Horseback Riding Lençóis Maranhenses Tour
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TripsBrazilLençóis Maranhenses

Horseback Riding Lençóis Maranhenses Tour

Brazil
2 Nights·3 Days
Lençóis MaranhensesHorse RidingActive Adventures

Overview

Enjoy an unparalleled 3-day, east-to-west crossing of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park on horseback: roughly 50 km in the saddle across white sand dunes and freshwater lagoons in northeastern Brazil, plus about 60 km of 4×4 transfers. You sleep two nights in the homes of local families inside the park, sharing home-cooked meals along the way.

The Horseback Riding Lençóis Maranhenses Tour is the “Travessia” route. Start with a 4×4 from Atins or Barreirinhas to the Lagoa Azul area, then ride between oasis communities from Lagoa Bonita toward Santo Amaro. Between trots and easy gallops, stop to swim in clear lagoons such as Lagoa Bonita, Bicudo Gordo, and Lagoa dos Juncos.

The route works for both experienced riders and beginners who are comfortable spending several hours on horseback. This is one of the wildest ways to experience a Lençóis Maranhenses tour, with a genuine horse safari that trades open savanna for shifting white dunes and freshwater lagoons.

  • Full itinerary: dune crossing on horseback, lagoon swims, canoe crossing at Lago da Rancharia, and sunset and stargazing walks.
  • A full east-to-west traversal of Lençóis Maranhenses on horseback: about 50 km riding plus ~60 km by 4x4.
  • Swim stops at clear freshwater lagoons: Lagoa Bonita, Bicudo Gordo, and Lagoa dos Juncos.
  • Sunset from the Serra Alta de Rancharia viewpoint and stargazing under near-zero light pollution.
  • Two nights and home-cooked meals with welcoming local families (Sr. Antônio, Dona Rosilda, and the Rancharia community).
  • Activities guided by certified local guides who know the park and the route by heart.
  • All-inclusive experience: transport to the route start, 2 nights in family homes, meals, certified guides, safety equipment, and adventure insurance.

  • Please note: the daily schedule is a suggested plan, confirmed on arrival and adapted to weather, water levels, and the group’s pace. The 4×4 transfers depend on vehicle availability and seasonal rains.

Itinerary

Day 1

Dunes & Lagoa Bonita

  • 4x4 transferAtins or Barreirinhas → Lagoa Azul · departs 7 AM
  • Horseback ridingdunes & lagoons to Povoado do Mucambo · from 9 AM
  • Nightdinner at Dona Rosilda’s + stargazing walk

A 4×4 leaves at 7 AM from Atins or Barreirinhas to the Lagoa Azul region, where the ride begins at 9 AM across dunes and lagoons of Lençóis Maranhenses.

At noon, reach the Povoado Tratada de Cima, near Lagoa Bonita, for lunch at Sr. Antônio’s home, then rest in hammocks. At 3 PM, ride on to the Povoado do Mucambo, arriving around 6:30 PM at Dona Rosilda’s house for a dinner followed by a night walk under the stars.

Meals included: Lunch / Dinner

A rider on a white horse canters across rippled white sand dunes at golden sunset during a horseback riding Lençóis Maranhenses tour, long shadows stretching across the dune face with lagoons glinting in the background
Long shadow of a rider on horseback cast across wind-rippled white sand dunes with scattered green shrubs and a shallow lagoon in the background during a horseback riding Lençóis Maranhenses tour
Golden sunset over the vast white sand dunes of Lençóis Maranhenses, with a small lagoon winding between dune ridges and tiny silhouettes of visitors visible in the distance on this horseback riding Lençóis Maranhenses tour landscape
Aerial view of a small thatched-roof village nestled among white sand dunes, scrub vegetation and shallow lagoons on the horseback riding Lençóis Maranhenses tour route

Day 2

Ride to Rancharia / Dunes & communities

  • Horseback ridingtoward Rancharia · from 7:30 AM
  • Lagoa Bicudo Gordoswim & photos · ~11 AM
  • SunsetSerra Alta de Rancharia · ~5:30 PM

After a lovely breakfast at 6:30 AM, the ride toward Rancharia starts at 7:30 AM, with a stop at Lagoa Bicudo Gordo around 11 AM for a swim and photos.

At noon, reach the ranch in Rancharia for lunch and time with the community. In the afternoon, the horses rest while you cross the Lago da Rancharia by canoe and return to Lagoa Bicudo Gordo for another swim, then watch the sunset from the Serra Alta de Rancharia.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Golden sunset over silhouetted sand dunes and a still lagoon reflecting amber light on the horseback riding Lençóis Maranhenses tour
A wide thatched-roof lodge surrounded by a rustic wooden fence, coconut palms, and white sand dunes under a clear blue sky on the horseback riding Lençóis Maranhenses tour
Crystal-clear blue lagoon reflecting a brilliant sky, framed by sweeping white sand dunes — the iconic landscape of the horseback riding Lençóis Maranhenses tour
Four riders on horseback cross white sand dunes beside a dark freshwater lagoon on a horseback riding Lençóis Maranhenses tour, under a partly cloudy sky
A line of riders on horseback descends a steep white sand dune crest during a horseback riding Lençóis Maranhenses tour, set against a vivid blue sky

Day 3

Ride to Lagoa dos Juncos / Transfer to Santo Amaro

  • Horseback ridingto Espigão, then Lagoa dos Juncos · from 8 AM · ~6 to 8 hrs total
  • Lagoa dos Juncosswims among the white dunes · afternoon
  • 4x4 transferLagoa dos Juncos → Santo Amaro · ~5 PM (subject to weather)

A typical breakfast at the Rancharia ranch at 7 AM precedes the 8 AM ride toward the Espigão community, through wild areas with dunes, open fields, rivers, and deep lagoons.

Lunch at noon is at a local resident’s home in Espigão, with time to rest and meet the community. Later, the ride resumes to the Lagoa dos Juncos, with stops for refreshing swims and photos among the white dunes and clear waters.

The ride ends around 5 PM, followed by a 4×4 transfer to Santo Amaro. This marks the end of your Horseback Riding Lençóis Maranhenses Tour.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch

Point-of-view shot from horseback on a horseback riding Lençóis Maranhenses tour, with riders and hoofprints tracing a line across rippled white dunes beside a turquoise lagoon under a bright blue sky
Sweeping white sand dunes of Lençóis Maranhenses stretch to the horizon beneath a clear blue sky, with shallow lagoons visible between the sculpted ridges on the horseback riding Lençóis Maranhenses tour route
Turquoise rainwater lagoon nestled between sweeping white sand dunes under a soft blue sky in Lençóis Maranhenses, a highlight of the horseback riding Lençóis Maranhenses tour
A group of riders on horseback silhouetted against a blazing sunset over the white sand dunes of Lençóis Maranhenses, with dramatic clouds spreading across the sky during a dune crossing on horseback
A group of saddled horses resting on brilliant white sand beside a turquoise lagoon during a horseback riding Lençóis Maranhenses tour, with sweeping white dunes and a vivid blue sky in the background

What is Included

  • Round-trip transfer: transport to the route start (Atins or Barreirinhas) and the Day 3 4x4 from Lagoa dos Juncos to Santo Amaro
  • 2-night stay in local family homes inside Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (bed, hammock, or tent)
  • Meals (full board)
  • Adventure insurance
  • Safety equipment (helmets) and mineral water during the route
  • Guided tours: dune crossing on horseback, lagoon swims, canoe crossing, and sunset and stargazing walks
  • Certified local guide and interpreter

Not included

  • Flight tickets
  • Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Drinks other than the mineral water provided
  • Personal expenses (laundry, phone calls, tips)
  • Accommodation in Atins, Barreirinhas or Santo Amaro
  • Any services not previously mentioned

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$ 1,200/ per person