Rio Preguiças River Tour: Vassouras, Mandacaru & Caburé Beach

Navigate three villages and a river-meets-sea peninsula in one morning on the Preguiças.

A shared motorboat tour of the Preguiças River in Barreirinhas takes you to three stops: the village of Vassouras to spot capuchin monkeys, Mandacaru to climb the Preguiças Lighthouse for panoramic views, and Caburé Beach where the river opens into the sea. A live guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese leads the 6.5-hour journey, which includes hotel pickup and returns by early afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat tour along Preguiças River

• Depart to boarding point around 8:20 AM
• Board motorboat and navigate river
• Arrive at Vassouras village
• Observe capuchin monkeys and swim in lagoons
• Continue by boat to Mandacaru village
• Climb Preguiças Lighthouse for panoramic view
• Visit local craft shops and try caipirinhas and ice cream
• Head to Caburé Beach sand peninsula
• Have lunch at beachside restaurant
• Begin return journey around 2:30 PM
• Arrive back in town around 3:30 PM

The experience

The day starts with pickup around 8:20 AM from your hotel, then a 40-minute motorboat ride upriver to Vassouras. The village sits where the Preguiças widens, and during rainy season the lagoons deepen enough for swimming. The real draw is the capuchin monkeys (playful and used to visitors) that move through the trees along the banks. From there the boat continues to Mandacaru, where you can climb the Preguiças Lighthouse for a view across the river valley and out toward the coast. The village also has local craft shops and serves traditional caipirinhas and ice creams with regional fruit flavors.

The final stop is Caburé Beach, a sand peninsula with the river on one side and the Atlantic on the other. Lunch happens at one of the beachside restaurants. You order and pay separately, and the guide directs you to where to eat. The return journey leaves around 2:30 PM and gets you back to town by approximately 3:30 PM, leaving the rest of your afternoon free.

The tour runs as a shared group, so you'll travel with other passengers. Your guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese. If the bilingual guide is unavailable, a digital translator ensures communication. Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, insect repellent, and cash or card for lunch and any extras. Comfortable shoes work for the boat and the village walks, though the Lighthouse climb is steep.

What’s included

• Guide accompaniment in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• hotel pickup and return transport in a Toyota 4x4.
• motorboat navigation of the Preguiças River.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:20

Book up to4h before

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 9 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 MOVE TOUR MARANHAO

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup means you don't need a car or arrange your own transport to the boarding point, and the early return by 3:30 PM leaves time to explore Barreirinhas or rest before dinner.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

What are the capuchin monkeys like at Vassouras?

Capuchin monkeys are the main attraction at Vassouras village. They are playful and accustomed to visitors, moving through the trees along the riverbanks where you can watch them during the stop.

Can I swim in the Preguiças River?

During the rainy season, the lagoons in the Vassouras area are deep enough for swimming. In the dry season, water levels are lower, so swimming may not be possible. Your guide will advise based on conditions.

What is the Preguiças Lighthouse and where is it?

The Preguiças Lighthouse stands in the village of Mandacaru, the second stop on the tour. You can climb it for a panoramic view across the river valley and toward the coast.

What happens at Caburé Beach?

Caburé Beach is a sand peninsula where the Preguiças River meets the Atlantic Ocean. You stop there for lunch at one of the beachside restaurants. You choose where to eat and pay separately for your meal.

How long is the full tour and when do I get back?

The tour runs approximately 6.5 hours total. Pickup begins around 8:20 AM, and you return to town by approximately 3:30 PM, leaving your late afternoon and evening free.