3-day Lençóis Maranhenses trek: Barreirinhas to Santo Amaro

You walk between villages across the dunes, sleeping where locals live.

A 3-day trek through Lençóis Maranhenses starting from Barreirinhas, with an English-speaking guide leading walks of 8km, 14km and 12km across crystalline lagoons and dunes. You stay in the native homes of Villa de Mucambo and Villa de Rancharia, travel by 4x4 between trailheads, and finish in Santo Amaro do Maranhão. Travel insurance and all transport are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Barreirinhas to Villa de Mucambo trek

• Group transfer by 4x4 to trekking start
• Walk 8km visiting lagoons to Villa de Mucambo
• 3km walk around lagoons and watch sunset

Day 2: Villa de Mucambo to Villa de Rancharia trek

• Walk 14km between villages and lagoons
• Enjoy largest lagoon and sunset at Lake Rancharia

Day 3: Villa de Rancharia to Santo Amaro trek

• Early 12km trek before sunrise
• 4x4 transport to Santo Amaro do Maranhão

The experience

The trek moves through three stages, each one a walk between settlements deeper into the dunes. On day one, a 4x4 takes the group an hour inland from Barreirinhas to Lagoa Bonita, where you walk 8km to Villa de Mucambo, passing lagoons without other groups. After lunch and a 3km evening walk to catch the sunset, you sleep in a native house there. Day two covers 14km between Villa de Mucambo and Villa de Rancharia, crossing more crystalline lagoons and finishing at the largest one in the Maranhans, where you watch the sunset from the local community. The final day starts before sunrise so you can walk 12km and see the light break across the dunes and lagoons. A 4x4 then drives you to Santo Amaro do Maranhão to end the trek.

The guide speaks English and Portuguese, and the group stays small enough that the walks move at a pace suited to moderate fitness. You carry what you need for the day. The villages where you sleep have no electricity or running water, which is the reason the lagoons stay empty and crystalline. The 4x4 transport from Barreirinhas and the final ride out are included, as is travel insurance for the whole three days.

What’s included

• English-speaking guide.
• 4x4 transport from Barreirinhas to the trailhead and from Lagoa do Junco to Santo Amaro do Maranhão.
• accommodation in native homes in Villa de Mucambo and Villa de Rancharia.
• travel insurance for the three days.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 10 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 16 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Costa Leste EcoAventura

Is this one for you?Book this trek if you want to walk between villages and sleep in local homes rather than return to a hotel each night. The isolation is what keeps the lagoons empty and the dunes quiet, and it is what makes three days of walking feel like a full immersion instead of day trips from a base.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (6 to 10 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What is the physical demand like on a 3-day trek through Lençóis Maranhenses?

The trek requires at least moderate fitness. You walk 8km on day one, 14km on day two, and 12km on day three across sand and dunes. The pace is steady but not rushed, and you have a lunch break each day. Children under 6 are not recommended for this trek, and it is not suitable for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy.

Where do you sleep during the trek?

You stay in native houses in Villa de Mucambo on night one and Villa de Rancharia on night two. These are homes of local residents. There are no hotels or modern amenities in the villages.

What happens if you cannot complete the full 3-day trek?

The itinerary is designed as a continuous three-day circuit, and the 4x4 transport is scheduled to meet you at the end in Santo Amaro do Maranhão. Early exit would require separate arrangement with the operator.