Lençóis Maranhenses and the Emotions Route

A journey through the Route of Emotions is one of Brazil’s most captivating itineraries. Along the way, it links Lençóis Maranhenses, the Parnaíba Delta, and Jericoacoara. Together, they form a mosaic of dunes, lagoons, mangroves, and sea that reveals Brazil’s essence.

To explore the Brazilian northeast is to enter a vibrant region. Despite being little visited by mass tourism, it offers unique landscapes and welcoming communities. Moreover, it reveals surprising biodiversity. For this reason, the route is ideal for travelers seeking sustainability, adventure, and contact with local culture.

You can discover more breathtaking landscapes in our guide to Brazil’s best destinations for sand tourism!

The essentials to discover the Route of Emotions

The Route of Emotions extends through three states in northeastern Brazil: Maranhão, Piauí and Ceará, and can be done in both directions. Many travelers start in São Luís, the capital of Maranhão. From there, they continue to Barreirinhas, the gateway to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park.

Lençóis Maranhenses looks like a desert, but it is not. Every year, during the rainy season (January to June), water accumulates between the dunes, forming natural lagoons that contrast beautifully with the sand. The most famous are Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Bonita, though there are many more to explore on foot or by 4×4 in the company of local guides.

From there, the route continues to the Parnaíba Delta, an intricate system of islands, mangroves, and canals that flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Visitors travel by boat through narrow waterways, watch birds, and learn from the fishermen who call this place home.

The trip culminates in Jericoacoara, a small village surrounded by dunes and beaches. It is ideal for relaxing, kitesurfing, and watching unforgettable sunsets from the famous Duna do Pôr do Sol.

Authentic experiences with local flavor

Beyond the spectacular scenery, this route invites you to immerse yourself in local culture and discover a Brazil rarely seen in tourist brochures. At each stage of the journey, small communities welcome you with family-run inns, home-cooked meals made from local ingredients, and unique handicrafts. Our local guides lead you through places they know intimately.

Seafood like shrimp and crabs, tapioca made to order, and fresh fruit juices shape the flavor of this entire route.

The region’s biodiversity is just as striking. Here, mangroves, lagoons, and coastal plains shelter countless species. Among them is the scarlet guará (ibis), recognized as the world’s only wading bird with red plumage. Its vivid color comes from a diet rich in small crabs loaded with carotenoid pigments. Travelers can often spot these birds on boat tours through the mangroves of Lençóis Maranhenses and the Parnaíba Delta.

Each section of the route has its own rhythm and landscape

Lençóis Maranhenses is defined by vast fields of fine white dunes and seasonal freshwater lagoons. During the rainy months, they create an almost surreal scenery with little or no vegetation.

The Parnaíba Delta is the only open-sea delta in the Americas and the third largest in the world. It covers about 2,700 square kilometers of islands, mangroves, and waterways surrounded by dense vegetation.

In Jericoacoara, the dunes are coastal and golden, framed by dry shrubs and hardy plants that reveal the semi-arid beauty of Ceará.

Our travel designers know how to align comfort and discovery, creating experiences that connect visitors to the rhythm of each place and the people who preserve it.

An example of sustainable tourism in Brazil

The Route of Emotions is also an example of how tourism can be a positive tool when done with respect and planning. Many of the areas it passes through are protected by national parks or environmental reserves, which limits uncontrolled development and promotes more sustainable practices.

Opting for local services, such as community guides, small inns and family-run restaurants, contributes directly to the region’s economy, helping communities to develop without losing their identity or relying on extractive tourism models.

Respecting local rhythms, minimizing the use of plastics, following authorized trails and learning about the local fauna and flora are small gestures that make a big difference in this type of travel.

What Makes Lençóis Maranhenses So Unique?

The Lençóis Maranhenses National Park spans over 1,550 km² (600 mi²) in northeastern Brazil. From June to September, rainwater collects between the dunes and forms thousands of temporary pools in shades of blue and green.

Among the most visited lagoons are Lagoa Azul, Lagoa Bonita, and Lagoa do Peixe. Each offers a dazzling palette of turquoise water and fine white sand, features that define the park. Shaped by the wind, the dunes shift up to twenty meters each year, keeping the scenery alive and forever changing.

The Route of Emotions reveals a landscape that exists nowhere else on Earth

Vast dunes meet blue-green lagoons, rivers, and ocean. It is a journey that leaves travelers changed by its beauty and simplicity, and grateful for the people who share it with them. It is a trip for those who are looking for more than just photos: they are looking for stories, encounters, and lasting memories. If you dream of a transformative and responsible trip, northeast Brazil awaits you with open arms.st