Brazil's Diverse Natural Landscapes: Lençóis Maranhenses, Parnaíba Delta, the Amazon & North Pantanal - 14 Days

Day 2: Transfer to Barreirinhas, Guided Tour of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

The day starts early as you meet your driver and head to the city of Barreirinhas—the gateway to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, a protected 43-mile (70 km) stretch along Brazil's northern Atlantic coast that is known for its vast deserts and lush seasonal lagoons. The scenic drive takes approximately four hours, with a quick stop for coffee and snacks. Arrive and check in at your hotel, then start your exploration of the park's incredible natural wonders with an exciting half-day 4WD dune excursion to the Grandes Lençóis lagoons, with pick-up from your hotel.

Travel by car ferry across the Rio Preguiças to access the national park, then head off-road through native restinga (coastal sand forests), along loose sandy trails, and over small rivers for approximately one hour. When you arrive at the dunes, continue with your guide on foot—the park is a vehicle-free zone—to visit the lagoons that make up the Lagoa Bonita circuit. Begin with a steep climb up a scrub-covered dune using a rope to pull yourself along until you reach the top. Once there, pause to appreciate the vast expanse of desert landscape interspersed with sparkling freshwater lagoons. 

Follow your guide down the other side to explore the lagoons: Lagoa Maçarico, Lagoa Do Clone, Lagoa Do Descanso, and Lagoa Bonita. Hike around the dunes, taking in desert vistas set against blue and green waters, then spend the rest of the afternoon swimming and relaxing in the pristine, crystal-clear lagoons before returning to your hotel after a spectacular sunset. 

Day 3: Day Trip to Canto do Atins 

Today, you'll head off on a full-day 4WD tour to the seaside hamlet of Canto do Atins, nestled within the national park Lençóis Maranhenses. For two hours, follow similar sandy trails through dunes covered in native vegetation until you reach Atins, a fishing village tucked away among the dunes on the estuary of Rio Preguiças that flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Visit the beach, stop at a lagoon for a swim, or watch the kite surfers before hopping back in your 4WD and venturing 20 minutes more past livestock grazing on the grass verges and then along the beach to the settlement of Canto do Atins.

Here, you'll explore the neighboring dunes of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park on a walk with your guide. Refresh in the clear waters of the lagoons that form only during the rainy season, discover the deserted beaches, and run up and roll down the dunes. Then, stop for lunch in a rustic beachside restaurant to try the regional food. Savor mouthwateringly delicious grilled shrimp and fish that visitors go out of their way for. After lunch, while away the time in a hammock and maybe take a nap before returning to Barreirinhas for the night. 

Day 7: Transfer via Car & Boat to Amazon River Lodge

Get ready for an early wake-up call as you leave the hotel and hop on a shuttle for the three-hour journey to your remote lodge on the Amazon River. En route, you'll stop to observe the nearby Encontro das Águas (Meeting of the Rivers)—the point where the Negro and Solimões rivers converge to form the mighty Amazon. Watch as the warmer dark waters of Río Negro flow beside the cooler sandy hues of the Solimões without mixing for several miles and look out for the curious river dolphins that frequent the area.

Continue your drive for 40 minutes to the Río Araça, where you'll jump in a boat for the 50-minute trip to the lodge. Cruise past native villages and abundant wildlife, such as alligators and monkeys. When you arrive at the lodge, enjoy a delicious buffet with freshwater fish and exotic fruits from the Amazon.

Day 8: Amazon Rainforest Tour, Piranha Fishing & Amazon River Sunset

There's nothing quite like a sunrise in the Amazon; this morning, you'll experience it firsthand. Depart with your guide in the early hours, watching the sky change color and the birds awaken. Observe various tropical birds with the binoculars provided, and keep your camera ready for some great shots.

Afterward, enjoy an educational jungle walk accompanied by one of the expert guides who carefully vary the paths used during the walks to avoid damaging the forest with overuse. See how this essential ecosystem functions while you discover the area's flora and fauna, learn about the uses of the plants that grow here, and identify which ones are edible or medicinal. Spot monkeys and birds in the trees as your guide shares information about their daily habits.

Return to the lodge for lunch, then take an exciting fishing excursion to a nearby river, where, in addition to other Amazonian fish, you'll get to angle for the carnivorous piranha, considered a regional delicacy and quite delicious! Stay on the river to enjoy a spectacular Amazon sunset, and tonight, you'll feast on the day's catch. During dinner, enjoy an informal lecture by one of the lodge's guides, discussing everyday life in the Amazon alongside the legends, traditions, and culture of the region. 

Day 9: Amazon Canoeing, Culture & Camping Excursion

Start your morning with a peaceful paddle along the Amazon in a canoe, spotting exotic birds, rare pink dolphins, and many other species along the way. Afterward, you'll hop in a motorized canoe to visit the home of one of the area's local Indigenous inhabitants, where you'll hear stories about their culture and customs as you learn more about life in the rainforest. 

This afternoon, leave the lodge behind and spend the night in a jungle camp deeper in the wilds of the Amazon. Your guide will lead you on a trek to reach the campsite, where you'll enjoy dinner around the campfire as you learn about survival techniques like finding water and food, identifying medicinal plants, and first aid. When it's time to turn in, a hammock and mosquito net await, and you'll fall asleep to the ever-present soundtrack of the rainforest.

Day 11: Transfer to North Pantanal, Nocturnal Wildlife Tour

You'll leave Cuiabá this morning on a guided tour to the northern Pantanal region. Travel for three hours along the Transpantaneira Highway to the outpost of Porto Jofre, located on the Cuiabá River and adjacent to Pantanal Matogrossense National Park. Upon arrival, you'll check into your pousada, which will be your base for excursions into the famous Pantanal wetlands, home to the highest concentration of wildlife in the Americas, including the powerful jaguar.

Get your first glimpse of the region's animals after dinner when you embark on a nocturnal wildlife tour. Throughout this 1.5-hour experience, you'll travel to the best wildlife-viewing areas and use a spotlight to search for creatures while they're awake and active. Some wildlife you're likely to see include capybaras, anteaters, foxes, and caimans. Get lucky, and you might even spot an ocelot—a big cat that's one of the most incredible nocturnal animals in the region.

Day 12: Boat Tours & Horseback Riding in the Pantanal

Rise early today to meet a local guide at the riverbank for a two-hour motorboat tour on the Rio Claro. Along the way, you'll witness the wildlife of the riparian forest, whose centennial trees are home to monkeys and exotic birds. See mammals like tapirs and capybaras frolicking on the shore, while in the water, you'll observe other exotic specimens like river otters, caimans, and the occasional anaconda. Listen for the songs of various birds, like jabiru storks and the bright blue hyacinth macaw—the largest parrot in the world.

In the afternoon, you'll go horseback riding with a real-life pantaneiro (Pantanal cowboy). The region is home to thousands of ranches, with cattle ranching as the primary industry here. After receiving some basic horseback-riding instructions, trot off behind your cowboy guide around Pantaneiro Bay, a scenic lake area comprised of dry savanna and forested wetlands. The ride doubles as a wildlife tour, as you're sure to spot exotic birds and animals like deer, collard peccaries, and the red-footed tortoise.  

Day 13: Hiking Tour & Photo Safari in the Pantanal

Lace up your hiking boots this morning for a guided three-hour trek through the nature trails of the Pantanal wetlands to observe the region's flora and fauna. Watch for wild animal tracks along the hike, which could lead to seeing the animals themselves, like capybaras, tapirs, and deer. You're sure to spot monkeys and perhaps even blue hyacinth macaws in the trees as you follow the route that includes scenic areas, such as lakes and wooded savannas.

This afternoon's tour is another great opportunity to encounter the Pantanal's diverse wildlife. You'll climb aboard an open-topped vehicle in front of your pousada and then head off on a two-hour photo safari about 10 miles (16 km) down the Transpantaneira Highway. Along the way, you'll have ample opportunity to photograph animals on land, in the trees, in the water, and in the air. Animals you may see include howler and capuchin monkeys, capybaras, anteaters, deer, snakes, and many more.

Day 14: Sunrise in the Pantanal, Fly to São Paulo via Cuiabá, Depart

Wake up before dawn, have one last breakfast at your pousada, and then meet up with a local guide. At the river port, you'll board a traditional Pantanal canoe, heading out on the water while it's still dark for a two-hour trip. As you paddle along the river, you'll witness the majesty of the sun rising over the forested wetlands, gilding both sky and water.  Listen to the variety of local birds serenade the morning, then canoe back to shore. At the appointed time, a driver will transfer you back to Cuiabá, where you'll catch your 4.5-hour flight back to São Paulo and continue your journey home. Adeus! (Farewell!)

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