Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Brazil – Fortaleza – Prea – Jericoacoara – Parnaiba Delta – Atins – Sao Luis
100% customisable for you
Wave goodbye to everyday life as your adventure in Brazil starts today. Speed through security in preparation for your flight to Fortaleza, which takes around 13 hours, with a connecting flight in Europe. Thanks to the time difference, you will land later the same day.
On arrival, a private driver will be waiting to transfer you to your centrally located hotel. Between its skyscrapers and colonial buildings, this city – the capital of the state of Ceara – is more than a gateway to the north-east coast.
This evening, discover Fortaleza’s charm and soak up the atmosphere by strolling through lively squares and visiting the Metropolitan Cathedral and bustling Mercado Central to browse colourful stalls. When hunger strikes, find a local eatery where fish, shrimp and meat are on the menu – grilled Brazilian-style: expertly carved, skewered and cooked to perfection.
Golden sands and the wild beauty of Prea are calling this morning. After breakfast, your driver will pick you up for the four-hour drive to this laidback fishing village, and once there, it’s time to jump in the Atlantic Ocean, unwind and unplug from modern life.
You home for the next two nights is right by the beach and combines rustic charm with modern comforts. During your stay, devour delicious breakfasts and seafood dishes at your resort, prepared with fresh local ingredients.
Prea is a mecca for the kitesurfing community thanks to its long stretches of wide-open sand, and a steady wind that blows between June and February. So, if you’ve ever wanted to give it a go, today’s the day. Rancho do Kite, Latin America’s leading kitesurfing school, is based in the village, offering courses for beginners or those more advanced.
For wanderers, or those who prefer to stay on land, stroll around Lagoa do Paraiso (the Paradise Lagoon) and take snaps of its crystal-clear waters and the expansive sand dunes in the neighbouring village of Barrinha. After all that fresh air, bellies are sure to be rumbling, so seek out a beachside bar or restaurant, then watch a glorious sunset with a caipirinha in hand.
Your sun kissed adventure continues today as your next stay is in Jericoacoara, which until 1985 was a small fishing village without running water or electricity. After its beach was ranked one the most beautiful in the world, surfers, kitesurfers and watersports enthusiasts started to flock here, as well as families looking to relax on the idyllic sands. The village is just a 30-minute drive up the coast, so you’ll be privately transferred here this morning.
Settle in for two nights at your cosy pousada (boutique hotel) nestled in sand dunes by the ocean. The day is all yours to laze around on a hammock, find a yoga class or hit the beach for watersports (ask your Concierge about local sessions). Come evening, celebrate nature’s beauty as the locals do – climb the Duna do Por do Sol (Sunset Dune) and applaud as the sun disappears behind the horizon.
An exhilarating off-road buggy tour is today’s adventure, so after breakfast hop aboard one of these all-terrain vehicles. Driven by your private guide, speed along the beach and tackle the slopes of the sand dunes before reaching the freshwater lagoon, set among the dunes. Stop for lunch at a local seafood restaurant, reliving the morning’s excitement with your feet in the sand.
Afterwards, the day is all yours: swim in freshwater lagoons, try surfing or kitesurfing, take a forro lesson (a traditional local dance) or ride horses along the wild beaches. If staying zen is more your vibe, relax on the sand watching the windsurfers, stroll through the town (a former hippie haven) or snooze in a comfy hammock above turquoise water.
Nature lovers rejoice. You’re spending the next couple of nights on an island in the Parnaiba Delta, home to dozens of idyllic islands that are renowned for their biodiversity. The only way to get there is via a scenic 20-minute boat trip, so after a private transfer to the departure point, hop aboard and enjoy the views.
On arrival, settle into your charming thatched bungalow, which is surrounded by nature and near a magnificent beach. Chill in your new surroundings or wander around this tranquil spot, before tucking into a dinner of flavourful dishes, all prepared with local ingredients. If you like, we can also arrange a night-time wildlife spotting session with a creature-savvy guide.
Get those binoculars at the ready because today you’re going on a private tour of the Parnaiba River Delta to explore its maze of islands, channels and lagoons. Straddling the states of Piaui and Maranhao, the delta is a protected natural area with a unique ecosystem. Its islands, mangroves, sand dunes, forests and floodplains are brimming with an array of flora and fauna. Caimans, turtles and monkeys can be spotted, but it’s the magnificent guaras (scarlet ibises) that are the biggest draw. Look out for these at sunset, when you can witness flocks of these bright-red birds come down to roost.
Lunch is served in one of the island’s restaurants, where a delicious al fresco dining experience awaits. You can guarantee there will be fresh fish, seafood and the region’s famous crab on the menu.
After your trip, return to your tranquil accommodation for more R&R, or if you’re an avid birder, tick off your sightings list.
More off-grid adventures are on the cards today. You’re heading to Atins for a three-night stay in this remote fishing village, which acts as a gateway to the Lencois Maranahenses National Park.
After a return crossing over the delta, your private driver will drop you at Barreirinhas where you’ll board another small boat that meanders along the Rio Preguicas (meaning ‘sloth’ in Portuguese). Enjoy mesmerising views of coastal dunes and lush scenery, with mangroves and palm trees lining the banks, before settling into your charming chalet perched between the river and Atlantic Ocean, on the edge of the national park.
As you get used to your new surroundings, animal encounters will be plentiful as dogs, chickens, cows and cats roam free in the village.
Another day, another sand-dune adventure (lucky things). After breakfast, don your shades and hop in a 4X4 with your private driver-guide. They’ll whizz you around the lunar landscape of the Lencois Marnahenses National Park, before stopping for refreshing swims in freshwater lagoons that dazzle in shades of green and blue, sheltered by crescent-shaped dunes that have been carved by tropical winds.
Afterwards, head home for more hammock and caipirinha time, mooch around the village or grab a bite to eat – freshly caught crab and shrimps are a speciality everywhere here, from beachfront spots to upscale restaurants.
After a bright and early breakfast, hop in a 4x4 for a 15-minute drive to the starting point of a hike in the Lencois Maranhenses National Park with a private guide. It may look like a desert, but this UNESCO World Heritage site is alive with shimmering lagoons, villages, ancient paths and lush vegetation. The expanse of sand dunes stretches over 43 miles up the coast and 31 miles inland – rain filters through the sand, particularly from May to September, forming crystal-clear freshwater pools and lakes. After climbing one final towering dune (they can rise up to 98ft), enjoy an aperitif at the top while marvelling at this otherworldly place, before heading back for dinner.
Sadly, it’s your last day in Brazil today. We’ve arranged a private transfer to Sao Luis, the capital city of Maranhao state, for an overnight stay before catching your flight home tomorrow. Getting there is an adventure in itself, with the mode of transport alternating between 4x4, boat and car.
On reaching your hotel, dump your bags, and head to the beach for some R&R, lulled by the sound of the waves. Your final night deserves a celebratory blow-out dinner, so ask your Concierge for the best places to eat to savour tasty local dishes or international cuisine with a Brazilian twist.
There’s time for one last stroll along the beach to soak up the sun. Then, take a private transfer to Sao Luis airport for a three-hour flight to Sao Paulo Guarulhos International Airport, followed by a direct flight to the UK that takes around eleven and a half hours, arriving the next day.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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