Parque Nacional dos Lencois Maranhenses and its shifting lagoons
Published on 08/27/2026 at 09:25 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Parque Nacional dos Lencois Maranhenses in the Brazilian state of Maranhão is a protected landscape where wide bands of pale sand are broken by countless freshwater lagoons that appear and fade with the seasons. Created as a national park in 1981, it spreads across the coastal municipalities of Barreirinhas, Santo Amaro and Primeira Cruz, forming a distinctive pattern of dunes and water that has few parallels in Brazil’s protected areas.
Dunes shaped like an endless sheet
The name Parque Nacional dos Lencois Maranhenses refers to dunes that resemble an immense sheet of fabric laid over the coast, with long, undulating ridges extending inland from the Atlantic Ocean. The park covers around 155,000 hectares of the eastern coast of Maranhão, with dunes reaching inland for dozens of kilometres and following the shoreline for a similar length.rolling sand dunes Within this area, sand dominates two thirds of the terrain, forming dune fields that are constantly reshaped by strong coastal winds.
Between the dunes lie shallow depressions that fill with freshwater when the rainy season arrives, creating pools and elongated lagoons that turn stretches of the park into a mosaic of blue and green between the ridges. This pattern is visible across large parts of the interior, where the sand is bordered by mangroves and coastal vegetation adapted to the salt-laden air.dunes, lagoons and beaches From higher crests, travellers see rows of dune backs and water-filled hollows extending towards the horizon.
Freshwater lagoons in a coastal park
Parque Nacional dos Lencois Maranhenses is designated as a national park under Brazilian law and forms part of the country’s marine-coastal biome, with influences from the Cerrado, Caatinga and Amazon regions.a protected area of 156,608 hectares The protected status focuses on the conservation of flora, fauna and the striking dune-and-lagoon scenery, which includes mangrove stands, restinga scrub and coastal wetlands alongside the sand.
The lagoons form when rainwater accumulates in interdune basins that rest on less permeable ground, preventing rapid drainage and allowing clear freshwater to collect between the dunes. Seen from above, the result is a landscape where pale sand is punctuated by thousands of water bodies whose shapes change as wind moves the sand and seasonal rainfall varies.a sandscape dotted with lagoons This combination of shifting dunes and recurring lagoons is central to the park’s character and is visible across much of its interior.
Barreirinhas and the edge of the dune field
The municipality of Barreirinhas, on the north-eastern coast of Maranhão, is one of the main gateways to Parque Nacional dos Lencois Maranhenses and lies close to sections of the park where river, town and dune field meet.one of three municipalities included in the park From Barreirinhas, boat trips follow the Preguiças River towards the coast, while vehicles with high ground clearance leave the town’s paved streets and enter sandy tracks that lead towards the dune belt.
Once inside the park, the built environment falls away, replaced by expanses of sand and water that stretch towards the Atlantic. The coastal fringe includes beaches where the dunes reach the shore, and further inland the terrain alternates between dune chains, lagoons and patches of vegetation. Beyond Barreirinhas, the municipalities of Santo Amaro and Primeira Cruz also share sections of the park, with routes from each settlement reaching different parts of the dune field.territory distributed among three municipalities
Visiting Parque Nacional dos Lencois Maranhenses: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Parque Nacional dos Lencois Maranhenses lies on the eastern coast of Maranhão in northern Brazil, with access routes from Barreirinhas and other nearby municipalities by river and road.
- Inside the park, movement often takes place on soft sand, including dune slopes and vehicle tracks, and approaches to lagoons may involve walking across uneven, sandy terrain.
- The official language is Portuguese and the currency is the Brazilian real.
- Conditions on the mountain change with the seasons; the local cable-car operators and alpine clubs provide information.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Parque Nacional dos Lencois Maranhenses
Where is Parque Nacional dos Lencois Maranhenses located?
Parque Nacional dos Lencois Maranhenses lies on the eastern coast of the Brazilian state of Maranhão, with its territory shared between Barreirinhas, Santo Amaro and Primeira Cruz.
What can visitors expect when they enter the park?
Visitors encounter extensive dune fields, freshwater lagoons between the dunes, coastal vegetation, mangroves and beaches, with access routes that leave towns such as Barreirinhas and enter sandy tracks.
What makes Parque Nacional dos Lencois Maranhenses distinctive among Brazil’s parks?
The park is distinctive for its combination of moving coastal dunes and recurring freshwater lagoons, creating a large protected landscape where sand, water and coastal ecosystems coexist in a single national park.
