Travessia dos Lençóis Maranhenses com Barra da Baleia

Share
Save
Travessia dos Lençóis Maranhenses com Barra da Baleia
Travessia dos Lençóis Maranhenses com Barra da Baleia
Travessia dos Lençóis Maranhenses com Barra da Baleia
Travessia dos Lençóis Maranhenses com Barra da Baleia
Travessia dos Lençóis Maranhenses com Barra da Baleia
Description

The crossing of the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park on foot is a dive into one of the most fantastic landscapes on the planet. Located on the coast of Maranhão, the Park encompasses the municipalities of Barreirinhas, Santo Amaro, and Primeira Cruz, forming a desert of endless dunes interspersed with thousands of crystal-clear lagoons. The climate in the region is tropical and marked by two well-defined seasons: the rainy season (which fills the lagoons) and the dry season. During the crossing, the sun is a constant presence, but the heat is alleviated by the persistent breath of the trade winds, which cause the dunes to move a few meters each year. Interestingly, the sand does not burn the feet like in other deserts, as it is primarily composed of quartz and reflects sunlight. Photos: Arafat Fontoura

Guidelines
Extension: 100 Km
Difficulty Hard
Orientation Hard
Signaling Level Partial
Conservation Good
Risk Exposure Medium
Sun Exposure High
Hydration Point Available
Climbing No climbing required
Minimum Altitude: -8m
Maximum Altitude: 37m
Negative Unevenness: 101m
Positive Unevenness: 100m
Tips

Although it is not a mandatory rule from ICMBio, it is highly recommended to hire a local guide. The park is a maze of identical dunes, and there is no cell signal or reliable GPS throughout the area. Hikes usually start at 4 or 5 in the morning to avoid the midday sun (which can easily reach 35°C). Overnight stays are made in hammocks at the homes of the oasis residents (Baixa Grande and Queimada dos Britos) and in wild camps near the pools, in the dunes. Best period: between June and August. Transition period: September (the lagoons begin to dry up, but swimming is still possible). Avoid: December to March (intense rainy season, which makes hiking and camping difficult). IMPORTANT: If you include a trip to Barra da Baleia in your itinerary, there is a lot of beach sand along the hike, which can be more tiring for the joints than the internal dunes. Sun exposure is total, as there is very little shade and the wind is constant.

Map
Guidelines
Extension: 100 Km
Difficulty: Hard
Orientation: Hard
Signaling Level: Partial
Minimum Altitude: -8m
Maximum Altitude: 37m
Negative Unevenness: 101m
Positive Unevenness: 100m
Route

This map connects the traditional crossing, approximately 70 km long, starting in Atins (Barreirinhas) and ending in Santo Amaro do Maranhão, with the walk to Barra da Baleia, a more isolated area to the north of Santo Amaro and Queimada dos Britos, facing the sea, adding about 30 km to the hike. Generally, the traditional crossing is done in 3 to 4 days. Adding Barra da Baleia takes an additional 1 to 2 days. The journey begins from Atins to Canto do Atins, about 9 km, highlighted by lunch at the famous Camarão do Sr. Antônio. Then, from Canto do Atins to Baixa Grande, 23 km, is the stretch where you walk through the heart of the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. The third stretch is from Baixa Grande to Queimada dos Britos, 12 km, where you visit the oases, which are the local communities amidst the dunes. The fourth stretch: Queimada dos Britos to Santo Amaro, about 25 km, marks the arrival at one of the areas with the deepest lagoons (this stretch completes the traditional crossing). In this map, from Queimada dos Britos, the walk goes to Barra da Baleia. Note: From Queimada dos Britos, the walk to Barra da Baleia begins, which is located in a point zone where the sea meets the river and the dunes. To get there, the hiker needs to head up the coast from Queimada dos Britos or take a lateral detour coming from Baixa Grande. In this map, we start from Queimada dos Britos to Barra da Baleia, with an extension of 30 km. IMPORTANT: it is possible to arrange a rescue by quad bike, 4x4, or boat in this region to Santo Amaro if you do not wish to walk back.

Compartilhar