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Trekking

Lençóis Radical 5-day trekking and kayaking tour across the lençóis

Barreirinhas · Santo Amaro, Lençóis Maranhenses

Trekking5 daysHardFull lagoons: April to September
5 daysDuration
65 kmDistance
HardDifficulty
April to SeptemberFull lagoons

About the tour

Why do the lençóis radical?

A complete crossing through the Lençóis Maranhenses, combining long treks across the dunes, lagoons, oases, and traditional communities with a kayak experience along the Rio Alegre to Santo Amaro.

15 km of kayaking on the last day. You must know how to swim.

For those seeking a more complete and challenging experience in the Lençóis Maranhenses, this crossing brings together different ways of exploring the park.

Four days of trekking across the dunes, passing through lagoons and the oases of Baixa Grande, Queimada dos Britos, Rancharia, and Betânia. On the fifth day, the trek gives way to kayaking, along a route of about 15 km down the Rio Alegre to Santo Amaro.

Beyond the scenery, the experience includes overnight stays in hammocks at the homes of native families, offering a closer look at the life and hospitality of the communities living within and around the park.

Tour overview

Barreirinhas

Start

Santo Amaro

Destination

5 days

Duration

About 50 km

Trekking

About 15 km

Kayaking

About 65 km

Total distance

Intense

Difficulty

Hammocks in local families' homes

Overnight stays

Day by day

5 days, step by step

Approximate times. The guide adjusts the pace to the group and the weather.

Baixa Grande OasisDay 1

Barreirinhas → Oásis Baixa Grande

Baixa Grande Oasis

The group is picked up at the guesthouses from 4:30 AM in Barreirinhas. For participants staying in Atins, pickup starts at 6:30 AM.

In a 4x4 vehicle, we drive for about 2 hours toward the National Park, to the area near the Rio Negro. Along the way, we make a stop for a breakfast snack and to watch the sunrise.

From there, the trek begins, about 6 km, with an average duration of 2 to 3 hours, to the Baixa Grande Oasis, with stops to swim in the lagoons.

Arrival at the oasis is expected around 10:30 AM. After lunch and a rest period, we head back to the dunes to enjoy the lagoons and watch the sunset.

Overnight: hammock at the home of a native family in Baixa Grande.

Queimada dos Britos OasisDay 2

Oásis Baixa Grande → Oásis Queimada dos Britos

Queimada dos Britos Oasis

Breakfast is served at 4:30 AM, with departure for the trek at 5:00 AM.

The trek covers about 12 km, in around 5 hours, crossing the Rio Negro and passing through different dune and lagoon landscapes. Along the way, we make stops to swim and to watch the sunrise.

Arrival at Queimada dos Britos is expected around 10:30 AM, followed by lunch and a rest period.

In the afternoon, we head back to the dunes to enjoy the lagoons and watch the sunset.

Overnight: hammock at the home of a native family in Queimada dos Britos.

RanchariaDay 3

Oásis Queimada dos Britos → Rancharia

Rancharia

Breakfast is served at 3:30 AM, with departure expected at 4:00 AM.

The trek to the village of Rancharia is about 14 km, with an average duration of 6 hours, including stops to swim in the lagoons and watch the sunrise.

Arrival is expected around 10:00 AM, with lunch served at 11:00 AM.

After resting, we head back to the dunes to enjoy the lagoons and the sunset.

Rancharia is a small traditional community located inside the park and is also known for the Lagoa do Bicudo Gordo, one of the region's large lagoons.

Overnight: hammock at the home of a native family in Rancharia.

BetâniaDay 4

Rancharia → Betânia

Betânia

Breakfast is served at 3:30 AM, with departure for the trek at 4:00 AM.

This is one of the longest stretches of the crossing: about 18 km of trekking, in around 7 hours, across the dunes to the village of Betânia.

Along the way, we make stops to watch the sunrise and swim in the lagoons.

Arrival at Betânia is expected around 11:00 AM. By the edge of the dunes, you can enjoy a swim in the Rio Alegre.

After lunch and rest, we head back to the dunes for more swimming in the lagoons and watching the sunset.

Overnight: hammock at the home of a native family in Betânia.

Santo AmaroDay 5

Betânia → Santo Amaro

Santo Amaro

The last day brings a completely different experience.

Waking up and breakfast take place between 6:00 AM and 7:00 AM. From 7:00 AM, the kayak route begins, about 15 km down the Rio Alegre, going from Betânia to Santo Amaro.

The paddle takes about 3 hours, with stops to swim and rest along the river.

Arrival at Santo Amaro is expected around 10:30 AM, ending the crossing in a special way, uniting trekking, lagoons, traditional communities, and paddling down the Rio Alegre.

Important: you must know how to swim to take part in the kayak route.

Rates

Prices per person

The larger the group, the lower the price per person. From 4 participants, everyone pays the lowest rate. Private group (just your group) or shared (with other participants).

Mais popular

4 or more people

Lowest tour rate

R$ 4.200por pessoa
Book this tour

Prices in reais, per person. In the shared group, the makeup may change up to the date as new bookings are confirmed.

Transparency

What's included and not included in the price

What's included

  • Transportation
  • 4x4 transfer from Barreirinhas or Atins to the Rio Negro area, where the trek begins
  • Boat transport along the Rio Alegre
  • Equipment and support needed for the kayak route from Betânia to Santo Amaro
  • Meals and overnight stays
  • Breakfast snack at the start of the crossing
  • Lunch, dinner, and overnight in a hammock at the home of a native family in Baixa Grande
  • Breakfast in Baixa Grande
  • Lunch, dinner, and overnight in a hammock at the home of a native family in Queimada dos Britos
  • Breakfast in Queimada dos Britos
  • Lunch, dinner, and overnight in a hammock at the home of a native family in Rancharia
  • Breakfast in Rancharia
  • Lunch, dinner, and overnight in a hammock at the home of a native family in Betânia
  • Breakfast in Betânia
  • Support luggage
  • 1 small or medium bag, up to 10 kg, per person.
  • Your luggage is stored in Barreirinhas during the crossing and sent to Santo Amaro, where it will be available for pickup at the end of the tour.
  • Important: the support luggage does not travel with the group during the trek. During the trek, you carry only the backpack with the items needed for the crossing days.
  • Experience
  • Experienced trekking guide accredited by ICMBio
  • Individual accident insurance
  • Perks
  • Custom tote bag
  • Exclusive cap
  • Trail snacks

Not included

  • Drinks during the crossing
  • Personal equipment and personal-use items
  • Bilingual guide. Available on request, subject to availability and with an added fee
  • 4x4 evacuation in case of withdrawal
  • Transportation, lodging, and meals before or after the crossing
  • Tips
  • Any item not specified in "What's included"
  • What to avoid bringing
  • Books and unnecessary objects
  • Computers or heavy electronics
  • Excess clothing
  • Excess hygiene products

What to bring

  • 🎒 for the trekking backpack
  • 30 or 40 L backpack
  • 1.5 L water bottle or hydration pack
  • Suitable trail clothing, preferably with UV protection
  • 1 or 2 changes of clothes
  • Swimwear
  • Socks
  • Trekking sandals
  • Microfiber towel
  • Cap
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Insect repellent
  • Rain jacket
  • Trekking pole
  • Headlamp
  • Cereal bars, nuts, and dried fruit for small snacks
  • Personal hygiene products
  • Personal medications
  • Camera

Before you book

Good to know

01

This is a hard crossing.

It's about 50 km of trekking across the dunes, with some long stretches and very early starts.

02

The last day is done by kayak.

About 15 km of paddling along the Rio Alegre, over roughly 3 hours. You must know how to swim.

03

Overnight stays are in hammocks.

Lodging is in the homes of local families in the communities along the trek.

04

You'll carry your own backpack during the hike.

Support luggage of up to 10 kg per person is transported separately to Santo Amaro.

05

Lagoon conditions vary throughout the year.

Water levels depend on the rains and the season's conditions.

06

Schedules may undergo minor adjustments depending on trail conditions, weather and local logistics.

07

Booking can be individual.

In the group format, the per-person rate is set according to the total number of confirmed participants in the group.

Gallery

Highlights of the tour

Where it takes place

Starting point

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

Departure from BarreirinhasBarreirinhas/MA

Pickup at the inns in Barreirinhas (from 4:30 am) or Atins (from 6:30 am), by 4x4.

  • Departures per the schedule
Como chegar
✦

Experience the wild Lençóis

5 days of adventure, about 65 km of trail, dunes, lagoons, traditional communities and 15 km of kayaking along the Rio Alegre.

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