Lençóis Maranhenses
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park
This area is very unique because although it is composed of large, white dunes, it is not a desert. Since it's location is just outside of the Amazon Basin this region gets a rainy season and causes a phenomenon of fresh water collecting in the valleys between the sand dunes.I learned that these lagoons even have a large number of fish that arrive after July when the water is at its fullest.
I stayed in the small town of Barreirinhas at a pousada run by an older woman who spoke only Portuguese. She was so sweet and patient with me as I tried to speak in Portuguese. She made sure I was picked up from the bus by a taxi and taken to the pousada since I arrived so late at night. She helped to arrange the excursion I went on and even woke up early to make sure the taxi would come on time to take me back to the bus.
The first day I was picked up in a 4-wheel drive truck that looked like this:
We drove to the river and onto a flat barge that took us across the river. We then spent 30 minutes driving through the dunes to get to the large lagoons. After sitting on that wooden boat in the Amazon for days, but butt was not happy about all those bumps as we traveled across the sand. We had a tour guide who led us around the area. There were a lot of people there though and I just wish we could have been the only people visiting the dunes. It would have been even more peaceful. :)
Finally we arrived....
Yes, you could go swimming and yes I did. :) The water was warm and clear.
We returned to town for lunch and then went out on another adventure to visit the larger lagoons, Lago Azul and Lago Bonita (I think). We crossed the river again in the same way, but this time we drove for about 45 minutes through the sand. When we arrived, it was absolutely breathtaking. We had to climb a steep dune of very soft sand (it reminded me of the sand from Ilha Grande). It felt like flour. There was even a rope to help you as you climbed up. But the climb was worth it because when you reached the top, it was absolutely breathtaking....
This is Janette. Her husband, son and son's gf were on the tour with me. She took me under her wing when she learned I didn't speak much Portuguese. She was so sweet and kind!
That night I took myself out to dinner. I went to a restaurant down along the water and ordered the popular dish of shrimp with rice in a creamy pineapple sauce. The meal came out in an actual pineapple and a lit sparkler in the middle! It was absolutely delicious!
The next day, I went out on another tour, but I didn't like it as much because it just seemed like a typical tourist trap. There were people selling things and a monkey to feed at the one stop. Then they all had us eat at a specific restaurant out on the dunes.
The third day, I woke up early and was on the bus back to Sao Luis by 6 am. Now, I know you just saw some beautiful pictures and I hate to end with this, but I have to share because I think it's funny. The bathroom at the bus terminal in Sao Luis didn't have toilet seats on the toilets. However, I was pleased to find toilet paper!
This area is very unique because although it is composed of large, white dunes, it is not a desert. Since it's location is just outside of the Amazon Basin this region gets a rainy season and causes a phenomenon of fresh water collecting in the valleys between the sand dunes.I learned that these lagoons even have a large number of fish that arrive after July when the water is at its fullest.
I stayed in the small town of Barreirinhas at a pousada run by an older woman who spoke only Portuguese. She was so sweet and patient with me as I tried to speak in Portuguese. She made sure I was picked up from the bus by a taxi and taken to the pousada since I arrived so late at night. She helped to arrange the excursion I went on and even woke up early to make sure the taxi would come on time to take me back to the bus.
The first day I was picked up in a 4-wheel drive truck that looked like this:
We drove to the river and onto a flat barge that took us across the river. We then spent 30 minutes driving through the dunes to get to the large lagoons. After sitting on that wooden boat in the Amazon for days, but butt was not happy about all those bumps as we traveled across the sand. We had a tour guide who led us around the area. There were a lot of people there though and I just wish we could have been the only people visiting the dunes. It would have been even more peaceful. :)
Finally we arrived....
We returned to town for lunch and then went out on another adventure to visit the larger lagoons, Lago Azul and Lago Bonita (I think). We crossed the river again in the same way, but this time we drove for about 45 minutes through the sand. When we arrived, it was absolutely breathtaking. We had to climb a steep dune of very soft sand (it reminded me of the sand from Ilha Grande). It felt like flour. There was even a rope to help you as you climbed up. But the climb was worth it because when you reached the top, it was absolutely breathtaking....
That night I took myself out to dinner. I went to a restaurant down along the water and ordered the popular dish of shrimp with rice in a creamy pineapple sauce. The meal came out in an actual pineapple and a lit sparkler in the middle! It was absolutely delicious!
The next day, I went out on another tour, but I didn't like it as much because it just seemed like a typical tourist trap. There were people selling things and a monkey to feed at the one stop. Then they all had us eat at a specific restaurant out on the dunes.
The third day, I woke up early and was on the bus back to Sao Luis by 6 am. Now, I know you just saw some beautiful pictures and I hate to end with this, but I have to share because I think it's funny. The bathroom at the bus terminal in Sao Luis didn't have toilet seats on the toilets. However, I was pleased to find toilet paper!
Those dunes are amazing, so white and pure.
ReplyDeleteDo you think I would have made that climb? I probable would be pulling on the rope all the way up.Haha The dunes look so peaceful. Nice jump kiddo, you still have the height, not bad for a
30plus year old. Just kidding!! I love that sunset on the dunes.