Route of Emotions
Maranhão · Piauí · Ceará

Route of Emotions

Three states, one desert made of water

Duration:9 daysIntensity:ModerateGroup:2–10Base city:São Luís (MA)Best months:Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep

From São Luís to the Lençóis Maranhenses, from the only open-sea delta in the Americas to the dunes of Jericoacoara: a crossing through three states and three landscapes that exist nowhere else on earth.

It begins in São Luís, the "São Luís and its azulejos — Founded by the French in 1612, São Luís holds the largest ensemble of Portuguese tilework in Latin America. Its historic centre has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997 — and reggae plays in the streets all year, earning the city the nickname "Brazilian Jamaica".", founded by the French in 1612, with its historic centre of Portuguese tiles — a UNESCO UNESCO World Heritage — Fernando de Noronha has been a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site since 2001, alongside Rocas Atoll. Around 70% of the archipelago is a Marine National Park with strict preservation rules — that's why visitor numbers are limited and the experience is so exclusive. site since 1997 — and the Palácio dos Leões.

From Barreirinhas come the Lençóis Maranhenses, declared a UNESCO World Natural Heritage — In July 2024 UNESCO inscribed Lençóis Maranhenses National Park on the World Natural Heritage list, recognising a dune-and-lagoon system unique on the planet. site in July 2024. White dunes to the horizon and freshwater lagoons that NASA once described as a Lençóis Maranhenses — A dune field the size of a small country, with freshwater lagoons that fill during the rainy season — it rains more here than in Seattle. A UNESCO World Natural Heritage site since July 2024. The Lagoa Azul circuit is done by 4x4, with a swim in the lagoons and sunset on the dunes.: it rains more here than in Seattle. The Lagoa Azul circuit is crossed by 4x4, and the day ends with sparkling wine on the dunes at sunset.

In Piauí, the Parnaíba Delta — The only open-sea delta in the Americas and the third largest in the world: more than 70 mangrove islands between Piauí and Maranhão, crossed by boat. At dusk comes the flight of the scarlet ibis, turning the sky red as the birds return to the mangroves. — the only open-sea delta in the Americas and the third largest in the world. A boat threads through more than 70 mangrove islands to the flight of the scarlet ibis, when the evening sky turns red.

Then Ceará: Jericoacoara, a rustic village with no street lamps and no asphalt, named by The Washington Post (1994) and the Huffington Post (2014) among the most beautiful beaches in the world, with Brazil's third most visited national park. Sunset Dune, Jericoacoara — A fishing village with no street lamps and no asphalt, inside a national park — Brazil's third most visited. Named by The Washington Post (1994) and the Huffington Post (2014) among the most beautiful beaches in the world. Every evening the whole village climbs Sunset Dune to applaud the sun going down over the sea., Tatajuba and Guriú close the crossing.

What the days look like

  • Lençóis Maranhenses: UNESCO World Natural Heritage (July 2024)
  • Historic centre of São Luís: UNESCO World Heritage (1997)
  • Parnaíba Delta: the only open-sea delta in the Americas, third largest worldwide
  • Scarlet ibis flight at dusk across 70 mangrove islands
  • Jericoacoara: among the world's most beautiful beaches (The Washington Post, 1994)

Day-by-day itinerary

Day-by-day itinerary5 stops
São Luís (MA)Barreirinhas (MA)Lençóis MaranhensesDelta do Parnaíba (PI)Jericoacoara (CE)12345
  1. Day 1–2São Luís (MA)

    São Luís, the Brazilian Jamaica

    Founded by the French in 1612. A historic centre of São Luís and its azulejos — Founded by the French in 1612, São Luís holds the largest ensemble of Portuguese tilework in Latin America. Its historic centre has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997 — and reggae plays in the streets all year, earning the city the nickname "Brazilian Jamaica". (UNESCO UNESCO World Heritage — Fernando de Noronha has been a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site since 2001, alongside Rocas Atoll. Around 70% of the archipelago is a Marine National Park with strict preservation rules — that's why visitor numbers are limited and the experience is so exclusive., 1997) and the Palácio dos Leões.

  2. Day 3–4Barreirinhas (MA)

    Lençóis Maranhenses

    UNESCO World Natural Heritage — In July 2024 UNESCO inscribed Lençóis Maranhenses National Park on the World Natural Heritage list, recognising a dune-and-lagoon system unique on the planet. (July 2024). The Lençóis Maranhenses — A dune field the size of a small country, with freshwater lagoons that fill during the rainy season — it rains more here than in Seattle. A UNESCO World Natural Heritage site since July 2024. The Lagoa Azul circuit is done by 4x4, with a swim in the lagoons and sunset on the dunes. by 4x4 and sparkling wine on the dunes at sunset.

  3. Day 5Lençóis Maranhenses

    The desert made of water

    White dunes and freshwater lagoons noted by NASA. It rains more here than in Seattle — and it is the rain that fills the lagoons.

  4. Day 6–7Delta do Parnaíba (PI)

    Parnaíba Delta and the scarlet ibis

    The only open-sea delta in the Americas and third largest in the world. By boat through 70+ Parnaíba Delta — The only open-sea delta in the Americas and the third largest in the world: more than 70 mangrove islands between Piauí and Maranhão, crossed by boat. At dusk comes the flight of the scarlet ibis, turning the sky red as the birds return to the mangroves. islands to the ibis flight at dusk.

  5. Day 8–9Jericoacoara (CE)

    Jericoacoara

    A village with no street lamps or asphalt, inside Brazil's third most visited national park. Sunset Dune, Jericoacoara — A fishing village with no street lamps and no asphalt, inside a national park — Brazil's third most visited. Named by The Washington Post (1994) and the Huffington Post (2014) among the most beautiful beaches in the world. Every evening the whole village climbs Sunset Dune to applaud the sun going down over the sea., Tatajuba and Guriú.

Included

  • Local guides in each state, in Portuguese or English
  • All road and river transfers between Maranhão, Piauí and Ceará
  • 4x4 on the Lagoa Azul circuit and a sunset toast on the dunes
  • Boat through the Parnaíba Delta with the scarlet ibis flight

Not included

  • International and domestic flights
  • Meals not listed in the itinerary

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