lagoon · Barreirinhas, MA
Lagoa Azul
It's the most visited lagoon in the park and usually opens the classic itinerary if you arrive through Barreirinhas. The water has a blue-green tone that changes with the time of day.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Lagoa Azul
Lagoa Azul is the main stop on the most popular circuit from Barreirinhas, inside the Parque Nacional dos Lençóis Maranhenses. The park was created on June 2, 1981, covers about 156,000 hectares in Barreirinhas, Primeira Cruz and Santo Amaro do Maranhão and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2024. The lagoons are not permanent: they form from rain that collects between the dunes, fill up over the year and then drop.
The tour leaves town in a 4x4 vehicle, crosses the Rio Preguiças on the bridge opened in 2025 and follows about 12 km of sand track. From the point where the vehicles stop, the rest is on foot, up and down dunes to the lagoons. Besides Lagoa Azul, the route passes other lagoons on the same stretch, chosen by the driver according to that year's water level.
Here you do what the place calls for: swim in fresh water, walk across the dunes and, on the afternoon tour, watch the sunset over the white sand. It's the circuit with the gentlest terrain in the Lençóis, with short climbs, so it's usually the choice for families with small children and for those with less stamina for walking on soft sand.
Inside the park there are no shops, no built shade and no facilities. Everything you consume goes in the vehicle, and the trash comes back with the group. ICMBio charges no entrance fee, but only allows visits with licensed vehicles, drivers and guides.
Before you go
Practical information
How much time to set aside
About four hours, including the 4x4 ride and the time at the lagoons.
Best time
From June to August, when the lagoons are fullest, after the rains of the first half of the year. From September the level drops and some lagoons dry up. There are morning and afternoon departures; the afternoon one ends with the sunset over the dunes.
How to get there
Only on a tour in a 4x4 vehicle licensed by ICMBio, which usually picks you up at your lodging in Barreirinhas. Private cars can't enter the park. There are also departures from Atins.
Tip
Bring water, snacks, sunscreen and insect repellent: no food or drinks are sold along the way. Alcohol is banned inside the park.
Official website
A look at the place
Lagoa Azul in pictures
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
Click the picture to enlarge it.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Lagoa Azul
Do I need a guide to visit Lagoa Azul?
Yes. Inside the Parque Nacional dos Lençóis Maranhenses you can only get around with a vehicle, driver or guide licensed by ICMBio. In practice, you book the tour in Barreirinhas.
Can I go in my own car?
No. Private cars can't enter the park. The trip is done in a licensed 4x4, which usually picks you up at your lodging.
Can I swim in the lagoons?
Yes. Swimming in the freshwater lagoons is the main activity of the tour.
When are the lagoons full?
From June to August, after the rains of the first half of the year. From September the level drops and some lagoons dry up.
Is the tour good for children and seniors?
It's the circuit with the gentlest terrain in the Lençóis, with short climbs on the dunes. That's why it's usually recommended for families and for those with less stamina.