| São Luís - Lençóis Maranhenses |
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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
