which
comprehends the cities of Barreirinhas, Humberto de Campos and Primeira Cruz, is
simply amazing.
The greatest attractions of the
park are Lagoa Azul, with intense blue waters, and Lagoa Bonita, a huge amount
of water with nuances of blue and green, without mentioning other lagoons like
"Gaivota" and "Jacaré", both of them equally fascinating. Small animals like
fishes, crabs and even turtles inhabit the lagoons. It’s possible to rent motor
boats at Barreirinhas to ride in Preguiça River, which has inns and restaurants
along its margins.
However, to enjoy this wonder, a
little sacrifice is necessary. By bus or car, the best way to know the park is
from Barreirinhas, located 370 km away from São Luís. The trip takes about 9
hours, since the roads are not well preserved. By plane, the trip becomes easy
and in less than an hour it’s possible to arrive in the park.
It’s possible to visit Lençóis
Maranhenses during any time of the year and be satisfied with what you see. But,
the best time to visit the park is during the rainy season, between May and
October. During the dry season, there is no rain at all and the water-level of
the lagoons get low. Some of them get completely dry. To know all the
attractions, the ideal is to stay at least seven days there.
The annual average temperature in
Parque Nacional dos Lençóis is 26ºC and during daytime it reaches 38ºC. So,
suntan oil and light clothes are fundamental itens in the luggage of those who
want to know the place. Sunglasses and pest repellents are also recommended,
besides bathing suits, since it’s allowed to swim in the lagoons. Comfortable
footwear, especially sandals are ideal because they dry out quickly and don’t
slip.
There’s no electricity in most of
the villages where there’s lodging. Flashlights and batteries are indicated.
There are no drugstores or stores, so, medicines and photo films must be
acquired before leaving for the park.
Parque Nacional dos Lençóis
Maranhenses is protected by IBAMA. |
Presentation
