The question we get the most is always the same: when is the best time to visit Lençóis Maranhenses? The short answer is April through September. The useful answer is a bit longer, because the park changes a lot from one month to the next.
Why there are lagoons in the middle of the dunes
Lençóis is not a desert. It rains a lot here, and the sand holds that water: the rain collects between the dunes because underneath them there's a layer that keeps the water from draining. That's why the same spot is a sea of dry sand in December and a field of blue lagoons in July.
In other words, what fills the lagoons is the rain from the previous months. The best time to see water isn't during the rain, it's right after it.
Month by month
January to March. Rainy season. The lagoons start to form, still shallow across much of the park. It's the greenest time, with fewer people, and there are trekking days with rain.
April and May. The lagoons fill out. The landscape is full and the crowds are still light. For anyone wanting photos without the crowd, it's an excellent window.
June, July and August. The peak. Lagoons at their fullest, crystal-clear water and steady weather. It's also high season: July is vacation month, and the good dates sell out weeks in advance.
September. There's still plenty of water, especially in the deeper lagoons, and the park empties out. It's usually the season's best-kept secret.
October to December. The water recedes. Many lagoons dry up and the experience becomes about the dunes, the silence and the sunset. It's still beautiful, but it's a different trip.
What this means in practice
The amount of water varies from year to year, because it depends on how much it rained. Two neighboring lagoons can be at different levels, and deeper areas of the park hold water longer. That's why our tours are led by people who live here: the guide adjusts the route to take the group where the water is best that day.
What about the temperature?
Hot all year, with highs between 30 and 33 degrees. What gets you isn't the temperature, it's the direct sun reflecting off the light-colored sand. That's why we set out early, usually before dawn, and the hardest walking happens in the cooler hours.
So, when to go
- Want the lagoons at their peak and don't mind more people: July and August.
- Want full lagoons with fewer crowds: May, June or September.
- Want a better price and green scenery, accepting lower water: March and April.
If your date is already set, we'll tell you honestly what to expect from it. Talk to our team before buying your ticket: it's easier to adjust the route than the whole trip.
Where to start
- Only have one day: 1 Day in Lençóis.
- Want to sleep inside the park without a long trek: One Night in the Oasis.
- Want the classic end-to-end crossing: Classic Crossing, 3 days.