Before you go
Your trip to Primeira Cruz.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Primeira Cruz – MA Destination Lençóis Maranhenses about 254 km from São Luís
How to get there
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Aeroporto Internacional de São Luís (SLZ) São Luís
Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.
Primeira Cruz is 254 km from São Luís, on the BR-135, MA-402 and MA-320, passing through Santo Amaro. The stretch between Santo Amaro and Primeira Cruz was being paved: check road conditions before going in a regular car. There is no scheduled bus; go by car or transfer. The nearest airport is São Luís.
How many days
One day: Lagoa da Areia and the boat trip to see the scarlet ibises, in the late afternoon. Lagoa do Cassó is far from the town center, near the road to Barreirinhas, and works as a stop on the way in or out.
When to go
From June to September, when the lagoons are full. Lagoa da Areia doesn't dry up and is good for swimming, especially in the dry season. The rains run from January to May. In June, the town holds the São Pedro festival.
Do you need a car?
To get there, yes, preferably a high-clearance one. In town, tours are done with boatmen and licensed 4x4 vehicles, and the trip to Cassó is easier with your own car.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Primeira Cruz
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Morning
Lagoa do Cassó
If you're coming from São Luís, stop on the way: the lagoon is near the MA-402, with a final stretch on sand. Hammocks are hung right in the water.
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Afternoon
Lagoa da Areia
In the village of Campo Novo, by licensed 4x4. It's a lagoon that never dries up.
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Late afternoon
Pouso dos Guarás
The boat leaves the town's port in the afternoon, through rivers and mangroves. Scarlet ibises, monkeys and river dolphins, and the sunset at the end.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
Where is Lagoa do Cassó?
In the village of Cassó, far from the town center, near the MA-402, the road from São Luís to Barreirinhas. Many people stop at Cassó on the way to the Lençóis.
Do I need a 4x4 to get to Cassó?
The last stretch is on sand, and sources disagree on how long it is. If your car is low, ask first at your pousada or someone who knows the road.
When is the best time to see the scarlet ibises?
On the boat trip that leaves the town's port in the afternoon, through rivers and mangroves. The trip ends with the sunset.
Can a regular car get to town?
The road between Santo Amaro and Primeira Cruz was being paved, with no recent news of completion. Check conditions before you go; when it rains, a high-clearance car is better.