Fly by chartered light aircraft over the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park — 1,500 km² of bone-white dunes pooled with crystalline turquoise lagoons — and land for a private guided walk among the surreal formations. One of South America's most photographed and least-visited landscapes.
What to expect
A twin-engine charter departs Barra Norte's regional airstrip and skims north over coastal Atlantic forest before the dune sea materialises in breathtaking scale beneath you. Touch down at Barreirinhas, where a private 4×4 carries you to the lagoon rim for a barefoot walk between dunes up to 40 metres high. Your specialist guide explains the unique seasonal hydrology — rain-fed lagoons trapped between shifting sands, full only from July to September. A gourmet picnic of regional cheeses, sun-dried fruits, and chilled vinho verde awaits at a shaded lookout before the return flight.
Good to know
Full-day excursion: 07:00–16:00; confirm all-aboard allows this window. Lagoons are fullest July–September; a shallow-water visit is still dramatic in other months. Book the charter at least one week ahead. Wear light, close-toed shoes for dune walking and bring SPF 50+.