Parque Nacional Dos Lençois Maranhão Brazil
Photography

Lençóis Maranhenses Photography Tour (with Flights)

Six days of dawn light, lagoons, and night skies in Brazil's ever-shifting dune field — sunrise and sunset sessions among the dunes, a staggered scenic-flight rotation, the Rio Grande's abstract patterns, and a night inside the park under the Milky Way.

Brazil Country
6 days Duration
Easy Walking grade
Relax Schedule

Photography Focus

67% Landscape
17% Aerial (Drone)
17% Astro

Suitability & conditions

A practical overview of the pace, comfort, and conditions to expect on this journey.

Journey at a Glance

Follow the route and discover the defining experiences of the expedition.

Full Journey

Complete route

See the full expedition route before focusing on each chapter.

Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1

São Luís - Barreirinhas - Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

Visiting: Lagoa Bonita

  • Gateway to the Dunes

    A private road transfer of roughly four to five hours linking São Luís to Barreirinhas, the gateway town for Lençóis Maranhenses National Park.

    Duration: 5h
    Distance: 257 km (159.7 mi)

  • Tour Orientation

    First meeting to get acquainted. Tristan will cover the key points of the itinerary and give you some initial tips on how to make the most of your trip.

  • Hotel Check-In

    Upon arrival, check in and get settled in your rooms. Take a short break to relax before we move on to the next activity.

  • Sunset Photography at Lagoa Bonita

  • Porto Preguiça Resort

    Resort | $$$$

    A serene escape in Barreirinhas, Porto Preguiça Resort offers stunning riverfront views, easy access to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, and luxurious amenities amidst Brazil’s natural beauty. Perfect for relaxation and adventure.

DAY 2

Barreirinhas - Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

Visiting: Lagoa Bonita, Lagoa Azul

  • Breakfast

  • Dune and Lagoon Photography near Barreirinhas

    While the flight rotation runs, the ground program works the white sand dunes and lagoons near Barreirinhas. Gentle curves of sand, water sitting between them, wind moving the surface - this is where the group learns how light behaves on the dunes before the deeper in-park days. It is photography at a walking pace.

    Moderate

  • Lunch

  • Panoramic Scenic Flight over Lençóis Maranhenses PM

    A panoramic flight gives the full scale of the dune field and its blue-green lagoons. The group flies two at a time in a small Cessna-type aircraft, staggered across the days so every participant sees the park from the air. The flight is an optional extra; guests on the ground photograph the dunes and lagoons nearby.

  • Sunset Photo Activity in Lagoa Azul

  • Porto Preguiça Resort

    Resort | $$$$

    A serene escape in Barreirinhas, Porto Preguiça Resort offers stunning riverfront views, easy access to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, and luxurious amenities amidst Brazil’s natural beauty. Perfect for relaxation and adventure.

DAY 3

Barreirinhas - Lençóis Maranhenses National Park - Santo Amaro do Maranhão

Visiting: Lagoa Bonita

  • Breakfast

  • Panoramic Scenic Flight over Lençóis Maranhenses PM

    A panoramic flight gives the full scale of the dune field and its blue-green lagoons. The group flies two at a time in a small Cessna-type aircraft, staggered across the days so every participant sees the park from the air. The flight is an optional extra; guests on the ground photograph the dunes and lagoons nearby.

  • Lunch

  • Transfer Barreirinhas –> Santo Amaro do Maranhão

    After the morning flight the group drives about two hours to Santo Amaro, a small village on the far side of the park that becomes the base for the in-park photographic days. Two hours of road, and the group settles into village life for the heart of the tour.

    Duration: 2h
    Distance: 96 km (59.7 mi)

  • Dinner

  • Hotel in Santo Amaro do Maranhão (TBD)

    The group's hotel in Santo Amaro is the base for the nights around the in-park photography days - a bed, a breakfast table, and a departure point for the park sessions. It keeps the in-park days close to the dunes while holding on to village comforts.

DAY 4

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

  • Sunrise Photography over Dunes and Crystal-Clear Lagoons

    The in-park days open before dawn, with first light arriving over white dunes and crystal-clear lagoons. Wind redraws the sand overnight, so each sunrise lands on a slightly different surface. The session is unhurried, with time to find compositions before the sun clears the horizon.

    Moderate

  • Breakfast

  • Afternoon and Evening Dune and Lagoon Photography

    The afternoon and evening belong to the dunes again. As the sun drops, the sand takes on texture and shadow, and the lagoons hold the sky's colour. The session runs until the light is gone, at the group's own pace.

    Moderate

  • Astrophotography and the Milky Way from an In-Park Village

    As the day closes, the group travels to a small village inside the park, well away from town lights. Under a clear night sky the Milky Way arcs over the dune field - a night spent inside the park, camera up, with the whole sky to work with.

    Moderate

  • In-Park Village Lodging, Lençóis Maranhenses (TBD)

    The night is spent in the small village inside the park, between the dunes, with the whole sky overhead. Falling asleep inside Lençóis Maranhenses is part of what sets these in-park days apart.

DAY 5

  • Sunrise Session in Soft Morning Light over the Dunes

    The second morning in the park starts the same way: early light over the dunes and lagoons, soft and low across the sand. The group greets the day with cameras out, working the morning session before returning to the village for breakfast.

    Moderate

  • Breakfast

  • Black River Photography: Abstract Shapes and Infinite Patterns

    Late morning belongs to the Black River, renowned for its abstract shapes, colours, and infinite patterns. Dark water winding between the dunes makes compositions closer to painting than postcard - a slower, more graphic register than the open dune field.

    Moderate

  • Lunch in a local market

  • Sunset Photography over Dunes and Lagoons

    In the evening the dunes and lagoons become the canvas once more. The low sun pulls long shadows out of the ripples and turns the lagoons to glass, and the group works the sunset session until the colour drops out of the sky.

    Moderate

  • Additional Astrophotography under Clear Night Skies

    When night falls there is a second chance at the stars. The park's clear, pristine skies hold the Milky Way overhead, and an extra session under the night sky makes the most of the darkness between the dunes.

    Moderate
DAY 6

Santo Amaro do Maranhão - São Luís

  • Final Sunrise over the Dunes and Serene Lagoons

    The last morning opens with one more sunrise over the dunes and the serene lagoons - a final session to close the journey and carry the essence of the park home. Afterwards the group returns to Santo Amaro and begins the road back to São Luís.

    Moderate

  • Transfer Santo Amaro –> São Luís

    The return road transfer from Santo Amaro do Maranhão towards São Luís, on the final day of a Lençóis Maranhenses journey and timed to reach São Luís airport by mid-afternoon.

    Vehicle: Car

Accommodation

Where you’ll stay

Price Details

Our tour prices are based on a tiered pricing model. more guests = lower price, per person. That means the prices go down on a per-person basis as more people book onto a specific tour departure.

Price Base

  • Price for 2 people: 3.995 USD (666 USD / day)
  • Price for 3 to 4 people: 3.495 USD (583 USD / day)
  • Price for 5 to 6 people: 2.795 USD (466 USD / day)
  • Price for 7 to 8 people: 2.395 USD (399 USD / day)
* Price is indicated per person
** Prices are based on double occupancy / twin share basis.

Included

  • Hotels mentioned in the program
    i
    Hotels mentioned in the program
    • Porto Preguiça Resort — 2 nights · Resort
    • Hotel in Santo Amaro do Maranhão (TBD) — 1 night · Uncategorized Hotel
    • In-Park Village Lodging, Lençóis Maranhenses (TBD) — 1 night · Uncategorized Hotel
  • Transportation in comfortable vehicles (Car / Van)
  • Meals indicated in the program: 4 breakfasts, 3 lunchs, 1 dinner
  • 1 cocktail before dinner
  • Water is included
  • Professional photographic guidance & instruction by Tristan Quevilly
  • 1h skype session of photo editing in Lightroom or Photoshop
  • Restaurant gratuities / tips
  • Pre-trip planning assistance
  • Detailed trip notes with practical information and cultural insights
  • Access to Remote Expeditions custom travel app

Not Included

  • Breakfast on Departure day, Lunch on Arrival day, day 4 and Departure day, Dinner on Arrival day, day 2, day 4 and day 5
  • Tips
  • International flights
  • Travel, Medical & Cancellation insurance
  • Additional drinks and meals
  • Expenses not specified in the program
  • Camera Equipment

Deposit

  • 30% (839 USD approx)

Payment Options

  • Bank Transfer (Recommended): Free
  • Credit / Debit Card: Secure payment via Revolut. A 3% processing fee applies.

Booking Conditions

  • Deposit: 30% to secure your booking
  • Final payment: Due 90 days before departure
  • Cancellation more than 90 days before departure: Deposit retained as a 4-year travel credit
  • Read the full Terms & Conditions ↗
Travel at a human pace

The difference is in the details

Journeys shaped by experience

Every route is built from time spent in the field: knowing when to linger, when to move on, and which small details are worth noticing.

Room for the unexpected

The best moments are not always on the itinerary. We leave enough flexibility to follow a good conversation, an unusual sighting, or a changing landscape.

Local relationships that open doors

Our journeys are grounded in long-term relationships with people who know their home intimately and are proud to share it in their own way.

A small group, properly looked after

With only a few travellers, decisions remain personal. We can adapt the pace, answer questions, and make sure everyone feels part of the journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most Remote Expeditions journeys are arranged privately, so the pace and rhythm can be shaped around the people travelling together. When a scheduled group departure is offered, it is typically limited to four or five travellers.

No. Photography is one of the ways we observe and connect with a place, but it is not a requirement. Our journeys also welcome travellers drawn to slow travel, wildlife, culture, trekking, landscapes, and genuine encounters. You can join with professional equipment, a simple camera, or just your curiosity.

Every itinerary has its own rhythm. Some journeys are gently paced, while others include long walks, trekking, uneven terrain, altitude, or substantial travel days. The practical details on each tour page explain the expected walking, terrain, altitude, distances, and overall physical level so you can decide whether the journey suits you.

Tristan designs the itineraries and personally leads many Remote Expeditions journeys. Depending on the destination and the character of the trip, trusted local guides, drivers, cultural hosts, or specialist leaders may also join part of the route. This combination gives you direct personal support alongside local knowledge.

Often, yes. Private journeys can usually be shaped around your interests, pace, and available time. Fixed group departures have a defined route and dates, but it may still be possible to arrange additional nights, private extensions, or other travel before or after the main journey. Tell us what you have in mind and we will explain what is practical.

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