13-Day North Brazil Tour with Lençóis Maranhenses and the Amazon

1

Day 01

Salvador and Afro-Brazilian Heritage

• Our tour starts in Salvador.
• Although many head to Bahia for its tropical coastline and tasty caipirinha drinks, the state's most popular destination is undoubtedly its capital.
• Salvador is home to Afro-Brazilian heritage at its richest:
  • deep-fried seafood
  • festive drum-pounding sounds
  • mystical religious ceremonies
  • dance
  • an artistic form of martial arts called capoeira

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Day 02

Boat Trip to Morro de São Paulo

• Today we make a day trip by boat from Salvador to Morro de São Paulo.
• We explore this vibrant island on foot, visiting:
  • the fort
  • the lighthouse
  • the shops
  • the beaches
• Free of cars, Morro de São Paulo is North Brazil's hangout hotspot.
• It has a vibe that puts everyone there in a good mood.

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Day 03

Salvador's Colonial Landmarks and Local Culture

• Before relocating by flight and then by land to the resort town of Porto de Galinhas, we explore Salvador some more.
• This historic city is renowned for its crumbling yet nevertheless impressive Portuguese architecture.
• Salvador serves as Brazil's second most visited urban destination after Rio de Janeiro.
• Today we are provided with a guided tour, exploring the sites and landmarks in depth.
• UNESCO declared the old town a World Heritage Site in 1985.
• Salvador is one of the oldest colonial cities in the Americas.
• There is much to see and enjoy:
  • music blasting on the streets
  • authentic cuisine
  • charming squares
  • colorful buildings
  • and more

4

Day 04

Sandbars, Beach Churches, and Natural Pools

• As a day trip from Porto de Galinhas, we head south along the coast.
• The first stop is a beach called Pontal de Maracaipe, where we see a multicolored sandbar.
• Next is the beach of Praia dos Carneiros, with its landmark being a historic church located in the middle of a long and sandy beach.
• Next is the beach of Praia Barra Grande, where we walk along sand that splits the ocean in two.
• Lastly, we visit a beach called Pontal do Maragogi, where we take a boat ride out to sea to see the natural pools, with snorkeling gear provided.
• Note that some of today's attractions and activities may need to be removed from the tour should the sea tides not be low enough.

5

Day 05

Porto de Galinhas Fun and Colonial Olinda

• In Porto de Galinhas:
  • Before relocating by flight and then by land to the fishing village of Jericoacoara, we do a couple of fun activities in Porto de Galinhas.
  • We take a sailboat (a.k.a. jangada) to a nearby natural pool and go buggy riding on the beach.
  • Porto de Galinhas has been voted 'Best Brazilian Beach' for the eighth time in a row by the readers of Voyage And Tourism magazine.
• In Olinda:
  • Before heading to the airport in Recife, we also visit the colonial city of Olinda.
  • Characterized by bright white churches, pastel-colored buildings, historic fountains, cobblestone streets, and squares, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is spread across several small hills overlooking Recife.
  • Olinda is one of Brazil's three best locations to celebrate the world-renowned Carnival, along with Salvador and Rio de Janeiro.
• Regarding the option to extend the tour:
  • On a side note, there is an option to extend this 13-day tour by 3 days to visit the island of Fernando de Noronha.
  • There is a direct flight there from Recife.
  • Fernando de Noronha is more of a 'special interest' kind of destination, with a handful of attractions suited for families looking for relaxation and surfers.

6

Day 06

Jericoacoara Lagoons, Sunset, and Nightlife

• Today, as an excursion from Jericoacoara by buggy, we follow the east route in this specific order:
  • Prea Beach
  • Lagun Beach Club
  • Lagoa Paraiso (a.k.a. Paradise Lagoon)
  • Lagoa do Amancio (a.k.a. Loving Lagoon)
• Evening activities:
  • In the evening, we walk to the Por-do-Sol dune to watch the sunset over the ocean.
  • Later, we check out the nightlife, which is quite authentic.

7

Day 07

Sea Horses, Mangroves, and Dunes to Parnaíba

• Leaving Jericoacoara, we are not taken directly to the hotel located in the town of Parnaíba.
• Instead, we make several fun stops en route:
  • Driving literally along the beach, firstly we are taken to a dock.
  • There we get on a boat and search for sea horses.
  • Next, we take a ferry crossing to reach an indescribable place called Mangue.
  • There we see bizarre mangrove formations, swings, hammocks, and visitors making crazy poses.
  • After observing people enjoying themselves, we engage in sandboarding and dune bashing.
  • Next, we check out a lagoon called Lagoa de Torta.
  • We later visit Tatajuba Beach (a.k.a. Desert Beach) and then Camocim Beach.
  • Before reaching Parnaíba, we ride on some more sand dunes and make another ferry crossing at Coreau River.

8

Day 08

Boat Cruise from Parnaíba to Barreirinhas

• Before relocating from Parnaíba to the town of Barreirinhas, we go on a boat cruise.
• Lunch is included on today's tour.
• Barreirinhas serves as the gateway to Lençóis Maranhenses.
• This national park receives as many as 60,000 visitors a year.
• It includes 70 kilometers (43 miles) of coastline and an interior composed of rolling sand dunes.
• From May through September, the valleys among the dunes are filled with freshwater lagoons.

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Day 09

Scenic Flight and Full-Day 4x4 in Lençóis Maranhenses

• Our morning starts with a flightseeing tour over sand dunes and lagoons. This just may be our most unforgettable adventure while at Lençóis Maranhenses National Park.
• The day continues with an adventurous morning-to-sunset 4x4 tour, checking out sand dunes and lagoons.
• We also have time for swimming.
• The lagoons in the park are often interconnected with one another, as well as with the rivers which run through the area.

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Day 10

Boat Tour and Desert Viewpoints in Lençóis Maranhenses

• Before relocating by land to the city of Sao Luis, we explore Lençóis Maranhenses National Park some more.
• We spend the day doing a boat tour.
• The highlights are the river itself and the desert viewpoints.
• Few places on Earth can be compared to the unique physical features of this eco-friendly destination.

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Day 11

Fly to Manaus and Enter the Amazon

• We relocate by flight from Sao Luis to the city of Manaus and then take a drive to our ecolodge.
• Lodging in a vast rainforest is in itself an experience, as are going on river cruises to see wildlife.
• We have saved the best for last, meaning spending our final days of this grand tour exploring the Amazon.
• Note that virtually all meals are included by the ecolodge during our stay.

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Day 12

Pink Dolphins, Jungle Wildlife, and a Night Cruise

• The Amazon is the world's most renowned rainforest for a good reason.
• The highlights for today include:
  • interacting with pink dolphins in their natural habitat
  • spotting a variety of creatures in the jungle
• In the dark of night, we take a boat cruise in search of caimans and other wildlife.

13

Day 13

Departure from Manaus

• Transportation will be arranged for you to reach the airport in Manaus.