In short
- Barreirinhas is the main hub with easy transport and many tour options.
- Atins is a quiet, sandy fishing village famous for kite surfing.
- Santo Amaro provides the closest direct access to the dunes.
In this article
Deciding where to stay dictates your daily travel times and available amenities. You can choose the busy primary gateway, a remote coastal village, or a quiet town directly on the dune border.
What makes Barreirinhas the most popular base?
Barreirinhas serves as the primary gateway to Lençóis Maranhenses with the most transport and tour options.
This town is the starting point for standard 4x4 guided tours to the Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Bonita circuits. Intercity buses and shared tourist vans from São Luís (SLZ) take 4 to 4.5 hours and cost around 100 BRL. You will find the highest concentration of hotels and operators here.
Why stay in Atins?
Atins is a rustic fishing village known for kite surfing and a quieter atmosphere.
Located on the coast, Atins offers barefoot lodging away from the main crowds. Visitors usually arrive via a speedboat tour on the Preguiças River. The streets are sandy, and infrastructure is limited. Try the grilled shrimp at Sr. Antonio's restaurant when visiting.
What is the advantage of Santo Amaro?
Santo Amaro offers immediate access to the national park's dune zones.
Unlike Barreirinhas, which requires a 45 to 60-minute drive in a 4x4 to reach the dunes, Santo Amaro sits right on the park's border. This drastically reduces daily transit time. Standard tourist infrastructure is smaller here compared to the main gateway.
How do Barreirinhas, Atins, and Santo Amaro compare?
Each base serves a different travel style and tolerance for daily transit.
Choose based on how much travel time you tolerate and what amenities you require.
How do you travel between Barreirinhas and Atins?
You take a speedboat (voadeira) along the Preguiças River.
The river route from Barreirinhas to Atins usually functions as a full-day tour costing 150-200 BRL. This route stops at Vassouras (Pequenos Lençóis) and the Mandacaru Lighthouse. Private vehicles are strictly prohibited inside the park's dune zones.
When should you book your accommodation?
Book early if traveling between June and September.
This is the peak season when the freshwater lagoons are at their deepest. The park enforces strict daily visitor caps of around 1,550 people. Advance e-registration is required, and tour operators in your chosen base town handle this process.
Questions travellers ask
Do I need a 4x4 in Barreirinhas?
Yes. Standard vehicles are not allowed in the dune circuits. You must book a licensed 4x4 'jardineira' truck to enter the park from Barreirinhas.
Can I camp in the park instead of staying in a town?
No. Overnight stays and camping inside the park are prohibited unless you are on an authorized multi-day backcountry trekking tour.
Are there entry fees for the towns?
Barreirinhas charges a local tourism tax of approximately 5.50 BRL per night. Park admission itself is 0 BRL.
