Preguiças River Tour: Monkeys, Lighthouse & Beach

Ride the river to three villages and a beach in one morning

A full-day speedboat tour on the Preguiças River from Barreirinhas visits three stops: the village of Vassouras, known for capuchin monkeys; Mandacaru, where you climb the historic lighthouse for panoramic views of the dunes and coast; and Caburé Beach, a sandy peninsula where lunch is served. The tour departs at 8:20 AM and returns by 3:30 PM, with a live guide in English or Portuguese.

Step-by-step itinerary

Preguiças River tour and beach visit

• Board speedboat around 8:20 AM
• Travel 40 minutes to Vassouras village
• Observe capuchin monkeys and swim in lagoons
• Return to boat and head to Mandacaru village
• Climb Preguiças Lighthouse for panoramic views
• Explore craft shops and try local caipirinhas and ice cream
• Visit Caburé Beach and relax
• Have lunch at beach restaurant
• Return boat trip starts around 2:30 PM
• Arrive back by 3:30 PM

The experience

The day starts with a 40-minute speedboat ride upriver to Vassouras, a small village where capuchin monkeys live along the banks. During the rainy season, deep lagoons form here and you can swim. The rest of the year, the focus is watching the monkeys move through the trees. From there, the boat heads to Mandacaru, a quiet village built around the Preguiças Lighthouse. The lighthouse has 160 steps to the top, and the view from it reaches across the Lençóis Maranhenses dunes on one side and out to the Atlantic on the other. Mandacaru also has craft stalls, and local vendors sell caipirinhas and ice cream made with regional fruit.

The final stop is Caburé Beach, a narrow strip of sand caught between the river on one side and the ocean on the other. Lunch is served at one of the beach restaurants, and the calm water makes it a place to rest before the return journey. You leave Caburé around 2:30 PM and arrive back in Barreirinhas by 3:30 PM. The guide travels with the group throughout and speaks English or Portuguese. If the bilingual guide is not available, a digital translator is used to keep communication open.

Bring swimwear or a change of clothes, sunscreen, insect repellent, and cash or a card for lunch and any extras: food and drinks are not included in the tour price. Comfortable shoes work for walking the villages, though you will also spend time on the boat and in the water. Alcohol is not permitted in the park or on the vehicles.

What’s included

• Transport in a Toyota 4x4.
• live guide in English or Portuguese (or digital translator if the bilingual guide is unavailable).
• pickup from your location.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:20

Book up to4h before

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 8 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by FORTALEZA EXPERIENCE TOUR

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or Portuguese live, and a digital translator steps in if needed, so language is not a barrier to following the day. The fixed schedule (boarding at 8:20 AM and return by 3:30 PM) fits the tour into a single morning and early afternoon, leaving the rest of your day free.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Portuguese.

What are the capuchin monkeys like at Vassouras?

Vassouras is home to playful capuchin monkeys that live along the riverbanks. During the rainy season when lagoons form, the village is a prime spot to watch them. In drier months, spotting them is still the main draw of the stop.

How many steps does the Mandacaru Lighthouse have, and what can you see from the top?

The Mandacaru Lighthouse has 160 steps. From the top, the view spans the Lençóis Maranhenses dunes, the Preguiças River, and the Atlantic Ocean.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch is not included. It is served at one of the restaurants on Caburé Beach, and you pay separately for your meal and any drinks.

What time does the tour start and when do you get back?

The tour departs at 8:20 AM, though times may vary depending on your pickup location. The return to Barreirinhas usually begins around 2:30 PM, with arrival by 3:30 PM.

Can you swim during this tour?

Yes. During the rainy season, Vassouras has deep lagoons where you can swim. Bring swimwear or a change of clothes, a towel, and plan to dry off before returning to the boat.